Whether your current handset is a Yealink IP Phone, Polycom IP Phone, Grandstream IP Phone, Cisco IP Phone, Snom IP Phone or Aastra IP Phone, we can streamline the move from your current provider with our FlexPBX automatic provisioning templates.
Our team are experts in telephone system migrations. Our project management team will move you from your existing system in record time all with keeping you on the air.
If you have an IP Handset not listed and would like us to certify it for use on FlexPBX, simply complete the form below and our team will contact you to arrange certification.
Once the VoIP system entered the market, it showcased a wide range of features that made it a lucrative switch from PSTN systems. However, as with every new technology, not everything is stable from the mere start, which made businesses doubt this new technology. However, as the years have passed, this technology has aged like wine, only becoming increasingly superior to PSTN systems.
Therefore, if you are thinking about moving to VoIP systems, no matter if you are a small or big business, the following facts will show you why you should definitely go for it.
It is cost effective
One of the biggest advantages this system brings to the table it cost-efficiency. This is due to the fact that all of the data is actually driven across the internet protocol, which is a cheaper way of transferring data. This allows VoIP services providers to:
Deliver services at lower fees – The main problem with phone systems used to be the cost. Yes, you could reach out to a person no matter where he or she is, as long as you knew their number. Now, with only a click, you can get in touch with anyone, no matter where they are, but for only a couple of cents. Phone bills used to be a problem, whereas now, as your business grows, the rise in costs will practically be unnoticeable.
Free internal calls – Using a VoIP system enables a business to establish an internal network where employees can communicate for free, no matter where they are. This was practically impossible with PSTN systems and it is a great way to significantly lower costs, especially when the business grows and includes thousands of employees globally.
Cost efficiency is important for every business for a variety of business tasks. As communication is always necessary, cutting costs on it is seriously important for future business expenditures.
Scalability and flexibility
One of the benefits of VoIP system hides behind its incredible ability of easily change over time. Okay, your business has started of with 2 employees. Now, a year later, you are sitting with 50 employees and are still growing.
Adding telephones like this was limited as each line required physical changes made to the system. However, with a VoIP platform, adding new users is much easier and practically limitless. Scalability is very important, as your business is likely to grow over time and you want to be in a position to work on a platform that allows easy expansion.
Also, moving your employee’s position in the office without changing their phone number is also easy. As their phones have unique mac addresses, he or she should only bring a phone with them and plug it in the system; it will automatically register their device and all its properties.
The easy flexibility and scalability of the VoIP system is yet another benefit and it shows how advanced this technology is in comparison to PSTN systems.
Integration with software tools
As we are talking about the Internet protocol, you are going to use a client on your PC or Smartphone for communicating with your clients, colleagues, and customers. This is where things become interesting. The communication client can capture significant types of data and it can be integrated with different types of software tools such as CRMs, which can allow you to analyse the collected data for future reference.
This is especially important for enterprise businesses, as the amount of data can clearly show future behaviors of employees and customers.
Mobility
Internet is now everywhere, which means that VoIP is now anywhere as well. All you have to do is have the client installed on your device that is connected to the internet, and you are ready to make calls, leave voicemails, organise conferences, and send messages to your colleagues.
This was impossible in the past because of the PSTN network limitations. Therefore, if you want to work a network that will provide you with more mobility, you should definitely choose VoIP.
Perfect for centralising customer support
With the PSTN networks, having a customer support number required different area codes for different geographical locations. This type of approach can be confusing for the customers, as they would have to do a research to find the right customer support number.
Luckily, this issue is easily resolved, as you can use a single phone number code nationally. This means that, no matter where you customer is calling from, he can reach you through a single number.
Also, your customers will more easily remember a single phone number, than several of them, making it easier for your customers to reach you.
Stability and call quality
As technology has matured over the past couple of years, VoIP call quality and stability has significantly improved. The quality is far superior to that of the PSTN system. Also, as long as you are connected to a good internet connection, all of the communication is stable, no matter the distance between you and the person you are talking to is.
Call quality does not only include voice, you can also go for video conferences with your colleagues, making it a great way to be present in a meeting if you are not able to come. This also significantly saves costs, as the VoIP system can help you cut down employee travel costs.
Moving to VoIP is the best decision you can possibly make, as the performance of this platform is far superior to what other technologies have to offer. This technology is only going to evolve in the future, allowing it to become cheaper and more powerful, allowing people to easily communicate with each other.
