VoIP, the acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol has become not only an essential service for small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs) and virtual workplaces, it’s cost-efficient as well.
In addition to consolidating all your business communication needs under one umbrella, VoIP is exceedingly more affordable than landlines of the past and increases productivity in both physical and virtual workplaces.
Affecting Bottom-Lines
More and more, SMBs are now seeking out cloud-based VoIP technology for their business phone systems since hosted offerings of this type are more flexible. The migration from legacy telecom systems to VoIP not only eased management interaction, it’s also how employees prefer to work in today’s business milieu.
By placing calls over the Internet, rather than over copper or fiber-optic cables, costs per call are no longer influenced by geography, while the infrastructure needed to setup and maintain such a system is minuscule in comparison to what POT units use to require.
Also, the robust functionality and virtual interface with VoIP service companies is an attractive enticement that attracts SMBs to companies such as Telzio.
Encouraging Collaboration
VoIP is an advanced technology that allows your staff and team members to work together more effectively and share information more expediently. For example, instead of waiting for email responses for your last shipping inquiry or sales quota, you can simply pick up the phone and call the appropriate department to obtain a quick update, based on a call flow system customized for your company.
VoIP services are also designed to handle multiple software applications, such as videos and/or other multi-media files. Likewise, more and more SMBs are using collaborative tools such as Slack and Zoom for conferencing and connecting virtual workplaces. This makes the sharing of vital information incredibly fast and simple.
To that end, Telzio has become the first full-service, cloud based communications service provider to integrate with Atlassian’s chat service, enabling teams to get instant updates from Telzio in their HipChat rooms — such as, missed calls, text messages and voicemail notifications.
Supporting Remote Workers
According to a recent report by TINYpulse, 37 percent of U.S. workers are now telecommuting for their jobs. Twenty years ago, only 9 percent were doing so. Advances in VoIP technology is one of the major reasons for the shift to virtual workplaces, where cost is no longer a barrier to entry.
As has been proven out, telecommuters are more productive than the traditional commuters of the past.
In fact, 91% of remote workers believe they “get more work done when working remotely.”
Remote workers also feel they are more in control of their destinies by working from home or on-the-road. This new dynamic creates a greater sense of enjoyment employees feel about their work, and in turn, prompts them to become more productive.
On the employer side of the equation, SMB operators can retain these ‘happy’ employees for longer periods of time.
Reducing Voicemail Time
If you are currently working for an SMB, you know how easy it is to miss an important incoming phone call. This results in you having to spend a portion of your already busy, hectic day to listen to all of those voicemails and then respond accordingly.
Overcoming that time-laden exercise, a small business VoIP service such as Telzio can actually convert your voicemails into emails, which become much easier to manage. According to the Business Insider, we’re more likely to check our emails than our voicemails.
Voicemail transcriptions convert voicemails to text. Telzio users receive voicemails by email with a link or as an attachment and the transcription of the voicemail in the body of the same email.
Managing Calls
Do you remember the days when your office phone was constantly ringing off the hook all day long? Those were the times when it became most difficult to complete other pressing matters.
Now with a fully integrated VoIP service, you can effectively manage phone calls so you can continue to work, without being disturbed. This is based on the automated features baked into a VoIP’s package plant, which include IVR menus that greet and direct callers to the right department, the ‘do not disturb’ options, which redirects callers to voicemail — in addition to off-hours messaging, a virtual waiting room (in the form a waiting queue) and caller ID that allows you to easily manage incoming calls.
Improving CRM
All the above, and much more helps to improve an SMB’s customer relationship marketing. Since VoIP systems are computer based, you can benefit from the many interfaces they have established through business alliances.
Zapier is master-app that can interface and access the majority of apps employees have downloaded to their cell phones. With this software you can connect to apps intuitively, allowing for automated multi-tasking. Recently, Telzio launched a new integration with Zapier, which is now offered to all of its customers at no additional charge.
On the CRM side of things, using Telzio and Zapier you can create a note in a Google spreadsheet, initiate a case in SalesForce, and/or send individual or mass emails to your customers, all at the same time – talk about a time-saver!
Tip of the Iceberg
This and so much more is available to companies and employees using a small business VoIP service that addresses the needs of smaller organizations. You can also use your own ingenuity as to how best to use this enhanced technology. Working with a service like Telzio, you can then customize your VoIP experience to better fit your individual preferences.
With that said, how have you used VoIP, and how has it made your physical and virtual workplaces more productive?