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In today’s extremely
competitive and rapidly changing business environment,
decisions about adopting the latest technology and
acquiring tools that will enable easy transition to
future enhancements are critical to the survival of any
business. Determining whether to invest in recent
advancements in telecommunications is no different. One
particular technology receiving significant attention is
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). VOIP is one of the
hottest buzz words surrounding communications
technology, because it has the potential of
revolutionizing the way we communicate. As with the
adoption of any technology, companies must take
appropriate steps in order to successfully implement
VOIP and reap its benefits.
Simply
put, VOIP is the process of converting voice signals
into data packets, using Internet Protocol (IP) to
transmit voice over a data network. There are a few
distinct benefits that companies receive when utilizing
IP telephony.
The
most widely publicized benefit of VOIP is the ability to
save costs on long distance charges and to network
multiple offices together. Businesses that have a data
connection between their offices can utilize VOIP
technology to bypass long distance networks and provide
more efficient communications between offices. In a
traditional setting, someone would have to dial the
phone number to a branch office, possibly paying a long
distance charge for the call, wait for a receptionist or
automated system to answer and then become connected to
the party they’re trying to reach. Using VOIP, a
person can simply dial an extension number and be
connected immediately to a party in another office,
whether across town or around the world avoiding costly
long distance charges.
A
second benefit is in the design of many telephone
systems, often called IP based systems.
Rather than traditional phone systems with their
own wiring infrastructure, IP based systems use a data
network infrastructure. This convergence of voice and
data into a single platform has tremendous advantages in
simplifying the administration of the communications
network. Plus, IP utilizes data infrastructure that most
likely already exists in many companies.
A
third benefit is the ability to have remote phones with
a single telephone number. For example, an employee
could work out of their home in New York, utilizing a
phone number with a California area code. This enables
corporations to truly take advantage of having a virtual
office and or remote agents working out of a variety of
locations.
VOIP
is gaining acceptance into the corporate world,
especially in small to medium sized companies looking to
save costs and wanting an edge over their competitors.
Companies are now in
the process of determining how this new technology will
help their business and to what extent they need to
deploy VOIP. They are asking themselves “How can I
take advantage of IP telephony and when is it right for
my business?” In order to help businesses make the
right decisions, a few important steps should be taken.
First,
ask the important question, “What am I trying to
accomplish?”
Make a point
to tie your business objectives to the benefits of VOIP.
Will this technology help you achieve your goals?
Adopt
the following technology mission statement:
“Technology should help my business become more
profitable and gain a competitive edge.”
Determine whether or not VOIP will do this for your
company. If it does, it will probably justify your
investment.
Be as
thorough as possible in understanding all the
implications of utilizing the technology.
Truly understand what it will take to implement VOIP in
your company. For example, will you have to upgrade your
connection between sites? Will you have to enhance your
network, server, or switches to handle the demands of
the system? Understanding these types of questions will
ensure successful implementation.
Thoroughly
analyze each VOIP manufactures’ products and obtain an
understanding of their benefits.
Find a manufacturer that is willing to help you become
more profitable and more competitive. Identifying the
right solution can make a world of difference during
installation and use.
Determine
whether to implement a system that will give you full
VOIP capability today or have the ability to make the
upgrade in the future.
Your company may not be ready to take advantage of IP
telephony in the present time, however, it may make
sense to install a system that will give you VOIP at the
flick of switch when you’re ready.
Finally,
select a telecommunications partner who is just as
thorough in evaluating your needs as you are.
Identifying the right telecommunication provider
is just as important as choosing the right product. A
true partner will analyze your business, understand your
needs, recommend the ideal solution, and get you up and
running quickly. A qualified provider will guide you
through the process making sure you’re taking full
advantage of all that VOIP has to offer.
Adopting
new technology can be both exciting and sometimes
challenging at the same time. Whether you’re ready to
make a full transition to VOIP or just want the
capability for the future, this technology has the
potential of reducing your costs, increasing
profitability, and giving you a competitive advantage in
your marketplace.
By taking the appropriate steps and
selecting the right telecommunications provider your
company has a good chance of experiencing immediate
returns. If not, you could be wasting valuable time and
money.
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