The top reason that both enterprise and small businesses choose cloud services is to reduce costs.
Cloud services are known for offering more features and flexibility for a lower price, which has been a big bonus for small businesses trying to build their business and keep their overhead low.
One of the cloud technologies that offers the best cost savings are VoIP phones. Voice Over Internet Protocol has been around for a couple of decades, but it was the recent rise in cloud services and improvement in wireless networks that helped them become such a transformative business technology.
79% of U.S. businesses use VoIP phones.
Five years ago, approximately 42% of U.S. businesses were using VoIP at one location or more, and now the figure is nearly double at 79%.
Great voice quality, “answer anywhere” flexibility, and features like auto attendant and voicemail to text have caused businesses to make the switch to cloud-based VoIP and enjoy significant savings in the process.
What Are the Cost Savings of VoIP?
Whether or not you call internationally, there are significant cost savings when you switch to VoIP that come from a variety of areas. Here are the types of cost savings you can expect when you upgrade to an internet-based phone system.
Hardware & Service Savings
If you’ve ever dealt with a PBX system that’s landline-based, you know that the equipment can get pretty pricey, and it can easily cost over $1,000 to get set up. Besides having the phone extensions wired to each specific desk, you need to purchase handsets and other necessary hardware.
With VoIP, you can save approximately 75% on the operational costs of your phone system, including hardware and servicing. The start up cost is also very minimal and can easily cost less than $20 to get started.
You don’t even need to purchase a handset unless you want to because VoIP phones can be answered via computer headset or mobile device.
Local & International Call Savings
While, those companies that make international calls can save up to 90% on their calling costs with VoIP, you can also save pretty significantly on local calls (up to 40%). You’re not paying any of those fees and taxes that are tacked onto analog phone bills, and that adds up to less monthly calling costs.
Gain Great Phone Features
VoIP phone systems offer the types of features that only expensive enterprise-class plans used to offer. It’s a great example of how cloud technology has leveled the playing field for small businesses.
Here are some of the top features you can enjoy.
Local and Toll-Free Numbers
You can both have a local presence and a national reach through use of local and toll-free numbers. You have the freedom to choose the numbers you want and can also transfer existing numbers to use with a VoIP cloud PBX.
Auto Attendant
One of the most popular features is the auto attendant that can act as a virtual receptionist, transfer calls based upon department or take messages via voicemail.
Ring Groups and Simultaneous Rings
Keep your customers routed to a real person and reduce the risk of missed calls. Ring Groups let you forward a call with multiple ringing options and Simultaneous Rings can ring all phones in a department at the same time.
Voicemail Transcription
Save time and know immediately which calls you need to return first. Voicemail transcription sends you the text of a voicemail by SMS or email, reducing the amount of time it takes to go through your messages.
Customer-Facing Features
Features like professional voice recordings, after hours greetings, and a hold music library help to enhance your customer experience when they call. These also add to the professional reputation of your company.
Call Handling
You get all the familiar call handling features with VoIP that you do with analog phone systems, plus some! Here are several that PTG Voice offers:
-
Call record
-
Call hold
-
Call transfer
-
3-way conferencing
-
Outbound caller ID
-
Call screening
-
Call announce
-
Call transfer
-
Speed dial
Easy, Web-based Administration
It’s easy to do things like change hold music, adjust a dial-by-number directory, or review detailed call reports. Everything is accessible from a web-based administration interface.
Learn More About PTG Voice VoIP Options
If you’d like to learn more about PTG Voice or get some help customizing your VoIP system, Pro Tech Guy can help.
Contact us today to learn more about how an internet-based phone system can benefit your business. Call 508-364-8189 or reach us online.