What is VoIp?
Voice over internet protocol uses the internet to make calls through a phone system. Unlike traditional telephone communications VoIP saves huge costs for businesses that rely heavily on communication in their work. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are embracing this technology to cut down costs and increase work efficiency.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing a VoIP Service
VoIP or voice over internet protocol is one popular way to make calls internally and externally. If you are a business owner this is not something that may be easy for you to decide on as there are multiple types of services available and choosing the right one can be complicated. However there are multiple business VoIP providers in the market, to help you find the right package for your business needs.
Here are some of the factors to take into consideration before choosing the right voice service with all required features. The process can be tricky because providers have different offerings that can tailor your business. Let’s look at some factors that will help you find the right VoIP service.
1. VoIP Security
Strong security features should be a high priority in business communication. Look out for VoIP services that provide highly secure end to end encryption. It’s also great if you are using a virtual private network service or VPN especially when working in a co-working space. A VPN is a secure connection. It helps in shielding your browsing activity from the eyes on public Wi-Fi. When you use VPN to make a voice call you are guaranteed for top notch security and total freedom.
2. Prices vs Features
VoIP services go from basic to advanced with different features. Pick and choose the ones that meet your business needs. Ask your VoIP provider to design a tailored package for your business and weigh your options to get the most optimal features for the price you are paying. It is important as a small business that you don’t just think about your current requirements but also keep in mind your future communication requirements as your business scales. Once you know what features you need that’s when you start looking at prices from various VoIP providers.
3. Tools for Communication
Small businesses in this age are flatter in hierarchy and prefer to work and interact freely among employees and with clients. Providers are including tools such as SMS, video calling and online meeting in your voip package. Additional services are also available such as screen sharing, calendar integration and custom apps. You can also choose to integrate third-party apps such as dropbox and Google Drive which helps ease your workflow. What tools you will need depends on the working environment in your business. Make sure to ask your provider if they can fit these into your package.
4. Customer Service and Support
This is the one of the most crucial things to look out for when choosing a VoIP service. Does your voice service provider offer 24 seven support? Will you be able to add more users if required without any hassle? Is there any live chat support in case you have a quick question? Especially during the initial stage your VoIP may run into some problems and a dedicated customer support needs to be available at all times to take care of issues that can pop up suddenly. A strong support mechanism becomes a deciding factor when choosing the right VoIP service.
5. Integration of Third Party Apps
Your VoIP infrastructure should be able to accommodate third-party apps for better internal and external communications. By using external extensions and integrating them with VoIP systems you can ensure to work more efficiently. Integrating with your CRM software or cloud will help streamline your business process. As a small business talk to your provider to understand more about API integrations and how you can use voip integrations to improve business efficiency.
Author Bio:
Valli Vishnubhotla is a Digital PR Manager working at Market Inspector. She has 4 years of experience in creating content, designing infographics, link building, and PR networking. Her work has been published in sites such as Entrepreneur, Creativebloq, Designtaxi, and Techstars.
Image courtesy of FreePik.
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