The world of business is always evolving, and the tools you use to run your business have to change as well. That includes your telephone system. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is one of the most exciting technological innovations of recent years, with many benefits for businesses. Not only is it affordable, but it offers a variety of impressive integrated features that are very useful for any business. With VoIP you’ll be able to boost collaboration and communications and also keep costs down.
Hosted VoIP – What is It?
VoIP is a telephone system for business that uses the internet for communications. It does everything that a conventional telephone system does and offers a range of other benefits too. Calls are as crisp and clear as the calls you would get via a phone company, but the biggest benefit is all the extra features that come with it. A hosted VoIP system uses the cloud, so you don’t have the hassle of having to buy expensive equipment and set it up.
Features of Cloud-hosted VoIP
Here are some of the features that make VoIP invaluable for businesses today:
Automated Answering System
With an automated attendant you can eliminate the cost of employing a receptionist, while also managing your calls so you’re not constantly being interrupted. A VoIP automated answering system also offers dependable call routing so callers can get connected to the right person or department. Depending on which VoIP you use, you may also be able to take advantage of interactive voice response, which allows additional customization, and is invaluable if your business receives a lot of calls.
Caller Screening
With a hosted VoIP system you can see who’s calling and manage incoming calls with ease, saving valuable time. You can see the caller’s number and if they’re in your contacts list you can see their name too. You can then control whether the call is answered, sent to voicemail or declined.
Call Recording
Especially now that so many businesses conduct work remotely, collaboration can be more challenging. With call recording, communications can be saved for use in project management, team communications and for quality assurance purposes. It can also be helpful in the employee review process. Calls can be stored in the cloud, so you won’t need additional equipment, though you may have to pay a bit more for additional cloud storage. However, there’ll be no setup process to deal with.
Call Forwarding and Call Flipping
The ability to forward calls or transfer them to a separate device on the same number is another handy feature of a VoIP platform. Calls often need to be forwarded to different areas of a business, so this can be really useful, and is really easy to do. Call flipping enables a user to transfer a call from a workstation-based VoIP phone to their mobile device, without any interruption – perfect for people who need to take calls while they’re on the move.
Mobile Working
When it comes to working while out of the office, there’s another great feature of VoIP that facilitates communications and will save you money. With a VoIP platform, any account can be accessed with a dedicated mobile app, which means that you don’t have to pay for a service plan for your staff’s mobile devices. There’s less chance of calls being missed and the cost savings can be significant.
Text/SMS Messaging
Texting is a great way to communicate quickly and easily and you can use your hosted VoIP to send quick messages and exchange information for work purposes. With VoIP you can send text messages from a work account.
Video-conferencing and Bridging
Cloud-hosting means that you can take advantage of other dynamic features that VoIP offers. Today people are utilising remote meetings as never before and VoIP can play a key role here. VoIP services now include integrated video-conferencing and conference bridging. It’s an efficient and time-saving way for people to meet.
Easy Analytics
With hosted VoIP it’s also easy to gather the metrics regarding your phone system use, user profiles and other data that can be useful for your business. The analyses you can generate can be useful for controlling the costs of your business communications, as well as making it easier to customize your VoIP platform so it works optimally for your business.
We see hosted VoIP as a ‘no-brainer’ when it comes to must-have technologies available for businesses today. You should enjoy considerable savings, while gaining a whole lot of additional features to assist your business operations. Could a VoIP system help boost your business? For more information, call our IT professionals at (973) 882-4644.