Why VoIP Solutions Are Ideal for Small Businesses

Small business owners know how crucial it is to have good internet because these days, nearly everything relies on it. It’s no secret that the keys to good broadband are speed and reliability. Where available, fibre is typically the best provider of both; it is faster than DSL connections and far more reliable, meaning it’s less likely to experience disruption due to fluctuating speeds or outages.  

But did you know that thanks to these characteristics, fibre enables businesses to utilise other digital solutions which can provide more benefits? One such solution is a Voice over IP (VoIP) phone system, which offers many features that can make lives easier for small business owners. 

What is VoIP? 

VoIP is a way of using the internet to make and receive phone calls. In simple terms, VoIP takes audio signals and transfers them over a broadband connection as data. VoIP solutions (like Voyager Voice) can be used via VoIP-enabled desk phones, or via a softphone option that can be used on a desktop or mobile phone app.  

Benefits of VoIP for small businesses

Cost savings
For small business owners, every cent saved counts. VoIP eliminates the need for expensive on-site phone systems, and instead lets you utilise a cloud-based PABX (Private Automated Branch Exchange; essentially, a private telephone network). Since VoIP is in the cloud, there’s no costly hardware to purchase or maintain.  

For even further reduced up-front cost, the softphone add-on means all you need to use VoIP on your desktop is a headset; or to install the app on your existing mobile phone. 

Control over calling costs 
VoIP gives users complete control and transparency over their calling costs, which means small business owners aren’t left with surprise costs at the end of the month. Many plans are based on per-user, per-month pricing, which allows you to easily add or remove users as required. 

Flexibility 
Since you can make or receive calls with your VoIP number anywhere broadband is available, you can simply take your VoIP-enabled phone with you, plug it in, and talk like you’re still in the office. Those using the softphone app can also make and take calls on their mobile. This kind of flexibility is particularly useful for small business owners that often find themselves working wherever they can, whenever they can. 

Smoother, customised customer experience 
Every industry and business has its own requirements for incoming calls, so a one-size-fits-all phone system isn’t necessarily the best fit. VoIP solutions allow you to customise the way an incoming call is treated. This gives you control over things like directing where calls go, how long they ring for, and if they automatically go to voicemail after hours. You can also utilise an IVR (Interactive Voice Response), which allows callers to select options from a menu. Since good customer experience is key, especially for small businesses, it’s important to provide a pleasant calling experience.

Read more about providing good customer calling experiences here.

By offering such control, features, and customisable options, VoIP systems can help take a lot off the plates of small business owners, which is particularly useful because they wear many hats! Additionally, having a single bill for broadband and phones means one less thing to worry about. 

Expert advice and support 

The thread that ties every good solution together is expertise and support. With limited resources and budgets, it’s not only important for small business owners to choose tools that maximise efficiency and ability (while keeping an eye on costs); it’s also important to choose a provider that offers specialised, dedicated support. 

With so much to juggle, business owners can’t be expected to know everything about everything, and they need to know they can access help quickly when they need it. The experts at Voyager take the time to listen, to understand your unique business requirements and offer solutions that best fit those needs; then go beyond that to support you, with things like recommending and setting up the optimum flow for incoming calls on your phone system. 

Get in touch with Voyager’s dedicated business team on 0800 4 SPEED or at [email protected].