The desk phone may be thriving (see 7 Reasons the Desk Phone Isn’t Dead), but telephone landlines are long past their prime.
Instead of Plain Old Telephone (POTS) lines, the latest phone systems leverage internet and cloud technologies to provide voice, data, and video communications.
If you haven’t yet cut the cord on your business landline, here are 7 reasons to finally get your scissors out:
1 – Greater Reliability
Wireless networks are more reliable than the copper-wire infrastructure. About ten years ago, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began the process of shifting its high-cost universal service program from legacy copper networks to next-generation broadband networks and IP-based voice services. Then three years ago, the FCC officially granted telecom providers permission to abandon outdated, degraded copper POTS lines. This means, if a copper wire goes down, your telecom provider can say they are “abandoned in place,” meaning there is no repair service available for it. And, with many copper wires in the ground for 70+ years, landline reliability is just not something you can count on indefinitely.
2 – Cost Effective
VoIP systems are highly cost effective compared to traditional phone services.
- Setup costs are lower.
- Software updates and bug fixes happen via the network, so there are no ongoing maintenance costs.
- Much of your existing infrastructure and equipment can potentially be integrated into the new IP solution.
- Your local and long-distance business communications are consolidated, enabling a single network that can be shared by all organization locations, rather than having to build and maintain multiple networks.
3 – Communication Flexibility
With more customers preferring to communicate via text or email, having a VoIP phone network makes it easy for customers to connect with you via their preferred communication method – call, text, or email.
4 – No Missed Calls
Whether you’re seeing clients, customers, or patients – in the office or outside of it – it’s likely you’re not sitting around at your desk waiting for a call to come through. That means you run the risk of missing business calls because you’re, well, doing business. And, even with voicemail, if you’re not checking your voice mailbox regularly, you could be missing urgent calls.
That’s why a VoIP phone system is good for your business. It connects all your phones, provides call forwarding, and lets you add extensions for employees. And, if multiple customers are calling simultaneously, the virtual phone network expands to accommodate additional incoming calls, so no one hears a busy signal.
5 – Easy Integrations
VoIP easily integrates with your existing business systems, without requiring significant modification of those applications or the existing IT infrastructure. For example, outbound calls can be placed via Outlook or other email systems, and customer records, such as those contained in a CRM, can be viewed during the inbound call with said customer.
6 – Traditional Phone Features and Beyond
Today’s VoIP phones deliver all the same features as traditional phones, such as BLF (Busy Lamp Fields), speed dial, headset compatibility and programmable keys, and so much more!
VoIP services offer advanced features that help small businesses run as efficiently as a larger business.
- Incoming calls are handled as if you had an assistant with features like call forwarding, caller ID, auto-attendant, call transfers, snippets, and auto-replies.
- All end points can have advanced features, such as videoconferencing, document share, and virtual meeting spaces, which increases productivity and simplifies operations.
- Faxes and voicemails can be routed to specific email accounts associated with certain extensions. Other features include group messaging and voicemail to text.
- Shared phone numbers enable multiple teammates to text from a single line, so communications with customers are consistent.
- You can even obtain a phone number with a “local” area code even if your business is not physically based in that location.
7 – Increased Connectivity
The beauty of VoIP systems is that they provide connectivity regardless of where workers are. Beyond the obvious example of remote workers, there are also workers who are on the go throughout the facility or campus. Wi-Fi voice networks can cover every corner of the facility, providing connectivity for mobile workers, such as manufacturing staff, retail staff, restaurant workers, facilities managers, and teachers.
Thinking about getting your scissors out? If so, please reach out. We are happy to talk through options with you.