Should I switch to VoIP?

Within each community there are businesses that have been the stalwart, central part of our growing existence and have provided the stability for other surrounding businesses and residents that is needed in order to have a thriving society. Those businesses, though, that have often been the mainstay for each community’s benefit, that have been with us for many years, even decades, are sometimes the ones that are the most reluctant to make changes in their foundational operational structure. And, when faced with a decision to make, these businesses, that we love and trust, are probably the most likely to ask, “Should I switch to VoIP?”

If you are not sure what VoIP is exactly, check out our blog, “What is VoIP?

Learn To Adapt

Never before has this been so important, perhaps, as the conversation surrounding technology and the
Internet, and perhaps even more so, regarding Voice over IP services. Businesses that have learned to
adapt are the ones that have seen the most growth in the past several years, and the ones that will
thrive amidst the ever-changing landscape before them. Yet, though these businesses must understand what Voice over IP (VoIP) communications are, and how Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) can benefit them.

“The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change” – Bill Clinton

Simply put, Voice over IP communications (VoIP) refers to the ability to communicate via a computer
network and over the Internet in order to connect with customers. You can read more about that here.
Unified communication as a service (UCaaS) is the taking of that VoIP communication and creating a
platform which allows you to interact with your customers in various ways including mobile apps, CRM
integration, SMS text messaging, standard phone calls, and more.
But even after understanding what these platforms can do, you may still be left wondering – How can I find the best business phone system? And, should I
switch to VoIP?

Reasons Not To Switch

The simple answer is, yes, with a caveat. The truth is that all communication is now moving toward a
digital horizon. Even the very large and traditional telephone companies are doing away with their dated landlines, which costs them a premium to maintain, and are deploying Voice over IP networks in order to continue providing telephone service to their customers. Soon, gone will be the days of all landlines in favor of the more flexible and cost-effective IP phone.

I Want To Maximize My Return On Investment (ROI)

Knowing that, it makes sense that a business that wants to continue to thrive would readily make the
switch to voice over IP. However, there are some obstacles that need to be overcome in doing so. The
first of which may be ROI for current infrastructure investments. Put simply, it’s possible you may have
already spent quite a bit of money in your current system somewhat recently and it’s difficult to justify
making a change in your phone system infrastructure without getting the full use out of your current
platform.

I Don’t Have The Right Infrastructure

Another potential reason why customers may not be ready to make the jump is that they may not have the money for the physical infrastructure required to support voice over IP. While many older phone systems rely on standard Cat 3 telephone wiring, IP phones use Cat 5/6 cabling to operate. This may mean that if you have an extensive telephone infrastructure, there will also be some investment into ensuring that your internal network can support your newly installed phones. There are ways to avoid this cost however, including opting for PC softphones and mobile apps instead of physical desk phones. But that is a topic for another day.

I Don’t Know Enough About It

Then there is the primary driver behind the reason that many Business owners are on the fence
regarding making the switch to voice over IP. Ignorance. The truth is, we are all ignorant. We go through
life learning new things every day. If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself curious about the
world and how things work, why things are, and how you can relate to it. But, when it comes to VoIP and
network technology, many find themselves in an uncomfortable position trying to understand a concept that they may feel is beyond them, or that just may take up so much time and energy, that they would rather not deal with it. This is the “head in the sand” stance.

There was a time when this was not as crucial as it is today. When a decade or two could go by with very little change in the fundamental shift of day-to-day business activity. We are no longer living in that time.

Consider Making The Jump

Consumers are being trained that they can now communicate as patrons to their favorite businesses in a variety of ways. They want to call, text, chat, e-mail, and have web meetings. They want their company to know them when they call, know their history, and predict their next purchase. As a society, we are being trained that the business world is going to mold around who we are, and not the other way around.

This is where UCaaS becomes highly important. A unified communication platform allows a business to
customize their interaction with their customers. Now you can publish your primary business number
and allow your customers to call or text that number. By masking the phone number they’re calling from via their PC or mobile app, you can allow your workers to work remotely without giving out their
personal cell phone numbers or losing productivity. You can now interact with customers via web
meetings, making it easier to meet with a customer or a vendor without having to leave the comfort of
your office or home. With CRM integrations, you can now immediately have populated in front of you all
of your customer’s information and purchase history as soon as they call into your business, making your customer feel that you really know them personally and are dedicated to providing top-notch customer service.

All of this, just by changing the business phone system that you are currently using.

What is the True Cost?

So, what is the true cost of switching to a hosted unified communication system via VoIP? The answer
may surprise you. While there was a time when even basic phone systems may have cost a minimum of $5,000 to $10,000 or more, much of that cost is now reduced when considering that premium IP phones can be purchased for under $200 per handset. There is no need for an expensive onsite PBX, since the operation of these phones is controlled in the cloud.

Apart from this, the service for these cloud hosted phone systems can often save a company 30% or
more over their current land lines. In addition, if a company already has an existing unified
communication system, and has had it for some time, prices for this service have been in flux over the
past few years, and might be less than when they originally had purchased it.

But the real cost related to switching to a VoIP unified communications platform may be the cost of not
doing it at all. This is considered opportunity cost. Oxford defines this as “the loss of potential gain from
other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.” The result is that there is so much to gain by
embracing the technology that is now shaping our world, that to stick our heads back in the sand in
order to not have to deal with it may be the biggest cost of all.

Those businesses that position themselves to embrace this technology and interact with their customers in new in different ways over the next five years are going to be the companies that find the greatest growth spikes and customer retention in an economy which is all too volatile.

Learn Your Options

So, how can you find the best business phone system? I encourage you to take the time out to learn what VoIP and UCaaS can do for your business. If need be,
go to YouTube and just began searching these terms so that you can get the bigger picture and what they are all about. You also check out our Frequently Asked Questions page to get some quick answers. If you haven’t already check out our article on 7 Tips for choosing a work-from-home business phone system.

Or, better yet, contact one of our consultants today. It is our gift and privilege to help educate our
customers and prepare them for the technology transition that is inevitable and that will propel them
into profitability in the years to come. We look forward to hearing from you!