Most businesses are savvy to the fact that VoIP and unified communications (UC) solutions offer them an impressive array of features and functionality for a comparatively low investment compared to legacy solutions. But choosing from the dizzying variety of VoIP options can be a major challenge for many organizations and IT departments, and taking a few variables into account will help to significantly narrow the playing field.
Quality of service is probably the single most important factor when choosing a VoIP-based communications solution. Latency, echo and dropped calls are simply not acceptable in a business environment, and companies need to examine their own networks and bandwidth to determine the best fit to meet their specific needs.
The easiest way to get a handle on network readiness is to perform a VoIP quality test. This should include measuring upload and download speeds, jitter, packet loss and overall quality of service using the existing network and bandwidth. This type of test will also pinpoint fluctuations in bandwidth speed and highlight any other anomalies.
Slow network speeds are typically the culprit when it comes to VoIP quality of service issues, but queuing and handling of packets can also be an issue. This is where the choice of VoIP solution or service provider becomes critical. A comprehensive solution will offer workarounds for these issues, while a good service provider will be able to adjust and manage bandwidth to better accommodate and prioritize voice packets.
Security is always a concern and VoIP solutions are no exception. Servers must be adequately protected, voice packets encrypted, and regular security audits performed to ensure services are running smoothly and securely. Redundancy should also be built into VoIP networks to ensure quality of service is maintained in the event of a problem or outage.
Ultimately, organizations need to take stock of their existing networks and equipment and then conduct a needs assessment before choosing a VoIP solution or provider. Finding an offering that delivers the functionality and features best suited for their business and that will also work well with existing networks and bandwidth is critical to VoIP success and satisfaction over the long term.
Edited by Alicia Young