What Is VoIP?

Over the past few years, there has been a steady shift in businesses looking to adopt a “work from anywhere” strategy for their employees. Although this has been happening for a while, the COVID-19 Pandemic brought this to the fore, with offices and shared workspaces across the country being forced to close.

So, businesses need to adapt. That’s where VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) comes in.

But what is it and why should your business use it?

In this guide, we answer these questions and much more.

Let’s get into it.

VoIP Explained

VoIP technology enables you to make a voice call using an internet connection rather than traditional phone lines.

Ever made a WhatsApp voice call? That’s VoIP.

It works by converting analogue voice signals into digital data packets which are then transmitted over the internet. When these packets are received by another VoIP phone system, they’re reassembled in the correct order.

How Is VoIP Used In Business?

VoIP can be used in many different ways by businesses of all sizes. In fact, around 31% of businesses currently use VoIP.

Here are the most common use cases for businesses:

• Voice calls: Businesses use VoIP services to make and receive voice calls using internet connections instead of a traditional phone system.

• Messaging: SMS and instant messaging can both be integrated into a business’s VoIP system.

• Video calls: VoIP can also be used for video conference calls with remote workers.

• Call centre functionalities: VoIP is often used in call centres for things like call monitoring and queueing.

• Voicemail-to-email: VoIP can be used to automatically transcribe voicemails and turn them into emails.

• Remote work functionalities: VoIP allows remote workers to make and receive calls from their business phone numbers from any location.

• CRM integration: A lot of VoIP solutions can be integrated with CRM systems.

The Benefits Of VoIP For Business

As you can see, VoIP has many uses within the world of business. But what are its benefits? Let’s take a look.

Lower cost

One of the key things that keep the cost of VoIP down is the lack of maintenance required.

Typically, a PBX would have a maintenance contract attached to ensure the phone system works effectively. This is no longer required with a VoIP solution as everything can be done remotely.

A VoIP licence comes with everything included so the need to install or maintain lines is removed along with the rental fees. A customer can use their existing internet connection on-site. Or, if needed, a new internet line can be installed as part of the solution.

In some cases, you’ll even find that international calls are free. Plus, making calls with services like Microsoft Teams or Skype is more cost-effective than calling an international number through a traditional phone network.

Increased functionality

VoIP services offer increased functionality that would be difficult or impossible to achieve on traditional phone networks.

Incoming phone calls, for example, are routed directly to the VoIP phone wherever you plug it into the network. This means you can take your VoIP phone wherever you go, provided there is a stable internet connection. This is a clear benefit to those who work remotely or on the move.

What’s more, many of the features we mentioned earlier are included in the licence fee set by your VoIP service provider, helping keep costs to a minimum.

Scalability

Hosted VoIP can grow along with your business. Opening a new office in a different location or expanding the space in an existing office? Simply put in the required infrastructure, add your phone lines, and you’re ready to go.

You can add lines as and when you require through an accessible portal, without additional costs and without the need for an engineer. It allows your business to focus on what you do best, rather than getting bogged down with maintenance or support issues.

Business continuity

In the event of a disaster such as a flood or fire, VoIP allows all incoming calls to be immediately directed to remote workers.

A good example is the COVID-19 Pandemic. Businesses were able to use a VoIP phone service to route phone calls to employees who had to work remotely due to the restrictions. As a result, businesses could continue operating with normal service levels.

VoIP will also be a crucial factor in business continuity in the future due to the 2025 ISDN switch-off. This is when the copper-based ISDN and PSTN networks will be switched off and replaced with Internet Protocol (IP) technology.

Fortunately, MID Digital Solutions provides internet-based phone systems that can help your business make a smooth transition and ensure business continuity.

Make The Switch To VoIP With MID Digital Solutions

Of course, change is not without its challenges. The VoIP market is saturated, with providers offering similar products. So why should you choose MID Digital Solutions?

Our internet-based business phone systems use 3CX to combine phone services, video meetings, and live chat into one unified platform. This streamlines communication and teamwork for your business.

3CX is trusted by millions of users globally because it improves efficiency, enhances call centre performance, and much more.

Contact us today to learn how 3CX can level up your business’s communication strategy.

FAQs

Can VoIP handle high call volumes in large businesses?

Yes, VoIP systems are able to handle high call volumes for large businesses. They use advanced features such as automatic call distribution and call queueing to optimise call management for big organisations.

What kind of internet speed is required for VoIP?

For clear, uninterrupted VoIP calls, a stable, high-speed internet connection is required. Typically, at least 100 kbps per simultaneous call is necessary.

Can VoIP work with existing phone numbers?

Yes, VoIP can work with existing phone numbers. The majority of VoIP service providers allow businesses to port their existing phone numbers over to the new service. This ensures business continuity.