Boasting an impressive status as the biggest development in communication since the email, Voice over Internet Protocol may sound a little high-tech and abstract, but chances are you are already using it in your personal life every day.
What is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and how does it work?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a convenient and flexible communication option for businesses, which allows users to make and receive calls using a broadband Internet connection, rather than a traditional phone line.
Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp are all considered VoIP platforms.
The technology was developed in the early nineties when the first internet phone was created, and after making gradual advancements over the following decade, it truly started to take off with the launch of Skype in 2003. Its progression has been significant ever since, with the global market for VoIP services expected to grow from $85.2 billion in 2021 to $102.5 billion by 2026.
But how exactly does it work?
In the simplest terms, VoIP works by converting your voice into a digital signal that travels over the internet. VoIP calls can be made from any mobile phone or computer – or even landline – that maintains a broadband internet connection.
How Covid-19 sparked an increase in the use of VoIP for business
The COVID-inspired shift to remote working has led most businesses around the globe to rely heavily on VoIP as a crucial means of communication. Throughout the pandemic, Zoom and Microsoft Teams became the most well-known and utilised VoIP services for businesses.
In fact, in 2020 alone, Zoom was downloaded more than 485 million times – an exponential increase from 2019, which saw a reported 16 million downloads.
Even more significantly, Microsoft Teams experienced an 894% growth from March to June 2020.
VoIP stood out from the crowd as the only practical option for employers to ensure that their teams could communicate as required to fulfil their job roles, conveniently and cost-effectively.
While it provided a lifeline for businesses to continue operations remotely throughout the pandemic, the popularity of VoIP communication looks set to continue thriving as employees gradually return to the workplace. Businesses have begun to adopt services such as Microsoft Teams for the long haul, with over 500,000 organisations now using the platform as their default messaging service.
What’s more, while many employees worldwide are now officially office-based once again, a CIPD survey found that 77% of HR professionals in Ireland reported that their businesses plan to adopt a hybrid working model for the future.
What are the benefits of VoIP for business?
Cost savings
VoIP is a hugely cost-effective means of communication for businesses, with substantially lower call rates than traditional phone systems, which often charge by the minute. VoIP communication on the other hand will usually be subject to unlimited data usage, depending on which service provider you choose.
Additionally, because the system is enabled using a broadband connection, businesses will have already incurred the costs of installation through their existing communication infrastructure.
Range of features
VoIP communication is not limited to voice calls. Video call, instant messaging, meeting calendars, conference features, call waiting, voicemail and call monitoring are just some of the many additional features that can come with a VoIP service. This allows users to multi-task, have a focus point for communication, and save time.
Integration
VoIP allows for full integration with most major CRM software such as Salesforce, Pipedrive, Hubspot and many more, making it an ideal choice for businesses who will be using the system to communicate with their customers directly.
You can also use VoIP as a hybrid system that can integrate with hardware such as headsets or other on-premises equipment.
Portability and flexibility
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has become popular in workplaces as 85% of companies now encourage employees to work on their own portable devices. This means that employees can access work emails, messages and documents outside of the office when working remotely. It also enables them to join a conference call while off-site.
Using a VoIP system permits individuals to “plug in” seamlessly to their work network, no matter where they are, allowing management and employees alike to benefit from flexible working arrangements.
The key consideration for Voice over Internet Protocol
The feasibility of all VoIP communication relies on having a good internet connection. If your internet is slow, your call quality may be impacted.
The good news is that this can be mitigated by availing of the best ethernet, Wi-Fi and bandwidth for your business. One Contact offers strong, stable, and secure Business Broadband which allows for uninterrupted VoIP services for your business along with both your on-site and remote staff.
One Contact VoIP services
Migrate your business to VoIP in the smoothest way possible with One Contact.
As the single point of contact for all your business telecom needs, we provide installation, maintenance and customer support across business broadband, managed Wi-Fi and VoIP phone systems. This allows you to bundle and save across your different needs with us, and we can help you to integrate systems according to your unique requirements.
Our team is standing by to hear from you. Get in touch with us today to find out more.
