As VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) continues to gain dominance in both the private and commercial communication sectors, it would help to know why people are flocking to internet based phone calls and ditching outdated PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems.
One of the number one reasons is affordability, but not just in the way you might initially assume. Yes, using VoIP as your primary means of communication can lower costs associated with traditional telephone bills and long distance calls – but for businesses there is an even more important money-saving factor to consider; SIP trunking.
SIP TRUNKING: LOWER COSTS, MORE SAVINGS
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) trunking is a communications protocol for signaling and controlling audio and video sessions within a VoIP PBX. SIP trunking has become the most popular protocol for VoIP telecommunications for various technical reasons, but one of the most important is how much it can reduce telecom costs for businesses.
REDUCE EQUIPMENT COSTS
SIP trunking allows businesses to eliminate the need for physical telephone system hardware, such as the clunky plastic phones on your desk or even the excessive amounts of wiring that needs to be installed. With a VoIP system using SIP trunking, everything can be performed wirelessly and without the reliance on a physical phone; you can have all calls routed through your computer speakers or cell phone and delivered via your existing internet connection (though some people still like physical phones, which is where Softphones come in; physical phones connected to your VoIP network).
CENTRALIZED VOICE SERVICES MANAGEMENT
By utilizing SIP trunking on your company servers, all telecommunications management is under your control and at your fingertips. No more outsourcing to telecom companies or IT contractors; your own team can handle all the connections, extensions, and settings associated with your VoIP communication system. The best part is that if something goes wrong there is no suffering while listening to the “On Hold” music of your phone provider, as everything is dealt with in-house.
IMPLEMENTATION IN DAYS VS WEEKS
On-premise SIP trunking of your VoIP phone systems allows for rapid roll-out of your new phone service. Instead of being at the mercy of major telecom providers service reps who give unreasonably long windows of opportunity and weeks long schedules, your SIP managed VoIP PBX can be installed in a matter of days. Your existing IT personnel can handle all the settings and connections with relative ease at their own pace, enabling you to switch over to your new system quickly and seamlessly.
IMMEDIATE CALL-REDIRECTION IN EMERGENCY
One of the most frustrating aspects of traditional telecom PBX systems is that if your phones get cut off for whatever reason – extreme weather, power outages, technical issues, etc. – you often have to wait hours or even days to get important calls redirected to a different number or line. For many businesses, this can be disastrous as every missed call could be a missed opportunity. With SIP trunking and VoIP phones, you can have all calls redirected to a specified number in case of a system down issue, ensuring you never have to worry about worst case scenarios interrupting business.
NO MORE LONG DISTANCE CHARGES BETWEEN LOCATIONS
No conversation about VoIP phone systems is complete without mentioning the cost savings on long distance calls. Many large companies have branches in different states or even countries, and it can become expensive if you frequently communicate between locations. By connecting the different SIP trunks of your various branches VoIP phone system, you can completely eliminate long distance charges thanks to each location being in a connected network. This alone is often enough of a boon to some businesses to convince them to switch to VoIP telecommunication systems.
These are just the benefits of using SIP trunking for VoIP communications; the reasons to switch over to VoIP for your business PBX are near-endless, as efficiency and productivity is increased and costs lowered simply by removing the physical aspect of your phone systems.