Whether your current handset is a Yealink IP Phone, Polycom IP Phone, Grandstream IP Phone, Cisco IP Phone, Snom IP Phone or Aastra IP Phone, we can streamline the move from your current provider with our FlexPBX automatic provisioning templates.
Our team are experts in telephone system migrations. Our project management team will move you from your existing system in record time all with keeping you on the air.
If you have an IP Handset not listed and would like us to certify it for use on FlexPBX, simply complete the form below and our team will contact you to arrange certification.
Given the fact that the world is getting globalised rapidly, there are more and more businesses that have offices around the globe. Even smaller organisations reach out to outsourcing services abroad and collaborate with international companies. This means that companies have expanded their communication needs to an international level.
This has created a new reality for business; they need to have a lot of international calls to be able to organise themselves properly. However, finding reliable and affordable phone systems for these constant international calls is not easy. This is where VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, comes into the picture.
This is a system that transmits audio communications over long distances using the internet instead of mobile or telephone networks. This type of phone system has changed many things and created a lot of solutions for companies looking to maintain cheap international communications that are reliable.
In my experience, a company can save from 25% to 65% on communication and these are great numbers. Although these numbers can vary, it’s still a great way to cut down costs. So, let’s see what the reasons for these cost cuts are.
Why VoIP is the best solution for international business communication
A lot of business owners, managers and employees alike are familiar with communication systems that have voiceovers or messaging such as Skype, however there are much greater and more advanced systems that work on similar methods.
All of these systems rely on fast internet connections that allow companies to quickly make calls and have a stable connection. All of these systems transform analog signals to digital signals which then go through the web and reach a distant destination.
These systems have audio streams which are instant, meaning that the calls can be placed from any location which has a stable internet connection. A business can harness many benefits from these kinds of phone systems, especially when talking about saving money. On top of that, they are more flexible and scalable.
How Cloud VoIP communication systems cut costs
The majority of VoIP communication systems are hosted on the cloud. This means that your whole system and database will be located on one server through which all of you communication processes will operate. The first thing that saves money here is that you simply don’t have to install any phones or phone lines on site.
You won’t have to purchase any hardware for offices around the world, nor ship it and pay for its installation. Everything is taken care off by the provider. On top of that, your provider will also be in charge of maintenance, meaning that you won’t have to pay for IT experts to do this for you or waste your IT department’s resources to deal with these issues.
VoIP communication systems can also be installed with a business that has pre-existing traditional phone system. The only thing a business will have to get is an adaptor that costs around $40 which is used to connect all phones to the web, enabling them all to send and receive VoIP calls.
What to look for when choosing a good VoIP system
When looking for the best package for your business, the most important things you will have to consider are your budget and the costs of these services. On top of that, you also need to check whether the provider can cover a certain country, give you special features, and allow you to scale your package how you see fit.
It is also important to analyse what your needs are so that you can get the right type of service for your company. Not only that voice over IP systems are much cheaper, but they can come with some amazing features. When opting for a quality service, you should look to acquire things such as call forwarding, call transfer, tele-conferencing, data sharing, and caller ID perks.
These are all the things that traditional phone lines don’t offer. On top of that, the level of security and reliability is much greater, given the fact that VoIP systems have encryptions.
Not only that you will directly pay less for all of these amazing features, but these features will allow your organisation to be more efficient and achieve better results, while relying on a comprehensive communication system capable of handling a whole business spread around the globe.
Even employees will be able to respond more quickly, as they don’t have to be present within their offices to use this system and talk to their coworkers. These are all some of the things you should look from your VoIP provider.
Scale with minimal costs
Given the fact that users are added to the VoIP system quickly and that providers offer maximum customisation and flexibility in terms of how many people can use your system and communicate, you will have a much easier time of adjusting your service with your current needs. If a business is growing rapidly and it’s in need of more communication channels, it can quickly change it’s package that will be available almost instantly.
The same thing applies for when the needs are smaller. Not only this, but the price can literally be changed per user, and the cost of changes simply don’t exist; if you add more people, you will just have to pay for every individual and get on with your everyday work, no additional costs, no setup costs.
These hosted systems are always administered through an online control panel, located remotely, meaning that the scaling process within an organisation and throughout various offices is almost instant and quite easy.
It is very important that your do thorough research regarding usability and pricing that providers offer so that you are able to choose the VoIP solution that will completely suit your business. It’s generally a good idea to start with one office and see how the system proves itself before you start implementing it globally in all of your offices.
