A traditional landline phone system can be expensive and time-consuming to manage. VoIP offers a smart upgrade to your legacy phone systems while saving money.
Some VoIP services work with an adapter over your computer or phone, while others require only a high-speed internet connection and a headset. Regardless of the hardware required, your business can save money by shifting to VoIP.
Save Money on Long Distance Calls
A business VoIP system can save money on long-distance phone charges. VoIP calls are made over the internet instead of traditional landlines, eliminating long-distance fees. VoIP also offers affordable international calling plans to cut your long-distance expenses further.
A VoIP system uses advanced technology to break audio into small “data packets.” These packets are sent quickly over the internet and assembled correctly to deliver clear sound during a call. This contrasts with the best landline, where audio is subject to interference like jitter.
In addition, VoIP systems offer features that can help a small business project a more professional image. For example, toll-free and vanity numbers are available to give a business a more established feel. Finally, mobile accessibility is another benefit of a VoIP system. Staff can manage calls with softphone apps on their mobile phones, desktops, or tablets.
Save Money on Local Calls
In addition to saving money on international calls, VoIP also saves businesses on local calling rates. Because VoIP sends call data as data packets over the internet, it bypasses traditional phone operators that charge based on distance and time. For this reason, many small business owners find themselves paying a fraction of their monthly telecom costs with VoIP.
A typical VoIP service breaks each employee’s voice stream into tiny data packets and compresses them before sending them over the internet to their destination. Then, it uncompresses them and reconverts them into audio for the person on the other end of the line to hear.
This process makes call quality more reliable than it would be with traditional phone systems. In addition, VoIP phones can be used on any smart device. This cuts equipment costs and frees up desk space for employees. It can also reduce the need for a dedicated landline, which is often costly to install and maintain.
Save Money on International Calls
Using VoIP, international calls are cheaper than with traditional phone systems. Because VoIP converts your voice to audio packets and uses the internet to route calls, it bypasses traditional phone company lines. Most providers offer their customers unlimited local and long-distance calling, plus a selection of free international minutes each month.
With a VoIP system, you can use your computer to make phone calls or adapt existing phones to work with a VoIP application (also called a softphone). You only need the right app, a headset or speakerphone, and reliable internet connectivity – ethernet or wifi.
With a VoIP system, it’s also much easier to upgrade equipment and add features without paying for service fees that may be charged with a traditional phone system. That means your business can save on expensive hardware repairs and get the latest technology at no extra cost. This can help keep your office running smoothly and efficiently. This, in turn, can lead to more productivity and less downtime.
Save Money on Equipment
Upgrading to any new technology usually requires a significant investment. This is especially true in the early stages of adoption. However, VoIP bucks this trend. Depending on the plan chosen, upgrading to VoIP can save businesses money even after factoring in the costs of purchasing hardware or increasing internet connection/bandwidth.
The majority of VoIP providers do not charge for installation or infrastructure. This saves many business owners from relying on expensive traditional systems to complete their jobs.
Most VoIP solutions also eliminate the need for backup power supplies to support conventional phones. These can be costly if your office experiences frequent outages. VoIP is designed to work from a computer network and does not require wires or hardware. This can further reduce maintenance costs as service calls to move phones within an office will be a thing of the past. This can also free up space for other equipment, such as servers or security measures that would otherwise be required with older phone systems.