Internet, VoIP are the Future of Business

All of the technology new year predictions aside, one constant that has been reliable and ever-evolving has been the Internet and the need for more bandwidth. Or, more specifically, how we use the Internet to do the things we do; VoIP, messaging, video conferencing, websites – all of these have become the hub of all of the business spokes. So, is it safe to say that the future of business relies heavily on the Internet and, more to the point, business VoIP? Well, in a way, yes.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become one of the most innovative additions to telecommunication technology within the last decade. Business VoIP allows businesses large and small to use their existing high-speed Internet connection as a phone line, thereby allowing the company to sever ties with the Big Phone Company and reducing costs, bills, and overall complexity.

The biggest attraction to VoIP has been its cost effectiveness. Because VoIP services are nearly always cheaper than a service contract with the Big Phone Company, it means more money on the bottom line.

Integration is another feature of VoIP, which has made it attractive to businesses and helped shaped the day-to-day processes of businesses. Smooth integration with e-mail programs, or with other office and other applications allows users to do more things in more ways than before. The mobile workforce can stay connected to their home offices, making it seem as if they never left their physical desks. Messaging has become more efficient, and portability has never been easier. It’s easy to make extended international or interstate calls without incurring huge call costs. Sharing files, keeping track of large client lists, accessing call information and history – these are much simpler than they used to be.

The Web and VoIP have simplified the overall conferencing process, as these technologies have shaped connectivity by reducing the sense of distance. Video conferencing is now extremely affordable and employees working with remote partners or clients from a distance can work more closely than ever before. While phone and video conferencing might have once been a carefully planned out activity, as video conferencing is now inexpensive, spontaneous video conferencing has boosted the teamwork efforts of remote teams working together.

A lot of analysts have said the future is in the cloud, and as VoIP has evolved, it has done so with newer technologies like cloud computing. Many VoIP service providers now have their platforms located in the cloud, which means it’s far easier to turn the tap on and off, and scale up or down as business needs increase or decrease.

Business VoIP has not only changed the way that companies communicate by making it cheaper, more comprehensive, and more inclusive, it’s also still a work in progress. As telecommunications become more refined, perfected and evolved, so too, does business VoIP. With new innovations taking place all of the time, VoIP has been a true constant, keeping communications costs and processes streamlined and efficient. The pace of technology means that solutions like business VoIP can be all the more powerful and cost-effective in the near future.

Edited by Alisen Downey