The Benefits of VoIP

10 Top VoIP Benefits Benefit #1: Much easier to install & configure than a proprietary phone system: VoIP runs as software on a computer and can leverage the advanced processing power of the computer and user interface as well as Windows’ features. Anyone proficient in networking and computers can install and maintain an IP PBX. By contrast a normal phone system often requires an installer trained on that particular proprietary system! Benefit #2: Easier to manage because of web based configuration interface: A VoIP PBX can be managed via a web-based configuration interface or a GUI, allowing you to easily maintain and fine tune your phone system. Benefit #3: Significant cost savings using VOIP providers: With an IP PBX you can easily use a VOIP service provider for long distance and international calls and the monthly savings are significant. If you have multiple office sites, you can easily connect phone systems between branches and make free phone calls. Benefit #4 Eliminate phone wiring! An IP Telephone system allows you to connect hardware phones directly to a standard computer network port (which it can share with the adjacent computer). Software phones can be installed directly onto the PC. You can now eliminate the phone wiring and make adding or moving of extensions much easier. In new offices you can completely eliminate the extra ports to be used by the office phone system! Benefit #5: Eliminate vendor lock in! VoIP PBXs allow you to mix and match any SIP hardware or software phone with any SIP-based IP PBX, PSTN Gateway or VOIP provider. In contrast, a normal phone system often requires more advanced phone handsets to use advanced features, and proprietary extension modules to add features. Benefit #6: Scalable Most phone systems are easy to outgrow and it’s expensive to add more phone lines or extensions. In some cases you need an entirely new phone system. With an IP PBX: a standard computer can easily handle a large number of phone lines and extensions – just add more phones to your network to expand! Benefit #7: Better customer service & productivity: With an IP PBX you can deliver better customer service and better productivity because you can easily integrate phone functions with business applications. For example: When you receive a call from an existing customer, you can automatically bring up the customer record and thereby dramatically improve customer service and cut cost by reducing time spent on each call. Outbound calls can be placed directly from you computer and remove the need to type in the phone number. Benefit #8: Twice the phone system features for half the price! Since an IP PABX is software-based, it is easier for developers to add and improve feature sets. Most VOIP phone systems come with a rich feature set, including auto attendant, voice mail, ring groups, advanced reporting and more, which are often very expensive in a normal phone system. Benefit #9 Allow hot desking & roaming Hot desking is the process of being able to easily move offices/desks based on the task at hand and has become very popular recently. With a traditional PBX you require extensions to be re-patched to the new location. With an IP PBX the user simply takes his phone to his new desk – No patching required! VoIP users can roam too – if an employee has to work from home or from a hotel room, he/she can simply fire up their SIP software phone and answer calls to their extension, just as they would in the office. Calls can be diverted anywhere in the world because of the SIP protocol characteristics! Benefit #10 Better phone usability: VoIP phones are easier to use Many employees struggle using advanced phone features such as setting up a conference, transferring a call etc and with a traditional PBX it all requires instruction. VoIP phone system features are easily performed from a user friendly Windows GUI. In addition, you’ll know the status of other extensions and of inbound lines and call queues through the computer software. Investing in a software-based IP PBX makes a lot of sense, not only for new companies buying a phone system, but also for companies who already have a PBX. A VoIP phone system delivers significant savings in management, maintenance, and ongoing call costs and should be the obvious choice for any company