Given the fact that all modern business offices and spaces have stable internet connections, why not exploit this cheap resource even further and improve your communications as well. Don’t waste time, switch to a VoIP system as quickly as possible.
You probably heard a lot about various cloud based systems recently. This is a hot topic because various businesses have realised how beneficial cloud systems can actually be. On-site software solutions and systems are a thing of the past and the cloud is the new must have.
In the past, businesses relied on base telephone systems for their telecommunication needs, but the introduction of cloud-based systems quickly threw them off the market. Even the vendors who offer these systems have recognised this and now, less and less of them offer on-site telephone systems because the demand is simply falling down. Everyone is upgrading their phone systems and you should too.
The cloud is definitely the future, no matter if we are talking about telephone systems, project management systems, or any other business solution companies rely on to improve their daily operations. In this post, I will talk about the clear advantage cloud based telephone systems offer and why all businesses should choose them over traditional telephone systems.
So, let’s start from the top.
Which BUSINESSES need cloud telephone systems?
No matter if your business is small, midsize or a large corporation, the fact that cloud telephone systems save on IT resources is beneficial to any organisation. All businesses are looking to improve their efficiency and invest the extra money into business incentives that can bring more revenue.
The reasons why cloud based telephone systems are less expensive is because of the sheer fact that they are managed and hosted by a third party – the provider. Although all businesses can benefit from the cloud, these systems are most popular with small businesses with limited resources that cannot afford a separate IT department to take care of their needs.
On the other hand, both mid sized businesses and corporations use these solutions not just because they cut costs, but because they can help them improve their efficiency, reduce downtime, improve processes, and they can fit in better into their whole business strategies.
Improved mobility and usability
Modern businesses need to be flexible. Businesses are not tied to one location and they need to be able to operate from multiple locations and that’s what cloud telephones allow them to do.
Cloud based telephone systems are very mobile and an organisation that implements them offers their employees the ability to access and use all of its features no matter where they are located. Employees can simply log into the system while they are on the go and reach other co workers, or make themselves reachable.
This is how a business will have greater control of customer, collaboration, and production related issues. It is always better to tackle all problems immediately as they arise and with zero downtime. Simply put, the communication channel will always be open and available to everyone within the system.
Better customer service
All cloud based telephone systems have features called auto attendant and virtual receptionist and they allow businesses to quickly redirect all calls to designated departments. Organisations can also customise greeting messages specific to designated departments and respond to the right people the right way.
A cloud system has the power to improve the customer experience and help a business engage with its customers to the fullest by addressing various key points. For example, this kind of system can send automated messages to people to remind them of their payment obligations.
An advanced method of using this kind of system is to integrate it with a customer relationship management system where managers can get valuable insights, notice trends, and improve their approach towards customers. They can then advise salespeople and customer support departments to adjust the way they do their work.
Scalability
Given the fact that cloud based telephone systems are managed and maintained by the vendor, the services a business pays for are the ones it actually uses. So what does this mean? For example, if you have 5 employees using this system, you will get have to pay for those 5 users and nothing more. The issue with traditional systems is that it was very difficult to add an additional user or two.
This issue has been completely removed, given the fact that cloud systems allow organisations to quickly and easily add more users according to their needs. This means that these clouds based telephone systems can easily keep up with the growth of the whole business and its needs.
This is why small businesses that grow rapidly and change things constantly love cloud systems. The process is quite simple and there is no need to wait for your IT department staff to work for weeks on adding phone lines, phones, or transferring data. Everything remains the same, while the number of users can change.
Greater reliability
Businesses as a whole need to be reliable in every way. This means that they have to deliver what they promise, always, period. This is how they stay competitive and get ahead of their competition. Customers know to appreciate when they get what they were promised.
For example, in case of a power outage, no messages or communication will come through and people will assume that your website or mail are dead. Employees will not be able to communicate with each other. You might appear like you are out of business and this is something no organisation can afford.
With cloud based phones, this is not a problem, as they will always remain operational. On top of that, your provider will maintain your server and make sure that everything is working 24/7; however, it’s a good idea to do some research and find a reliable vendor.
Conclusion
Always remember that a phone system is a very important cog in your whole business and its operations, both internally and externally. It allows communication among employees and with customers. Both of these things matter and that’s why you need to seek good solutions that can make communication flawless.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is an emerging technology that is literally reinventing the wheel and completely changing the way we take and place phone calls. This technology refers to an amazing method of IP telephony, that is, the method of using the Internet to place phone calls that are transmitted into digital data.
