In this time of uncertainty, effective communication has never been more important. VoIP offers several benefits that make it ideal for remote work, even during the pandemic; check out Ooma guide to VoIP phones.
A VoIP phone system allows staff to take calls on any device, so employees can work from home or wherever needed. This provides flexibility and opens up your business to a larger pool of staff.
Cost-Effectiveness
VoIP sends all communications over the Internet, so there are no long-distance fees to consider when managing remote employees. In addition, monthly subscriptions are often more cost-effective than traditional business phone services.
Employees can use their smartphones (provided they have a good enough internet connection) or IP phones and ATAs to connect to the company’s hosted PBX. This gives them the flexibility to work remotely while still appearing professional.
It also means that managers can track employee productivity and engagement anywhere they are located worldwide. The only downside is that VoIP will only work with the Internet or power. This is where POTS phones are much more dependable. However, most companies have backup plans in place to ensure their operations continue even in the event of an outage. Moreover, many business VoIP providers make their software compatible with other collaboration and communication tools that improve workflow efficiency and productivity.
Flexibility
If you use business VoIP phone services, your remote team members can stay connected to customers and co-workers no matter where they are. This is because the service runs over a built-for-business fiber network, which offers more reliable call quality than regular landline or e911 calls, which are vulnerable to internet or power outages.
VoIP does not require clunky hardware and can be installed on any device with a broadband connection. Some VoIP providers offer ATAs that resemble traditional office phones, while others use USB devices that plug directly into computers or laptops.
Depending on your company’s needs, you can also easily scale up or down your system’s number of users. With these features, you can keep your remote team members working as productively as possible – and keep in touch with clients and colleagues. In addition, many companies have 24/7 customer service, so your team can get help day or night.
Convenience
Working remotely can feel isolated for some employees. With a VoIP system, workers can stay connected to the company and remain productive while out of the office.
Worker can use their smartphone to make and receive calls, join video conference meetings, exchange text messages, and more with a cloud-based VoIP service. This software-based solution releases updates and add-ons faster than traditional phone systems, which can require specialized hardware or additional costs.
Additionally, VoIP provides high-definition voice (HD) for better sound quality, and most devices support noise-canceling technology. This can improve call clarity and reduce employee frustration when the phone rings but no one picks up.
Managers can also integrate VoIP telephony with other workflow tools to streamline processes and increase productivity. This can include collaboration tools that allow managers to communicate with their teams, allowing easier sharing of documents and files and automating business processes. This can help eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a smoother process for everyone involved.
Security
Unlike traditional PBX exchanges with physical, onsite equipment that requires maintenance, VoIP phone systems are virtual and don’t require hardware or phones to install. Instead, remote workers need only a laptop and Internet connection to stay connected to the office.
Security measures include audio fencing, which eliminates background noise to create a secure call environment, and encryption protocols that ensure sensitive information isn’t relayed accidentally. It’s also important to encourage team members to follow security best practices, such as installing operating system updates and using strong passwords that are unique and difficult to guess.
VoIP systems also make it easy for customers to reach the right person the first time by routing calls based on rules and criteria that prioritize caller requests. This lowers average call handle times, prevents transfer blunders, and improves first-call resolution rates for distributed teams. Other features, such as automatic call distribution and auto-attendant, add to the flexibility of working remotely.
