More and more companies are implementing hosted voice over IP (VoIP) solutions as a replacement for traditional landline phone networks. Recent research has demonstrated that many customers still prefer phone interactions over website browsing if they are looking for a discussion or more detailed information, meaning voice technology had to evolve in a way that interacts seamlessly with today's Internet-centric infrastructure. Hosted VoIP solutions offer numerous benefits over landline systems that help businesses optimize operations while ensuring better experiences for management, employees and customers alike.
One of the most apparent - and helpful - advantages of hosted VoIP systems is the drastic reduction in cost. In addition to much lower rates across the board, there is no need for purchasing expensive hardware to get the system up and running. The provider maintains the necessary hardware offsite while the actual system runs in the cloud so the business does not need to deal with any infrastructure.
On top of these lowered costs, many features that would cost extra on traditional phone systems are completely free. This includes many that are vital to running a business with lots of customer interactions, such as voicemail, auto attendant services, call forwarding and message alerting. In addition these services are accessible via a smartphone app instead of a dedicated device, making it nearly impossible to be more convenient for the business and its employees.
Most solutions are scalable, so businesses only need to pay for the number of lines and features they actually use. Clients can branch out into multiple offices or allow employees to work remotely with virtually no impact on cost, since the system is not tied to any specific location. These businesses are thus able to operate with complete flexibility and freedom from the many constraints and intrinsic squandering of resources associated with outdated alternatives.
Edited by Alisen Downey