Modernise your phone system to VoIP
With modern technology today – many ways in which we do business have changed. With digital technology and fibre optic broadband bringing new levels of speed and efficiency – this has meant more opportunities for modernising our communications systems.
Dialect Telecom has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. In that time we have been working with businesses of all shapes and sizes across Northamptonshire and beyond – one thing has remained constant: “businesses need dependable communication systems.”
Your customers need to be able to access you when they need to (social media, email, phone, Skype); and you need dependable routes available to support them (internet, phone, email, Skype).
Traditional phone systems
There was a time when we were totally at the behest of the capacity of telephone lines and dial-up systems to be able to have working phone systems and access to the internet. The joys (I guess) of this is that when there was a problem – the number of things that could go wrong were pretty much down to hardware and exchanges, but when they were down, you didn’t have much of a Disaster Recovery option.
Bigger companies would also invest in major internal phone networks – which would cost an arm and a leg, and came with a hefty monthly maintenance service as well. These companies would have a very skilled receptionist who would have to operate a complicated switchboard.
Along with expensive hardware – effective multi-purpose communications were for the businesses that could afford them.
Now…fast forward to today.
More Modern phone systems
With so much advancement in technology, having a smart phone system is now not only available to big businesses – but to smaller ones too.
And…good news for those costly maintenance packages and equipment investment for big businesses – today’s phone systems do not need to be as tedious and weighty on the budget.
The enhancement of cable technology has vastly altered the sea of choice for today’s business owners. So much so, that over the years the cost of transmitting a phone call to any place on Earth within reach of a fibre-optic cable has rapidly approached zero. Bringing the world closer together, and opening up more doors to greatly facilitating global commerce.
It is now possible to have multiple lines or numbers seamlessly implemented and your phone system could look like this:
Enter…the world of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
You may have heard of this term before – and more often than not, it may have been in the context of using tools like Skype. Basically it means the ability to have a phone conversation – using your internet connection as opposed to picking up a phone that is connected to a phone line.
Traditional phone system vs. VoIP phone system
There are a few differences here to share with you:
| Traditional landline business phone system | VoIP business phone system |
| Phone number is connected to the line | Phone number is connected to the handset |
| Handset connected to the phone line (perhaps via your switchboard operator/receptionist if you have one) | Handset connected directly to any Internet Hub anywhere in the World |
| Need an engineer to make upgrades to the system (may mean downtime during a working day) | Software upgrades are done overnight (no downtime) – no extra cost |
| Can make changes to messages and forwarding – but only on handset or via receptionist in the office (who’s often changed staff & the manual has been lost & no one knows how to do it!) | Can handle own forwarding / messaging settings on handset or remotely via the web or can be done for you by Dialect (free of charge!) |
| All incoming and outgoing calls are recorded via cloud based CRM system, either by yourselves, via a media Company or by a provider like Dialect Telecom | |
| Can be moved to another location (away from office) | |
| Have the option for regional phone numbers regardless of where you are located. |
In a nutshell – VoIP gives you a high level of flexibility and with BT announcing that they will be phasing out ISDN Digital Lines (old-school telephone cabling) in favour of high-speed fibre optic cables – now’s the time to think VoIP.
Future proof your communications systems
How we work and where we work has changed so much – even if you look at the last 5 to 7 years. I have found, for so many of my small business clients, a VoIP system has given them:
- Freedom of movement (take your number with you – even if you change offices and change Counties)
- Adaptability for remote working (you can forward your number to your mobile or any other number)
- Flexibility for a team that may be home based or work across the country (or world). They are able to answer and take transferred calls as if they are sitting in the office with you.
- Efficient call management (you can monitor incoming and outgoing calls)
- Free software upgrades with no interference with the working day (as technology improves consistently)
- Manage all call settings on the handset (or via the web application) – forwarding, voicemail settings, diverting, etc
- Can have any regional number (i.e. if you are in Milton Keynes, but also want a London presence…you could have a 0203 number as well as a 01908 number)
So you can see – there are a multitude of benefits to looking at VoIP as an option for your business. The thing I haven’t mentioned is that it’s incredibly cost effective and starts at £8.95 per month – much more palatable wouldn’t you say?
If you are still a little unclear about how it all works – do feel free to ask questions below. I love the work that I do – matching businesses with the right communications system that best serves them.
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