Need to Cut Costs? Switch to a VoIP Solution

rows of VOIP office phones

VoIP, the shortened form of Voice over Internet Protocol, can be considered the latest and greatest in telecommunication. It is a far superior solution to traditional landlines. Some businesses have embraced this technology with open arms. However, others still cling to their landlines as their lives depend on it. At the end of the day, relying on your landline when a VoIP solution exists is basically throwing money away.

The numbers reported below are pulled from a guide put together by Harbor Networks. They show how much the average small business can save by simply shifting telecommunications to a VoIP solution.

The Capital Savings Are No Joke

The first savings you might notice from VoIP are from the costs associated with traditional telephone communications. A report by Telzio states that businesses save up to 50% on monthly communication costs by switching to a VoIP service. Also, this 50% was separate from the additional cost savings from hosted VoIP’s lack of maintenance costs. Thus, further driving the solution’s value. As if that weren’t enough, startup costs for hosted VoIP are low or nonexistent. Additional VoIP cost savings come from those cut from teleconferencing (30%) and local calls (40%).

Enhanced Productivity Leads to Additional Cost Savings

This trend was increasing even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adopt a more flexible stance on remote work. Businesses have been adopting VoIP for a while now to accommodate the increasing requests for remote work. Furthermore, businesses that did saw a significant increase in productivity. Productivity then transforms into savings. Just imagine what your staff could achieve with a 20% boost to their productivity and an average savings of 40 minutes per workday. It can add up quickly!

Hosting Alleviates the Challenges of a VoIP Solution

One of the biggest challenges that come from a solution like VoIP is figuring out who will manage and maintain it. This is especially pertinent for small businesses that have limited resources at their disposal, particularly for IT. If your small business is already struggling to get by and has a limited budget, hosted VoIP offers significant savings. These make managing a VoIP system as easy as can be but much more affordable as a whole.

If you don’t have someone on-premises to manage your VoIP solution, a managed service provider can help to address this shortcoming. We can host your VoIP solution for you and manage and maintain it so that you can focus on making use of it. Only 14% of businesses without full-time IT staff have issues with VoIP, and we think it’s largely because of the existence of MSPs like 4 Corner IT that this number is as low as it is. We strive to make our services as accessible to small businesses as possible, especially those that do not have in-house IT resources.

The longer you wait to implement a solution like VoIP, the more savings you are missing out on. To get started today, reach out to 4 Corner IT at (954) 474-2204.

4 Options for Your Business’ Communication Infrastructure

overhead view of a wooden table with several hands holding laptops and phones and communications graphics overlaid. Communication Infrastructure

Businesses depend on their communication infrastructure to work with clients, vendors, and their staff. Depending on the specific needs of the company, a business might implement any number of communication solutions, all of which have various strengths, weaknesses, and uses. We’ll walk you through some of the most common communication solutions, as well as why you might want them for your company.

We want to kick this off with a quick reminder that all of these solutions here are fully capable of being implemented in a cloud-based environment. This is important because it improves accessibility and allows your team to stay connected no matter where they are!

Now, let’s get into the details.

Email

You likely already have an email server for your business, but if not, then there’s no better time to talk about the benefits. Not only does it let you stay in touch with clients and give your company a professional presence, but it also gives you a way to communicate in-office with your coworkers and staff. It goes without saying how important email is, but you will want to make sure that your solution best suits your company’s needs. One of the big considerations you will have to make is whether you want to host your own or outsource the responsibility to a provider. As always, it depends on your company’s budget and technology management expertise.

Instant Messaging

For cases when emails are not urgent enough, you have instant messaging. Instant messaging allows you to instantaneously connect with people within your company for whatever you happen to need. IMs are particularly useful to get answers to quick questions or to get an immediate response. They can also be helpful for just chatting and staying in touch; group chats can be very effective at building camaraderie and establishing a good company culture.

Voice over IP

Email and instant messaging are more text-based methods of communication, so let’s discuss another method that relies on voice: VoIP, or Voice over IP. VoIP can effectively replace your company’s telephone solution with software for your desktop, laptop, or smartphone. It’s particularly great because it eliminates the need to work with your local telephone company by allowing you to use your Internet connection instead. Plus, VoIP has all of the features that your traditional telephone solution has, plus some.

Unified Communication Infrastructure

Perhaps one of the best ways to stay in touch with your company is with a unified communications solution that includes most, if not all of the above features. It provides a single centralized solution for all of your company’s communication needs. Think of the solutions like Slack and Microsoft Teams–these are great examples of unified communications solutions.

4Corner IT can equip you with all of the important tools you need to boost communications in the workplace. To learn more about what we can do for your business, reach out to us at (954) 474-2204.

VoIP Phone Services: What You Need to Know

voip phone services

VoIP Phone Services What is it?

What used to be called telephony or VoBB (Voice Over Broadband), Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a method of data delivery wherein your voice, or other multimedia, is sent through IP (Internet Protocol) networks or through a packet-switched network. Or more simply and succinct, it allows you to make phone calls over the internet.

VoIP is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for small businesses. Because not only does it provide a cheaper and more reliable alternative to a landline, with fewer overall usage fees and no long-distance charges, it also offers features that typically cost extra for no charge at all. VoIP also is fully integrated so that as long as a proper adapter is placed between the existing phone line and your high-speed internet connection, anyone connected to the network through not only their PC but also smart phones or tablets, can make calls using the VoIP.

What To Look For

Before choosing a VoIP, it is best to consider what the service plan consists of and what features you may need. Here are some key factors in helping you decide.

Service Plans

More than likely the most important decision you’ll make is when deciding on a service plan that works best for you. When researching what you’ll need, look for plans that offer things like unlimited minutes, the ability to make long-distance and international calls, and allow you to keep your existing phone numbers. Decide on additional features like the ability to add second lines, assign toll-free-numbers, and be able to send and receive fax services.

Features

Any plan you choose should include the basics like voice mail, conference calling, and caller ID. But some additional features you may consider are directory 411 assistance, and e911, which will automatically transmit your geographic location and your name to emergency services in the event that you can not voice call.

Ease of Setup

When you make the switch, it should be a simple process. There shouldn’t be a need for previous tech knowledge or complicated directions. Basically, it should be as easy as flipping a switch. Avoid any plan that requires more than this.

Support

If you encounter a problem, the help should literally be a phone call away. Look for a service that offers free support for their products through, not only telephone, but also live chat, email, and stand-alone documentation like FAQ’s through their website.

Bottom Line

VoIP is a rich and viable alternative to traditional phone services. They offer many premiums that are not only cheaper than landlines but are more user-friendly and overall customizable to fit your needs. Put simply, it’s easy to make the switch. For all of your VoIP needs feel free to contact us any time. 4 Corner IT deploys and supports Cloud VoIP systems that increase your technology reach, lower your telecom costs and give you peace of mind.

Also, check out our cabling services!