VoIP is an acronym that stands for Voice over Internet Protocol; also referred to as internet telephony, IP telephony, and Voice over Broadband (VoBB). From a fundamental perspective, VoIP is relatively simple technology; it allows the transmission of voice data packets from one IP address to another. In simpler words, VoIP supports the transmission of live conversations over the internet instead of the traditional telephony infrastructure.

The Idea of VoIP began in 1973 as an experimental network on the early ARPANET system. It wasn’t until 1995 when the first internet phone software was developed and used. Since then, VoIP has grown into one of the most disruptive cloud technologies and has completely revolutionized the telecommunication industry.

According to Statista, there were over 40 million business VoIP lines in the U.S. in 2018, and the number has grown exponentially over the last couple of years. So, why are businesses switching from traditional telephony to VoIP solutions? What are the benefits of using VoIP in a business environment?

Reduce communication cost

Perhaps the most attractive benefit of using VoIP is the significant reduction of communication costs, especially on international voice calls. Most VoIP providers only charge an initial installation charge for the equipment and a monthly or annual service subscription fee based on the VoIP package. The subscription costs are extremely low compared to traditional phone service bills whose rates depend on the usage and nature of calls.

Flexibility

VoIP is a flexible technology that can be implemented in a way that best suits a particular business model or workplace setting. Although many VoIP services provide the necessary hardware and software to enable VoIP, the technology can also be integrated into the existing IT infrastructure. For instance, VoIP services can be installed onto a personal computer and smartphone, which comes in handy with remote workers and improves communication efficiency and convenience.

The flexibility and versatility of VoIP also make it ideal for building unified communication systems for businesses. Companies can use VoIP as a big part of their communication structure, especially for handling voice and conference calls.

Exception service quality

VoIP technology offers superior communication services compared to traditional landlines and even cellular networks. As long as the internet connection is reliable and sufficient, then you never have to worry about dropped calls, latency, and poor delivery, making VoIP more reliable as well. Plus, the sound and image quality on both voice and conference calls is incredibly high. With enough bandwidth, you can even stream live high-resolution HD videos without any glitches.

On the other hand, the quality of service and reliability of conventional telephony systems can be adversely affected by several factors, including distance, bad weather, low-performance equipment, noise, and even natural disasters.

Scalability

VoIP is not a one-size-fits-all kind of service. VoIP packages encompass a variety of service levels and features, which are usually bundled or tiered together. Companies can choose precisely what they require from a VoIP provider depending on their communication needs. Packages come in a variety of sizes with features to accommodate various businesses. For instance, an office can purchase a VoIP package depending on the number of phones needed, the existing IT layout, and the exact features required.

The good thing about VoIP services is that they are scalable. If the business grows or shrinks its communication needs, then the VoIP service can be adjusted accordingly to accommodate the changes.

Easy installation and maintenance

Service providers have made it easy to install and maintain VoIP systems. You can easily install some VoIP systems on your own, even with little technical know-how. All you need to do is open an account with the VoIP provider, select a service package, and maybe install a few devices and some software and you’re done. Depending on the provider, the size of your enterprise, and the package selected, the whole process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Most VoIP providers host their services on the cloud, and also provide managed services either as a free service or a paid option. So, it’s the provider’s responsibility to ensure that the system is always available and working flawlessly. When it comes to maintenance on your part, all you have to do is update and patch your software and drivers occasionally.

Why VoIP is the way to go

By using VoIP instead of traditional phones, you’ll save a massive chunk of your communication budget, get better and more reliable services, and drastically improve your workplace collaboration. Businesses have to keep adjusting to new technologies to take full advantage of useful innovations and stay in tune with the times. VoIP is one such innovation that can’t be ignored.

Understandably, cybersecurity is a major concern nowadays, and routing sensitive business calls over the internet may seem counter-intuitive. But rest assured that the security protocols embedded in VoIP services are more than adequate to deal with any form of cyber threat. So there is really no reason not to adopt VoIP services for your business.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more about VoIP, unified communication, and cloud-based services. We’ll appreciate hearing from you and also helping your business adopt modern digital solutions.