Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has revolutionized business communications. With the Internet interwoven with sophisticated technologies, modern enterprises are leaning toward VoIP technology to create a more unified communications platform regardless of location, time, or device.
A Future Market Insights research report points to a growing VoIP market. The number of subscribers is expected to reach 204.8 billion by 2020, with estimated revenue of $86.2 billion. Mobile computing devices, phones, and other Internet-based gadgets are also predicted to follow the trend to meet increasing mobility needs.
These trends and other technological changes are the main drivers for the rising interest in VoIP by businesses looking to simplify their communications. The benefits are varied depending on an organization’s goals and needs.
Some of them are:
VoIP is capable of supporting legacy systems while carrying voice, data, and video traffic over one physical network across multiple locations. For unified communications (UC) managers, it means more streamlined communications management, reduced personnel cost, and minimized telephone subscription and long-distance call fees.
Service providers also offer bundled add-on services that are comparatively cheaper than when purchased individually from different vendors. These include video and audio conferencing, voicemail to email transcription, integrated messaging, interactive voice recognition, and auto attendant.
Legacy phone systems can only offer so much, but VoIP technology provides many more opportunities because of its capability of integrating with third-party protocols and applications. Users can hold video conferences, share and exchange images and documents, and work collaboratively from disparate locations. These features help save travel costs and time inherent in the conduct of physical meetings at external venues.
The growing adoption of corporate Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs and the increasing affordability of smartphones and mobile computing devices are behind the booming mobile workforce. American market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts the mobile worker population in the U.S. to grow from 96.2 million in 2015 to 105.4 million in 2020, or almost three-quarters of the total U.S. workforce.
Workers are now able to download work documents from any company-approved device wherever they are and whenever they need to. They can, thus, do their jobs as efficiently as when they are in their offices. This privilege allows them to be more productive while making them more empowered and happier employees.
Everything connected to the Internet has become smart — smartwatches, smart homes, smart refrigerators, driverless cars, self-lacing shoes — so why can’t messaging be smart? Office managers need only select a list of contacts that need the information and push a button to relay information to all concerned parties simultaneously through email, voicemail, text messaging, or phone calls. With a streamlined and more efficient internal communications system, the office can be a happier place to work in.
Satisfied customers become loyal customers from whom companies can expect repeat business. VoIP offers an efficient call management feature to ensure that every customer call is answered. Call routing speeds up customer response time while findme/followme routing directs calls to their intended recipients. Call screening allows prioritization of calls, while instant conferencing promotes a better customer experience.
In a massively networked world, VoIP communication is vital for every business that wants to remain viable and competitive. If you’re considering an upgrade to VoIP, contact us at BlackPoint IT Services for a no-obligation consultation.
