Small Businesses Step Up Their Technology with VoIP
Technology has dramatically changed the way we live and work. Internet technologies are now deeply woven into our daily routines—many of us check our smartphones first thing in the morning and keep them close throughout the day. Despite how essential mobile technology has become in everyday life, small businesses often lag behind in adopting the latest tech trends.
This hesitation is not due to a lack of interest. Many small business owners want to incorporate new technology but face challenges with limited capital. Upgrading technology can seem like an expensive and unnecessary cost. The common mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” leads some owners to believe that technology upgrades are not financially essential. However, investing in the right technology can boost productivity and efficiency, ultimately increasing profit margins. Among the various technologies available, small businesses should consider Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, as a first step.
What Is VoIP and Why Should Small Businesses Step Up?
VoIP is similar to the concept of “cord cutting,” where people replace traditional cable services with internet-based streaming for movies and TV shows. In the same way, VoIP replaces analog phone lines with internet-based phone service. Although the technology behind VoIP dates back to the late 1920s, it only became widely accessible to consumers in the 2000s. For example, MagicJack, introduced in 2007 with the help of entrepreneur Don Burns, was one of the first VoIP devices available to the general public.
Implementing VoIP in your business can be affordable, depending on your current broadband connection and internal network setup. Generally, VoIP and hosted VoIP services cost much less than traditional phone lines. Upgrading to VoIP not only reduces expenses over time but also increases employee productivity, which can lead to higher profits.
Taking the small step of upgrading your phone system to VoIP can result in a significant leap forward for your business. Here are some key ways VoIP technology can transform your small business operations.
How VoIP Helps Small Businesses Step Up Their Operations
One major advantage of VoIP is enabling employees to work remotely. Remote work, once a rare occurrence, has become increasingly common and is here to stay. Around 37 percent of workers have reported telecommuting at least part of the time. Some employees work offsite part-time or only a few days a month.
VoIP technology makes remote work easier for both employees and employers. Even if your business currently has no remote workers, it’s wise to prepare your systems for this type of arrangement. Employee demand for remote work is likely to grow. VoIP systems can be set up easily at remote locations, such as employees’ homes, while maintaining seamless integration with your onsite phone system.
Another benefit of VoIP is improved voicemail management. Many people can relate to working all day and only noticing a blinking voicemail light when leaving the office, unsure how long the message has been waiting. VoIP solves this by transcribing voicemails into emails and sending them directly to the recipient’s inbox. Since people tend to check emails more frequently than voicemails, this feature ensures messages are seen promptly. Voicemails are delivered as audio attachments along with a transcription, making it simple to forward messages to colleagues when needed.
VoIP also helps small businesses handle incoming calls more efficiently with a professional touch. Customers often call with a variety of questions, such as how to reach a specific department, store hours, or directions. Traditionally, a receptionist would manage these calls, but this can create bottlenecks. When multiple calls come in simultaneously, some may go to voicemail, which risks losing customers.
VoIP technology addresses this issue by offering a routing phone menu, also known as a virtual or auto receptionist. Callers can follow voice prompts to reach the right department or get information like store hours through pre-recorded messages. This system reduces wait times and improves customer experience.
Small businesses need to think big when it comes to technology trends. Adopting services like VoIP allows small businesses to compete effectively in today’s market. It transforms business operations into a well-connected, efficient system, helping small businesses step up and thrive in the modern business landscape.
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Source: original article.