Not all phone calls are created equal. Just on a technical level, a call from a landline is circuit-switched, whereas one from a VoIP service is packet-switched, meaning it uses the same infrastructure as other internet-connected apps instead of a dedicated point-to-point connection.
But for organizations, the most important features of VoIP technology extend far beyond how calls are routed. Compared to a traditional phone system like an on-prem private branch exchange (PBX), a hosted VoIP solution can provide greater flexibility and scalability, along with substantial savings and a broader feature set.
Here four of the top benefits of VoIP for organizations today
1. Lower costs, both upfront and over the long term
Traditional phone systems require big upfront investments in infrastructure. The PBX itself must be purchased for a large one-time fee, and any upgrades require extra hardware. The total costs of purchasing all the needed routers, gateways, power supplies and support contracts can put major pressure on the IT budget.
In contrast, hosted VoIP phone systems are more akin to services than discrete products. Instead of buying an expensive PBX, a business can save money by subscribing to a plan from a VoIP provider, which manages all of the underlying infrastructure in its data centers.
The recurring price of the VoIP subscription also covers upgrades and can be adjusted to accommodate new features and additional users. Accordingly, maintenance of a VoIP solution is much more cost-effective than the steep prices often paid to upgrade a PBX’s capacity and functionality.
2. Better scalability and flexibility
As more organizations roll out support for distributed flexible working environments (e.g., branch offices and/or work from home), PBX scalability is a key concern. More specifically, any moves, adds, or changes (M/A/Cs) for the phone system can be potentially costly and complicated, requiring expensive on-site visits from the vendor as well as the modification of the PBX infrastructure itself.
Such hands-on adjustments are necessary any time the system is upgraded, requiring IT teams to dedicate significant blocks of their time to ensuring that the PBX is aligned with current user needs and business requirements. A PBX is not naturally built for scale and requires constant attention and onerous upkeep.
None of these complexities apply to VoIP. M/A/Cs are easy, as they require a simple adjustment from the solution’s management portal. The vendor also supplies the IT resources to ensure that the system can meet the demands of numerous concurrent users while being secure, too - a key benefit for growing businesses needing to future-proof their phone systems.
3. Broader device support
VoIP telephony is routed through the internet. As a result, it is broadly accessible by almost any device capable of connecting to the internet and processing two-way audio:
- Soft clients (alternatively, softphones) provide the functionality of VoIP in non-dedicated hardware like a laptop or tablet. It’s easy to connect to a call regardless of the device currently in use. Hosted VoIP also works within the Internet of Things.
- At the same time, VoIP services can still be handled by deskphones in a conventional office setting. Features like direct inward dialing enable these phones to be easily reached by outside callers.
- Calls to office numbers can be forwarded to mobile phones or other devices so that someone never misses a call. This functionality exceeds the limitations of an on-prem PBX, which has geographic limitations on where it can be accessed.
4. Integration with unified communication services
VoIP platforms are often much more than phone systems. Their audio components can be integrated into unified communication (UC) services that also offer video conferencing, screen sharing, and messaging through one interface.
UC solutions have become increasingly important to enterprise collaboration as more organizations shift toward remote work arrangements, as mentioned earlier. In March 2020, a Seyfarth survey of 600 employers found that two-thirds of them were assisting workers in the shift to telecommuting.
Providing reliable VoIP and UC services is a proven way to keep remote workers in sync and help them create high-quality connections through HD voice and online video meetings. Hosted VoIP from Telesystem can replace your legacy PBX and put your business on a more sustainable path. Learn more by connecting with our team today.
