Should Your Business Make the Switch to a VoIP Phone System?
As a business owner, you likely know a high-quality business phone system is essential. But do you know whether your existing phone system is the best option for your needs or if it’s costing you more than it should? If not, you’re doing yourself (and your business) a disservice.
At Lighthouse Technology Solutions, we specialize in helping business owners find high-quality, cost-effective business phone systems that outperform their existing service and in many cases, reduce their costs too. If you’re currently using a premise-based phone system, we know it’s easy to maintain the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it mentality, especially if that system appears to be chugging along just fine. But when it comes to your business, you know there are always opportunities to improve.
In this blog, we outline some of the most notable benefits of VoIP phone systems for businesses and why you may want to consider making the switch. As always, if you’re not sure which system is best suited to your unique needs, give us a call. We’re always here to help!
VoIP Phone Systems Offer Mobility
With a VoIP phone system, your employees can connect from anywhere in the world. VoIP technology is cloud based, which means it’s extremely mobile and easily accessible.
In contrast, traditional on-premise phone systems require each line to have a unique number attached to the phone and do not allow for mobility beyond call-forwarding. If any movement occurs in your business — whether it’s an employee moving to a new office, a transition to remote work, or the business itself changes locations — transferring those numbers can be time-consuming and complicated.
If you’re currently using an on-premise business phone system, what do your future business plans look like? If you’re thinking about transitioning to a partially remote workforce or changing locations, it may be time to considering making the switch to VoIP or a cloud-based system.
More Versatility With VoIP
VoIP phone systems offer several features designed to boost productivity and operational efficiency. Voicemails can be transferred to multiple staff members through just a single click, while voicemail-to-text transcription allows employees to review communications on the go or even while they’re on another call. Many providers also offer Fax over IP as part of their service package, which can also improve efficiency and cut costs. Other useful service features include:
● Easily accessible contact lists
● Caller ID
● Virtual numbers
● Automated attendants
● Call recording, hold, and transfer
● Call screening and flip
● Mobile Apps connecting cell phones to desk phones
Given the variety of features available with a hosted VoIP system, it may be worth your consideration if you’re looking for greater functionality, better accessibility, and more control over your phone-based communication.
Cost Savings
With a traditional phone system, you can only install a limited number of lines, and if you make regular long-distance calls, service costs can add up quickly. VoIP, on the other hand, modifies communication data into packets, which are sent over your IP network. This allows for multiple simultaneous calls per line, if necessary.
Because VoIP phone systems use an existing internet connection to make calls, they’re often a more affordable option over traditional phone lines that charge by the minute. Many service providers even offer low-cost or free calling within the contiguous United States.
If you’re looking to cut costs on business phone service, VoIP may be worth your consideration, especially if you currently have a traditional landline setup.
Reliability
Because VoIP phone systems rely on the internet to make calls, many people mistakenly believe they’re unreliable. That’s not true. Rather, given their flexibility and variety of features, these business phone systems are highly dependable — even in the event of an internet outage, and they are hosted off-site making it easier for the provider to perform troubleshooting procedures.
If the internet goes down for any reason, a VoIP phone system can forward calls directly to employees’ mobile phones or other devices. If there’s a power outage or inclement weather and the office phones go down, the same idea applies.
Simple Scalability
Whether your business expands or downsizes, your phone system should easily follow suit. That’s not the case with traditional landline systems. With a VoIP system, however, you can add lines as you grow or eliminate them when they’re no longer necessary. It’s an easily scalable, cost-effective setup.
Ready to Discuss Your Business Phone System Options?
If your existing business phone system is due for an upgrade, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Lighthouse Technology Solutions to discuss your options. We’ll sit down with you to discuss your current system and your goals for the new setup before we conduct a full audit to determine the most suitable, cost-effective solution for your needs.
In addition to phone systems, we also specialize in business internet and consulting for cybersecurity, surveillance systems, digital signage, and a variety of other tech solutions. If you’re looking to improve efficiency and productivity with cost-effective tech systems designed around your unique needs, we’re ready to help you make it happen.
To learn more, feel free to call our Minneapolis office at 612-345-9177 or request a free quote and we’ll be in touch.