No other technology has had a greater impact on the telecommunications industry than VoIP.
What was once an industry run by massive tech giants that had huge barriers to entry for smaller companies has now become a very accessible service to provide.
The ability to provide services using a high-speed Internet connection alone, without needing to access traditional phone lines has brought a lot more competitors into the industry and a lot more innovation.
Greatly Reduced Costs
The most significant way in which business VoIP technology has transformed the telecommunications industry is that it has made communication in an audio form much cheaper. In many cases, people no longer need to have a phone line connected as they can meet all their telecommunication needs through either their mobile phone or VoIP.
Hosted VoIP pricing has provided significant savings for many who only had a telephone line for phone calls because they can now meet those needs with their existing Internet connection there is no longer a need for the phone line.
This has been a significant saving for individuals but has been an even bigger saving for businesses. If you consider a business that has hundreds of employees, each with their desk phone and their telephone number or extension, that translates to a significant cost when those needs are being met through a traditional telephone line.
However, using VoIP the same benefits and features can be utilized at a greatly reduced cost.
Made It Much Easier
Not only is VoIP a lot cheaper than a traditional phone connection but it can be much easier to use. Depending on whether you use a hosted VoIP solution or subscribe to a cloud service, it could be as simple as signing up for a monthly service, connecting your VoIP phone, and getting on with your business.
Setting up the facilities required to run a traditional telephone system in a building requires multiple different types of hardware and lots of cabling and then lots of handheld devices which gets very expensive very quickly.
Even if you opt for a hosted VoIP service where you install your server and software you can still be up and running for a lot lower cost and maintain it for a much cheaper cost. If you opt for a cloud VoIP solution then it is easier again you simply need to plug in your VoIP phone and your service will be operational.
Increased Remote Work Opportunities
VoIP phone systems have made it much easier for companies to support remote work. Typically, with a traditional phone system if you were not at the business premises where the telephone line was connected then there was no way to be involved in the business.
But with the advent of VoIP technology, remote workers can be anywhere with a high-speed Internet connection and then connect their VoIP phone to their other Internet connection and still dial into the business phone network.
This is not only more convenient for employees as it means they are not required to commute to the office in the same way, but it also provides the business with a much greater pool of potential employees because they are not limited to the area around their business location and can attract potential employees that need more flexibility.
Increased Flexibility
VoIP systems also provide increased flexibility in the way the system can be configured. With a traditional telephone system, everything needs to be wired and structured in telephone hardware which takes physical equipment and expertise from a trained professional.
However, with a VoIP system, given the technology is managed with software instead of hardware, it is a lot easier to make changes and implement things like switchboards and phone menus when they are needed for your business.
You don’t need a telecommunications professional to do this. You either request it through your cloud provider or have your internal staff member make the changes on your VoIP software.
Put The Telcos On Their Best Behaviour
VoIP has been a very disruptive technology to the telecommunications sector. as a result it has made what was once a very profitable business for telecommunications companies a lot more competitive. They can’t rely on their monopolies and their ownership of the underlying assets, they now have to compete for your business, as you have options.
Final Thoughts
it would be an understatement to say that VoIP has turned the telecommunications industry on its head. It opened up the door for many other providers to come into the industry, as the barriers to entry are now a lot lower. This has been a huge improvement for many small businesses that can now structure world-class telecommunications systems without the need for expensive infrastructure and expertise. In many cases, small businesses now no longer need traditional telephone line connections as they can meet their needs, and the needs of their workforce, with VoIP telephone services.