Is VoIP Right For Your Business?

Communication is critical to any business. We all know that. How you communicate with your customers, your partners and your suppliers plays a huge role in your ongoing success.

When that communication breaks down, then, you put your business at risk.

Choosing the right tools to communicate with is key, then. And for many businesses today, that includes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP allows businesses to make phone calls over their Internet connection, and can provide a reliable alternative to traditional phone lines.

But is VoIP right for your business? To get to the answer, let’s dive a little deeper into what it is and what it can offer.

What Is VoIP?

Unlike a traditional landline, which connects using a dedicated phone line, VoIP relies on the same IP addresses your computers and other devices use to communicate between each other. Using that Internet connection and a “softphone” (or software-based phone) you can make phone calls, which are then routed through existing telephone networks.

VoIP is usually a more cost-effective option than a dedicated phone line. It also comes with several additional benefits, including:

• No extra equipment required
• High-quality sound
• Worldwide availability

One of the biggest advantages, though – especially in today’s working environment, where remote and hybrid office environments are becoming standard – is that it’s available wherever you are. Whether you’re working from home, in the office or somewhere else completely, you can connect.

Does Your Business Need It?

So should your business invest in VoIP?

The truth is VoIP is easy to use and flexible to the needs of any workforce. That means it’s a good fit for most businesses. But let’s look a whether it’s the right fit for yours. To determine whether your business needs VoIP, start by asking the following:

1. Do any of your employees work from home?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to introduce remote working environments, setting their employees up virtually to do their jobs from home. And even as some of the pandemic restrictions lift around the country, virtual work or flexible working environments have become a standard option for many companies. VoIP helps facilitate that, letting employees take and make calls using the same phone number they use at the office no matter where they are, so that your employees can move between working environments with ease – and without having to make their cell phone numbers public.

1. Are you looking for a feature-rich experience?

With VoIP you can add a variety of features that benefit your business and help your employees do their jobs better. Call forwarding allows them to redirect their calls and interactive voice response (IVR) offers pre-recorded messages that direct callers to where they need to go. You can share contacts with coworkers, lead a high-definition videoconference for 200 participants or collaborate with screen sharing and integrated messaging features. Try doing all of that with a standard landline!

1. Is your business scaling?

As your business scales, VoIP can also scale with you – quickly, easily and without additional hardware needs. You can upgrade your plan or add phone extensions or dedicated lines as your team grows – or even temporarily during seasonal surges – and quickly scale back if required. It’s quick and easy and you only end up paying for what you actually use.

Where Do You Start

Since it lives in the cloud, VoIP requires no technology upgrades. But the right Internet provider and fast, reliable Internet – including Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) – will enable you to do even more with your Voice over Internet Protocol.

The right starting point will empower your business success – and get your employees making and taking more phone calls in no time

Xplore Business offers unique VoIP plans for businesses of all sizes. Find out more today.