The Benefits of VoIP for Small Businesses: Cost Savings and More

In today’s cutthroat competition, every small business is seeking ways to streamline operations and increase productivity cost-effectively and without compromising efficiency.

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, the technology that allows users to make voice calls using the internet rather than traditional telephone lines, has gained popularity all over the world in the last decade. It’s not only because of its cost-saving feature but also because of a multitude of other benefits to small businesses.

What is VoIP and how does it work?

As understood, VoIP allows users to make calls using the internet rather than conventional telephone lines, eliminating the need for dedicated phone lines and costly hardware.

VoIP technology works by converting voice signals into digital data packets and transmitting them over the Internet to facilitate communication.

Though large corporations adopted VoIP earlier due to the capacity to invest in new technologies and realized significant cost savings on international and domestic calls, small companies were still hesitant to make this investment. It was after 2019 that its cloud-based solutions became widespread and SMEs have started reaping their benefits.

Though large corporations adopted VoIP earlier due to the capacity to invest in new technologies and realized significant cost savings on international and domestic calls, small companies were still hesitant to make this investment. It was after 2019 that its cloud-based solutions became widespread and SMEs have started reaping their benefits.

Small businesses have delayed adopting VoIP solutions due to factors like limited resources, concerns about technology reliability and security, and a lack of awareness about the benefits of Cloud VoIP. But in the last few years, Cloud VoIP services have become more mature, affordable, and widely available, making it obligatory for small businesses to recognize the advantages of VoIP and start adopting it at a faster rate.

SMBs are projected to exhibit an accelerated growth of over 15% in the VoIP market from 2019 to 2025.- Source:  https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/23/1807634/0/en/Voice-over-Internet-Protocol-VoIP-Market-to-hit-55bn-by-2025-Global-Market-Insights-Inc.html

A list of VoIP benefits that can significantly enhance your small business’s functionality and professionalism are listed below:

1. Lesser communication cost: Almost all companies now know that one of the most attractive benefits of VoIP is the potential for cost savings. Unlike traditional phone systems that require expensive hardware and monthly fees, VoIP operates using existing internet connections, which drastically reduces infrastructure costs. In addition to this, VoIP providers often offer competitive pricing plans with unlimited calling options and lower international rates, further reducing monthly expenses.
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3. Moreover, it is worth noting that communication between various employees and departments internally will also be free/very minimal when using VoIP.
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5. Enhanced mobility and flexibility: Smaller budgets and increasing remote work are trending post-pandemic time. When employees working remotely has increased worldwide, VoIP has helped companies not only in curbing costs but also making it easy for employees to save a lot of time.“Using VoIP can lower costs by 45% compared to traditional phones, increase productivity by 67%, improve voice quality, and save employer’s costs by enabling employees to work from home.” – https://headphonesaddict.com/voip-statistics/
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7. Advanced features: Which company doesn’t like to leverage the benefits of advanced features like auto attendants? Auto attendants not only make the job easy for the company but also help leave a professional impression and direct callers efficiently. In addition to this, features like call forwarding, video conferencing, call holding, and transferring help small businesses manage their client communication more precisely.
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9. Another attractive feature of a VoIP system, call conferencing, allows multiple people to join a conversation without extra equipment or cost. This means small businesses can communicate just like larger enterprises, with added convenience and efficiency. Small businesses can save an average of 32 minutes per day with VoIP- https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/voip-statistics.html
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11. Reliability and quality: When implemented correctly by a VoIP expert, VoIP systems are highly reliable and offer excellent call quality. With proper setup and maintenance, VoIP systems can provide the same level of reliability and call quality as traditional phone systems but at a lower cost.
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13. Scalability: Compared to traditional phone lines, it is easier to add and subtract lines as a business grows or shrinks. It is very simple to add or remove users and features as needed without any additional hardware or infrastructure upgrades. This scalability makes VoIP an ideal solution for small businesses with fluctuating communication needs.

What should a small business consider before going for VoIP communications?

If you are a small business and you have a limited budget, it is obvious to get scared of investing in a new technology. However, it is important to remember that VoIP is now a mature technology that is more affordable and scalable.

However, it is important to consider your criteria before selecting a VoIP provider. You can analyze the following questions to determine your VoIP communication provider:

• Do the options offered by your VoIP provider suit your calling patterns?
• What features does the VoIP system offer, and do they align with your business requirements? 
• Are there any additional fees or hidden costs associated with the VoIP service that you should be aware of?
• Does the VoIP vendor offer affordable rates without compromising voice clarity?
• Is the VoIP provider reliable and responsive to customer support inquiries?

Conclusion:

As VoIP technology is becoming more and more advanced, the benefits of it are increasing for all sizes of organizations. The benefits of the technology and the data suggest that it is a good time for businesses to make a shift from traditional phone calls to VoIP calls. If you have more questions related to VoIP solutions, do write us at [email protected].