VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP uses the internet to make phone calls, unlike traditional systems that require a landline. If you have an internet connection you already have all the infrastructure you need to take advantage of the many benefits VoIP brings to the table. If you have ever used Skype or something similar to make a telephone call then you have already experienced a form of VoIP.
Why do I need VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol has many inherent benefits over a traditional landline phone, particularly for a business. One of the major benefits of VoIP is its exceptional flexibility. Most businesses already have a good internet connection in place. With VoIP, the internet is all you need. VoIP can also be used anywhere there is internet. That means you don’t have to be in the office to make calls. That’s also a huge bonus for remote workers as they can still call customers from home using the business number.
As you don’t need to buy costly hardware such as work phones for every worker or install extensive landline systems VoIP can also save you considerable money. All this from a solution that is instantly scalable with the size of your business. Need to onboard a new employee? No need to provide them with a work phone, they can do everything from their computer.
What Features Should I look for When Choosing a VoIP?
With so many benefits over a traditional system, it’s no wonder so many businesses are now turning to VoIP as a superior solution. All the jargon can seem a little confusing at first, so here are some of the key features/benefits to consider before making the transition:
Automated Attendant - Love them or loathe them, automated attendants are an integral part of the modern world. This is the friendly voice on the other side that prompts you to press 1 for X or press 2 for Y. For a larger business, this can save a lot of time by directing a caller to the department they need without any human intervention.
Call holding/Queuing - If you work in a fast-paced environment with lots of inbound calls, you may need to put them on hold or in a queue to make sure everyone is seen to quickly and efficiently.
Call monitoring/analytics - VoIP offers exceptional control and oversight for a company. Managers can jump into calls unobtrusively and monitor performance. Analytics offers an additional metric to performance management by providing insight into call times, disconnection rates, etc
Business texting/Support chat - Some customers prefer to use messaging than phone calls. This can also help customer management as a single employee can handle multiple queries simultaneously.
Voicemail reminder - Sometimes it’s not possible to answer a call then and there. It’s also possible to forget to check all voicemails at the end of the day. With VoIP, you can have a reminder sent to your email or text so you never miss a follow-up again.
What is the Call Connection Quality Like?
Call quality was one of the biggest concerns when VoIP was first adopted. In many instances, the call was of a lower quality than a traditional landline. This is no longer the case. As internet connections have improved in terms of speed and reliability VoIP has actually outperformed landline and mobile methods and, with the right internet connection, can now provide the highest quality of calls.
Disclaimer
The aim of this website is to help you find the perfect software for your needs in an easy-to-view comparison list. You can read more about how we review and about our background in the About Us section of this website. Software.fish does not feature all of the software available in the market, we cherry-pick what we consider to be the leaders in each vertical. We try to keep this site updated and fresh, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information as well as the prices featured at all times. All prices quoted on this site are based on USD so there could be slight discrepancies due to currency fluctuations. Although the site is free to use, we do earn commissions from the software companies that we have partnered with. If you click on one of our links and then make a purchase, we will get paid by that company. This has an impact on the ranking, score, and order in which the software is presented in our list and elsewhere throughout the site. Software listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement.