Compared to an on-premises VoIP, a hosted or cloud-based VoIP will host all software and hardware. Other than physical phones, everything else is virtual. Therefore, there are no expensive hardware costs, nor will you need staff to manage the system. On-premises VoIP phone systems are installed at the company’s office and are operated by the company’s personnel. Due to all support calls addressed by the company’s provider, service responsiveness and flexibility are crucial as they can impact daily operations.
The right phone system is crucial for your business. Effective communication can be the difference between success and failure. However, phone systems can often go overlooked until problems arise. It is essential to know of the differences between both VoIP options to make the right decision for your business. We have listed the best benefits of a hosted VoIP and how its features can make the workday easier.
Number porting is often the first worry that comes to mind when switching to a new system. You may ask yourself, what happens to all the business numbers? Will I lose numbers my customers have been using for years? Think of the costs if you had to change your business phone numbers. Marketing emails, signage, and advertisements would need to be altered, not to mention extensions and emails.
Number porting is a problem you do not need to worry about when switching to a hosted VoIP system. It could take a few days to finish the process, but if you have the relevant details and your provider has numbers available, there is no need to worry.
The next topic that may come across your mind is installation. One would assume a small business with few phones would be easier to set up than a company with 40 to 50 phones. If every phone only takes 20 minutes, it will take a few days to set up every phone. That is where auto-provisioning comes in.
Auto-provisioning is a feature that helps businesses start using VoIP immediately, without having to wait for days to be installed. It is the VoIP equivalent of plug and play’s functionality. All you need to do is plug in the phones and provision from a central location — no need to mess around with individual settings on each phone. Once up and running, employees can set their preferences to their requirements.
Call recording can be overlooked, yet it is critical for many companies. Many companies are required to record calls to comply with strict regulations. While others may record calls for training purposes. Recording phone calls help to protect your company from potential legal action and can provide valuable customer insights. Many companies still do not record company calls in this tech charged era. Not recording company calls is also due to the hassle of setting up a separate system dedicated to documenting these calls. Switching to a hosted VoIP means you can record calls without the added software or hardware.
Logging calls as they happen is essential for all kinds of reasons. Firstly, a record of calls can track fraud or unauthorised use. Secondly, you may want to track calls made by teams or individuals for analysis. These uses will answer questions such as: does call volume increase on certain days? Are there more people required on the phones in the morning rather than in the evening?
A hosted VoIP allows you to access call logs, including time, date, duration, ring time, and many more details. This data streamlines operations and optimises efficiency. For example, assign more workers to the phones during busy times and re-assign them when they are no longer needed.
Setup and configuration is another part of using a new phone system. Once the phones are up and running, you must think about managing the system every day. With hosted VoIP, this a simple process. All you need to control the phone is a web browser; no need to be an expert. Your hosted VoIP will have an easy to use dashboard. You can access, configure, and maintain your entire system from one place.
Need telecommunications cabling experts in the London area? Our experts specialise in VoIP telephone systems and are happy to answer any queries you may have. Call a member of our team on 0207 630 6094 or email us at hello@datacableinstallation.co.uk.