Modern technology is always developed to fix the flaws of the drawback and one of the things that plays in a lot of business owner’s minds when they’re moving their phone system technology from traditional copper wire phone lines to VoIP is – how easy and possible to make the switch?
The past years have seen businesses transition from fixed telephone lines to VoIP just because it offers low costs and greater flexibility – VoIP offers a lot of advantages to be gained!
Tired of paying too much for your business phone system? We want to help you make an informed decision. Here’s the 7 easy steps on how to make a switch to VoIP:
1. Make a plan before switching to VoIP.
Identify your budget and startup costs and decide which features your business requires. There are many VoIP providers that might be able to meet your business communications needs—you just need to narrow it down to one – that is perfect for your budget with a lot to offer.
Once you’ve decided to migrate to a VoIP setup, it’s crucial that you do your research about what you’ll need to make the most out of your new phone system. But what are some of the major advanced features you should know about? Here are some essential VoIP features that you must get when investing in a VoIP phone system and should aim to improve the day-to-day business tasks: Advanced Call Management, Anonymous Call Rejection, Auto Attendant, Business Text Messaging, Call Analytics, Call Forwarding, Call Notify and more.
2. Identify your company’s needs.
Evaluate what your organization will need from a phone system – know how VoIP can help improve your business communication. You must consider what kind of system you want (landline, VoIP or virtual) and where you want the equipment hosted (on-premises or in the cloud). You can go with VoIP phones if you want to maintain your desk phone arrangement. VoIP headphones can be configured if you wish to be hands-free. A VoIP softphone is the best solution for using internet-connected devices that you currently own.
Invest in the Right VoIP Hardware
When you’ve finalized your list of business needs and are ready to buy equipment, you can explore the following options to make the most of your VoIP setup, whether you ultimately choose a hardware or software solution:
Unlike traditional phones that are limited to voice calls only, VoIP phones by LG Talk offer a wide range of features to help elevate your business to the next level. Some of the most common VoIP hardware includes VoIP headsets and desk phone handsets, which range from low-end to high-end, depending on your business needs. Headsets can be especially useful for agents to take calls around the office, hands-free.
If you want your businesses to have access to high-definition voice and audio, Bluetooth compatibility, touchscreen interfaces, and many more cutting-edge features, LG Talk offers VoIP conference phones and VoIP Adapters.
3. Evaluate your Network.
Primarily, having a good internet connection is essential to making sure your calls are clear and uninterrupted. Because VoIP relies on the Internet to make and receive calls, if you don’t have a fast Internet connection, it will result in poor phone quality and unreliable service. Evaluate your Network before switching to VoIP. Ensure that your current network can handle the voice traffic without compromising the sound quality and without interruptions.
Recommended wired broadband connection is at least 100 kbps of upload and download bandwidth per VoIP line. The higher bandwidth speed you have, the more data you can send over your broadband connection.
To determine if you’ve got enough bandwidth to manage a VoIP system, you can check with your provider or use a speed test to spot check your network performance.
4. Look at your previous bill.
See past bills for your business to keep track of previous expenses and possible changes. This will also be your basis for comparing costs to a VoIP phone system. With the use of your past bills, you can work out your usage and monthly costs. Some VoIP providers offer you a discount if you sign up annually instead of monthly. Others may offer no-contract plans but charge a higher monthly fee for their services. Every VoIP provider has a unique subscription plan and not all VoIP providers charge an Installation fee – others may charge you at the final fee. Assess your billing statement for any additional charges like maintenance fee associated with your current office phone system. Set more budget in installation and maintenance services when switching to VoIP phone system.
5. Learn about Phone number porting.
Before the porting process starts, do some research with your VoIP provider to see if they are able to port your phone number over. In the past, switching telecom providers meant obtaining a new phone number. But in today’s world of technology, remaining in the same geographic area, you can keep your existing phone number – existing companies for years will benefit from this feature to avoid the hassle of changing phone numbers across the organization. There is no need to inform existing customers and clients about the change because the phone number you will be using is still the same.
6. Choose the right VoIP Provider.
Before switching to VoIP, choose the best and most reliable VoIP provider, you will have to consider a few things like;
- VoIP Provider must offer personalized service for you and for your business
- VoIP Provider must have positive feedback and reviews from past customers
- VoIP Provider must be able to deliver reliable uptime
- VoIP provider that fits your budgets as well as your communication needs.
7. Get your people onboard.
To ensure successful deployment of a new technology, establish milestones and deploy phases – train and introduce your staff on how to park calls, transfer calls, access voicemails and configure softphone apps if required. Hold a training program. Acceptance and understanding of the new system will be crucial to its successful deployment, so people at all levels of your organization will have to be onboard. Your VoIP provider should be able to give consultation and guidance before installation, a stress-free and efficient set-up, and always available for technical support once things get running. Conduct a test run before the final migration.
Following these simple steps will make way for a seamless migration to VoIP.
The above considerations will have a significant impact on the upfront and ongoing cost – VoIP costs vary based on the provider, subscription plan, and the number of lines or users. After the startup costs for your new phone system, you will gain more income because of it’s monthly low costs and will benefit your organization more by increasing your team’s productivity – saving you thousands of dollars!
Looking to make a switch? LG Talk makes the switch to VoIP as seamless as possible. Learn more about VoIP and what it can do for your company by contacting our support team today!
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