Namely, when you switch to a VoIP telephone system, you can place free phone calls, and all you need is a good Internet connection. You can say goodbye to costly traditional phone lines and say hello to a free phone call system, which can not only help you save a lot of money, but also help you become significantly more efficient and productive.
However, despite VoIP’s raise in popularity, a number of small businesses are still sceptical about it and choose to remain on the bench while the big guns keep playing the game. They are mostly concerned with the costs of implementing new technologies and they think that the quality of VoIP audio is not as high as it is when it comes to traditional telephone systems. Most importantly, they fear that their phone services will suffer greatly should they experience a power outage.
The truth of the matter is that switching to VoIP is extremely beneficial and all of the benefits it can provide you with significantly outweigh the potential disadvantages. Therefore, take a closer look at the importance of VoIP and the outstanding impact it can have on your business.
Why Is VoIP Really Important?
By switching to a VoIP telephone system, you will provide your business with several very useful benefits. It doesn’t matter what size your company is, since VoIP is designed for everyone, as its primary goal is making phone calls more efficient and effective, while making them free at the same time. Here are the most essential reasons why you should definitely make the switch as soon as possible.
Reducing Your Telecommunication Costs
Instead of using the services of traditional phone companies, a VoIP system turns your phone calls into data sent over the Internet. Therefore, by switching to VoIP, your telecommunication costs will be considerably lower, since you will no longer have to pay for traditional phone lines.
This is especially important for long-distance calls, which, as you must already know, can be quite expensive. What’s more, with VoIP, there will be no reason to maintain two different networks, one for data and the other one for phone lines, so you will save even more money down the line.
Taking Calls On-the-Go
With VoIP, you can take your calls while you are on-the-go, as long as you have a reliable Internet connection. No matter where you are, you can take full advantage of your VoIP telephone system and never miss an important phone call.
This is because VoIP provides you with an amazing call forwarding feature, so you can forward all calls to you mobile phone or even your laptop, since a VoIP system comes with computer software. Therefore, all your customers and clients will always be able to easily reach you by simply dialling your regular business phone number.
Forwarding Faxes and Voicemail to Your Email Inbox
Yet another great reason for making the switch to VoIP is that the system enables you to forward all the faxes and voicemail you receive directly to your email inbox. Having all of your emails in one singular place will greatly help you become more efficient and productive, not to mention that you can easily forward any email or fax to other members of your team.
Virtual Phone Numbers
This is very important for your long-distance customers and clients, as VoIP enables you to have a business phone number with any area code that you want, instead of having only one assigned area code for the location where you operate. Getting those virtual phone numbers means that people who are not in your region can easily contact you without any charges whatsoever.
You certainly realise how important that is for your business growth. Moreover, if you happen to move your business to another location, that would require assigning a new area code to your business phone number, you won’t have to go through all the trouble of transferring your phone services to the new location, changing the number and notifying all of your customers and clients about it.
How Can You Know When Your Business Is Ready for the Switch?
If you are not sure whether or not VoIP is the right choice for your business, the aforementioned benefits it can provide you with will certainly help you make an informed decision. However, there are certain tell-tale signs that can help you know if your business is ready for VoIP, so you need to pay close attention.
If you are getting so many phone calls that you keep a number of your customers on a busy signal, you can lose a lot of them. They won’t have the patience to wait for someone to pick up the phone. VoIP is very useful in such cases, because it includes auto attendants, as well as call recording, which can help you keep your customers satisfied, and happy customers are loyal customers.
If you feel like you are spending too much money on your traditional phone system (just think about all those long-distance calls and mobile phone bills), then VoIP is definitely the way to go. Not only will you cut down on all those costs, but you will also significantly improve your customer service, since anyone who wants to contact you will be able to do so completely free of charge.
Conclusion
Trying out new stuff can be scary, especially when it’s about your business. You don’t want to expose your business to risks, but you also cannot afford to sit idly on the sidelines. No battle is ever won without risk. You need to embrace new changes and, more importantly, embrace the future.
Switching to VoIP may seem like a major decision, but it is definitely a huge step towards improving your business and leading it to greater success. Therefore, don’t hesitate any longer, but step up your game and enter the grand playing field by switching to this amazingly flexible and cost-effective technology. Make sure you know what to look for when upgrading your phone system and find a VoIP provider that can offer you the best services for your needs.
