VoIP telephone systems: key benefits for small business

Sometimes the technology choices available to small businesses seem confusing, but actually it’s quite simple to enjoy the key benefits of cutting edge internet telephony. Small businesses with either analogue or digital phones are increasingly recognising the raft of benefits offered by embracing technology that provides greater performance for voice and video calls and enhances communications cost effectiveness.  

VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and is also known as internet telephony, is a private telephone network operated through an internet service. Originally, it was only offered to large corporations to use, but now it is available to all size businesses, whatever their requirements, including cloud technology.

This is done via a computer-to-computer system, negating the need for the old circuitry of a traditional telephone system and offering the facility of low cost, secure calls. The potential cost savings enabled by VoIP is probably the primary benefit of VoIP, from a small business perspective.

Cloud based VoIP systems are excellent for expanding businesses that have a set budget for communication and storage, additional lines can be added and sent to the cloud as the client chooses. Cloud data storage can be obtained either via a private cloud protected by the company’s dedicated firewall, public cloud storage comes from a service provider on a multi-tenant basis and the hybrid cloud is a combination of the private and public clouds with at least one of each in operation.  

SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, technology is frequently adopted for a VoIP system. SIP routes telephone calls from a client’s private branch exchange within the VoIP system to a circuitry based public switched telephone network, also known as PSTN.

VoIP works at internet hotspots offering full flexibility for making calls or call/messages pick up opportunities. This results in the level of service offered by field staff and home workers being enhanced. This is a major benefit for many small businesses, which are increasingly employing flexible workers.

VoIP telephone systems can be owned outright or businesses can rent a hosted system. Hosted VoIP telephone systems are ideal for small businesses because the service is managed and maintained by the provider, thereby reducing on-site IT expenditure. The hosted service is charged on a per-user basis, which is a cost-effective model for small companies with fewer users.

Voicemail, call waiting and call transfers are standard features, but here are some examples of the extra key benefits of a VoIP telephone system:

• Video conferencing at HD standard.
• Voice conference calls at the highest performance levels.
• Extensions are easily located and operational via the VoIP system.
• Quick access for field staff to voicemail with message notifications.
• Call diverting to a selection of numbers before the voicemail function is activated.
• Voicemail to e-mail transcribed messages.
• On hold music.
• Door entry system connectivity.

• Do not disturb option.
• Call screening.
• Call activity reporting tools.
• Call recording facilities.
• Training facilities with barge and whisper options for on call assistance from management for team members.
• Powerful but lower cost communications to the small business.
• Improved customer service.
• Easy to expand systems, serving today’s needs as well as those of the future.

VoIP is perceived as the future of telephony; it’s not only financially kind, but perfect for the everyday user and particularly well-suited to the needs of the small business.  

Midland Networks supplies VoIP telephone systems in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. For more information, get in touch today.