Most businesses today are moving toward the light and implementing VoIP Phone Service. Specifically, cloud-based services are quickly taking over as the technology of choice for business, with traditional analog phone systems or even IP-based on-site systems becoming the way of the past. As evidenced by Toshiba's announcement that it is exiting their phone system business and Avaya's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Hosted VoIP phone deployments are taking over the market.
Join the Resistance. Is your current analog phone system on life support? Are you finding it difficult to secure parts for the system, replacement phones, or locating a service company to support the system? Are you intrigued by the features and benefits other businesses are enjoying with their cloud-based VoIP phone service? Well, it is time to investigate your alternatives!
Businesses in this situation are finding that moving their phone service to a Hosted VoIP provider is very economical, both in the short-term and over time. The up-front capital required is a fraction of the investment in an on-site phone system. Additionally, there is no need for service contracts, as you are only investing in the VoIP phones required for your business. Concern over future parts availability or obsolescence of your system is totally alleviated with a cloud-based phone system.
You Must Learn the Ways of VoIP. As a part of your research and consideration, check out the websites of Hosted VoIP providers and engage in a few conversations with their sales associates. You should see features that will help your business transform your communication practices, internally and externally. This includes items your current analog system cannot do, like connect multiple locations, allow for a seamless implementation of remote or mobile workers, and be easily programmed to match or enhance your desired call flows. Automated attendants, voicemail to email, virtual faxing, overhead paging integration, direct dialing to associates, and find-me/follow-me features are just a few of the advanced communication features businesses have enjoyed once moving to a Hosted VoIP platform.
These are not the VoIP Providers you are Looking for. Like any decision, choosing your partner is important. There are many entrants into this market, including traditional telecom providers who are trying their hand at a hosted service. Making the move to Hosted VoIP is an opportunity to remove yourself from the shackles of working with the large telecoms, or even large VoIP companies, and find a local or regionally focused company that provides customer service the way you expect and deserve. Some Hosted VoIP providers even take care of all of your phone system administration, rather than provide a self-servicing portal. This keeps you focused on your business and not dividing the attention of you or your staff on your telephone operations. So, in your investigative calls, find those providers that meet your specific requirements, both from a feature set and approach to customer service.
So, conduct an investigation today and transform your business! May the VoIP be with you!
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of a variety of VoIP phone solutions and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and has a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
