In 2011, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, there were 5.68 million employer firms in the United States. SMBs make up the majority of that number, as U.S. businesses with less than 500 workers clocked in at 99.9 percent. While these are the businesses that drive our economy, for these smaller-run operations, it seems as though they are lacking in the technology department.
Specifically, SMBs, according to a survey from Allworx (News - Alert) Corp., lack awareness when it comes to the telephone technologies available to them. We all know that VoIP systems come with a host of features, but many of the SMB crowds are missing out.
The survey said that 74 percent of respondents cited communications being rather important to business function, but IP telephony, SIP trunks and other sophisticated systems and features were simply unknown to them.
Small businesses usually don’t have large cash reserves, dedicated research departments, fully-staffed IT functions, strategic planning functions, etc., to address challenges or opportunities, so their resources are extremely limited. VoIP providers are at an advantage to market to this demographic simply by advertising the benefits and features that come with a business phone system.
VoIP can give SMBs an edge when it comes to their communications systems. The most important benefit of VoIP technology is its cost efficiency, which in turn adds to the savings of consumers and companies using it. Generally, it can save almost half of the traditional phone bills, and sometimes more. For small organizations, the savings can translate into a lot.
In addition to home offices, VoIP is available on current smartphones and other mobile devices so small businesses can save on overhead and ditch the rented office. VoIP expands the call cost advantages of a VoIP business phone system to the mobile handset. Staff can make calls from their mobile phone as if they were sitting at a traditional workstation without incurring excess mobile charges.
For the small business, VoIP can be invaluable. Conversely, business VoIP providers see the value in the small business, mostly because they create opportunity.