The Benefits of VoIP for Business
Communication is a crucial element in any business, so it’s important that your systems support fast and effective communication wherever possible.
You can read more about what exactly VoIP is, in our article The Ultimate Guide to VoIP, but to put it simply, VoIP is a method of communication using an internet connection rather than a standard phone line.
If you’re looking to find out what the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for business might be, then it’s probably safe to assume you’re considering it for your own operations.
Communicating with employees and clients has been an integral part of business long before the pandemic, but now with online meetings and conference calls replacing face-to-face interactions and employees working from home, it’s more important than ever to have reliable, rapid, and versatile communication.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of VoIP, and while we’re at it, we’ll go over the disadvantages too, to ensure you get a clear idea of whether VoIP is the right choice for your business.
VoIP Pros and Cons
VoIP Benefits
VoIP provides a number of advantages for businesses from just about any industry.
Cost-Effectiveness
- As VoIP services are entirely online, they reduce a lot of the costs associated with standard phone lines.
- IP PBX is cost effective compared to traditional on-premise PBX.
- Broadband connections also negate copper-wiring costs as VoIP services intake and distribute voice and data on the same channel.
- As VoIP calls are classified as regular internet traffic, calls can be made to anywhere around the world with reduced costs. For example, international calls made within a business are free, reducing international call costs for internal communications.
Flexibility
- VoIP calls can be made from anywhere and on any device, meaning VoIP is ideal for a mobile workplace.
- Employees working from home can use VoIP services to call into work or contact clients, allowing them to remain productive for your business.
- VoIP services are also easy to use, with an easy-to-navigate interface meaning VoIP isn’t relegated to the tech-savvy.
Quality
- As the data that is distributed when making a VoIP call is uncompressed, there is high voice quality as long as your business has enough bandwidth.
- Unlike landline phone calls, VoIP calls are unaffected by the location of each caller, so if you were on the other side of the world from whoever you were calling, the quality of the call would still be high.
VoIP Disadvantages
However, like any service, VoIP is not without its disadvantages.
Connection Requirements
- A high-speed internet connection is required, so if your business is located in an area where internet service is poor, the quality of your VoIP calls can be impacted.
- The NBN rollout nationwide has provided a minimum level of internet speed that has allowed quality VoIP services to thrive in previously impossible regional areas, however, internet connection issues can still occur and might mean that there are long loading times for calls, ongoing calls can suffer from latency or jitter or there might not be enough bandwidth to make calls at all.
Emergencies
- Not every VoIP service can connect with emergency services and the services that can be difficult to track by third-parties because VoIP calls come from an IP address without cell site information or GPS data, meaning in the event of an emergency you would need to describe where you are to the operator.
Power Outages
- Like traditional systems, if there is a power outage of any kind, VoIP services will cease to function and power will need to be restored in order to make calls again. However, if you have a cloud hosted IP PBX like 3CX Cloud hosting, power outages will not affect this system.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say VoIP is gaining momentum in business because of the many advantages it provides to make communication in increasingly mobile organisations easier and more efficient.
Even if you are relying on a traditional phone, you are likely using VoIP unknowingly, as copper telephone wires have been phased out. Implementing an intentional upgrade of your VoIP system is going to instantly level up your business.
While the disadvantages are few, your business’s communication needs are too important to be left to chance. We simplify VoIP and tailor our services to suit your business needs.
If you’d like to find out more about VoIP and how it could benefit your business, get in touch with us today.
