5 Key Components to Consider When Building a VoIP Phone System
VoIP calls transmit data over the Internet, so a reliable network connection is crucial. Check your bandwidth to ensure you have enough speed to handle business calls. Look for a stable, secure Ethernet connection that prioritizes VoIP traffic and avoids congested networks.
Here is what you need to consider when you create a VoIP phones (guide by Ooma): Ensure the solution you choose integrates with popular collaboration tools for increased productivity. It should also allow you to add teammates without requiring new hardware or phone lines so that you can scale with company growth.
Voice Quality
Having crystal-clear VoIP calls is key to your company’s communications. Static, hissing, and other sound issues can damage your brand, but most problems can be fixed.
When you speak into a VoIP phone, the raw audio gets converted into digital data packets and sent across the Internet. These packets get transmitted through various electronic devices and a server before reaching their destination, where they are uncompressed to produce an audio signal for the person on the other end of the call.
VoIP voice quality requires a stable internet connection. Bandwidth limitations, sharing a network with data-heavy applications, or having inadequate internet service plans can lead to choppy audio. A good internet service provider can help pinpoint these problems and recommend solutions.
Network Capabilities
Unlike traditional landlines that require a private branch exchange (PBX) system with trenched and laid wires, VoIP uses existing computer networks for communication. This means that employees can answer calls using their computers, smartphones, or tablets as long as they have internet access.
Businesses need adequate upload bandwidth for the number of simultaneous VoIP calls they expect to make. They should also ensure that their firewall and routers prioritize VoIP traffic over regular web data.
Lastly, they should look at a VoIP vendor’s quality of service policies to see how effective these are in managing voice transmission quality. Quality of service can reduce latency and jitter, improving call quality and allowing businesses to avoid costly bandwidth issues. In addition, they should look at a VoIP provider that offers business tool integration to enable their calls to be synchronized with other collaboration and communication platforms.
Voicemail
Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP calls are transmitted via the Internet. This means it’s difficult for third parties to track your caller’s location. This can be positive or negative, depending on the situation.
A VoIP phone system lets you make and receive business calls from your computer, laptop, or mobile phone. You and your team can work wherever you have a good internet connection.
VoIP systems are also easy to scale up alongside your company’s growth.
Call Routing
Depending on the rules set within your phone system, call routing can save you time and money by directing calls to the right person at the right moment. This powerful feature can help you deliver the exceptional customer service your business deserves while improving team productivity.
To ensure that your VoIP solution is effective, having the correct technical infrastructure in place is important. This includes routers, VoIP adapters, headsets, and a stable internet connection with enough upload bandwidth to support your call volume. It’s also a good idea to test your internet speed using a broadband speed tester. This will help you determine whether or not your network can handle a VoIP upgrade. If it can’t, your business may need to invest in stronger and more reliable broadband internet.
Scalability
With a VoIP phone system, you can easily scale up to meet the growing needs of your business. However, you must determine how much call traffic you expect before you can do that. You’ll also want to know how much data each minute of a VoIP call consumes and whether or not your current internet connection can handle that.
One way to do this is by running a VoIP speed test. Another is to ensure you have a wired internet connection because it’s more stable than wireless connections.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure your VoIP phone system can support remote work frameworks. This is essential for improving employee productivity and boosting your brand’s reputation. With a unified communications platform that seamlessly works with collaboration and communication tools, your teammates can work from home or the office while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.