Practical Features and Benefits of VoIP

Regarding business telephone systems, there is a lot of confusion around the various terms and technologies. Before we jump into the features and benefits, it’s important first to clear up some of that confusion.

The terms Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), VoIP Business Telephone, and Cloud-Based Hosted Voice Solution are all interchangeable. They refer to the same thing: a business telephone system that uses the internet instead of traditional phone lines.

According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, VoIP is an affordable and flexible option that you can easily tailor to meet the needs of any business.ⁱ  In addition, VoIP offers several features that are typically unavailable with traditional telephone services. As a result, VoIP may be the perfect solution for businesses looking for a scalable, cost-effective way to improve their communications as their small business startup grows.

This article will provide 17 practical features and benefits of a cloud-based VoIP phone system and its business value for startups. We will start with 9 important benefits.

1. A cloud-based VoIP business phone system allows you to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection. You can stay connected to your office phone number when you travel, work from home, or simply step out of the office and need a business telephone line.
   
2. VoIP has many features that are not available with traditional phone systems, such as call routing, automated attendants, call recording, and conference bridges.ⁱⁱ  These features can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency.
   
3. VoIP Cloud-based business telephone systems are much easier to set up and maintain than traditional ones. There is no need for expensive hardware or installation fees. And, since the system is hosted in the cloud, you only need a reliable internet connection to get started.
   
4. Cloud-based business telephone systems are much more scalable than traditional systems. Scalability makes them ideal for small startup businesses. With a cloud-based phone system, you can easily add or remove users as your business grows or changes. And the scalability of VoIP can save money as you won't need to purchase new hardware or pay for costly new phone system upgrades.
   
5. Cloud-based business telephone systems are more reliable than most traditional systems. Their reliability comes from not being reliant on expensive and vulnerable hardware. As long as there is a working internet connection and the phones and phone equipment are connected to a UPS/battery-backup, your VoIP system will continue to work in the event of a power outage.
   
6. Cloud-based business telephone systems offer better call quality than traditional systems because VoIP uses high-quality digital audio to transmit calls. Transmitting calls this way can result in clearer calls, and fewer dropped calls.
   
7. Cloud-based business telephone systems offer more flexibility with advanced features than traditional systems. You can easily add or remove features and customize your system to better meet your business's specific needs as they change.
   
8. Cloud-based business telephone systems are easier to manage and maintain than traditional systems because all of the features and settings are stored in the cloud. Because of this, you can access and change them from anywhere with an internet connection.
   
9. A cloud-based business telephone system can offer a more professional image for you and your business. VoIP comes with many features that integrate with collaboration platforms, including video. You can use a cloud-based business telephone system to make and receive calls, as well as to send and receive messages, or share a presentation. You can also use it to manage your contacts and share files and documents. These features can make a cloud-based business telephone system more productive for entrepreneurs.
   

These are only a few examples of the practical benefits of a cloud-based business telephone system. If you are considering switching to VoIP, explore all the options for your specific needs.

Cloud-based phone lines offer significantly more advantages than traditional landlines because their technology is much more robust.ⁱⁱⁱ  This section will cover some practical features that cloud-based phone systems and business VoIP can offer. However, remember that these features may or may not be available depending on the specific business phone plan selected. Also, some traditional phone companies offer these features as add-on options.

1. Auto Attendant: This feature lets users customize how the line is answered. It allows them to build an automated virtual receptionist with preset greetings. These can be configured to provide menu options that route callers to the correct department or person. The automated system can also route callers to specific voice mailboxes after hours. With the addition of a multi-level auto attendant, you have the same options but in different languages.
2. Priority Call Alert: This practical feature allows users to assign a unique ringtone for calls from specific numbers. For instance, there could be a different ringtone for salespeople, managers, and customers. Priority Call Alert can also be set up to highlight a call from outside a group defined, such as a specific location.
3. Webex: Webex is a cloud-based collaboration solution. It combines video and voice conferencing with messaging and file sharing into a single application. This feature helps connect multiple business locations and pull in a remote workforce or employees on the move.
4. Call Forwarding When Busy: Users can set up calls to automatically transfer to an answering service if the phone line is busy. Forwarding to an answering service allows callers to leave a message when call volumes are high or the person they want to reach is on another call.
5. Hunting and Series Completion: This allows you to never miss a customer call by facilitating call routing to a team of employees. Routing can be customized based on the order phones ring, the number of rings at each extension before advancing calls to the next available user, and the treatment for any call that cannot be answered.
6. Do Not Disturb: Users can set up this feature to route incoming calls to voicemail when unavailable. The Do Not Disturb feature is unique because it acts as a toggle. Enter a special code to initiate call routing, then key in another number to discontinue that service.
7. Readable Voicemail: This feature automatically transcribes voicemail to text. Hence, users have the option to listen to or read their messages. Plus, multiple email addresses can be set up to receive voicemail notifications, so an entire team can get a message instead of relaying it to a single person.
8. Simultaneous Ring: The Simultaneous Ring feature lets users connect as many as ten phones to a single line. This way, all incoming calls will ring several phones simultaneously so users can pick up the call from wherever they are – be it at a single location or several.
   

VoIP is a cloud-based phone system with many practical features and benefits for startups and small businesses. In addition, it offers a flexible and scalable solution tailored to meet any business's needs. VoIP may be the right choice for your small business startup if you are looking for an affordable and efficient way to improve your communications. Contact Cox Business today to learn more about how VoIP can benefit your startup!