7 Ways to Know if Your Company Needs VoIP Phones for Business

Explore an internet-connected solution

When you’re starting your own company, you have plenty of options for business phone systems. One solution that’s becoming increasingly popular among startups is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Unlike traditional phone lines, VoIP services leverage the internet to keep business owners in touch with their employees and customers.

How do you know if you should be using VoIP phones for business? Ask yourself the seven questions listed below to evaluate your communications needs and determine whether the technology is right for you.

VoIP phones for business: 7 questions to ask

1. Do you need a cost-effective way to stay connected?

Many startups operate on a shoestring budget during their early days. Depending on your business needs, VoIP phones may offer significant cost savings over traditional phone services. Users report saving money on international and local calls as well as operational costs, reducing their overall phone bills.¹

2. Is scalability a priority?

If you’re planning to expand your company in the future, you need your phone service to scale with you. With VoIP, adding more phone lines to meet your business needs is fast and easy. You won’t need to call the phone company and wait for a tech to install new phone lines; you can simply choose a new service plan. You can even scale up during busy times and back down again in the off-season.

3. Are you concerned about security?

Cybercrime is a serious problem among small businesses,² and it’s an even greater concern if you manage sensitive or legally protected client information. To combat the malicious actors behind these cybercrimes, the top VoIP providers used enhanced security features like end-to-end encryption (E2EE), Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). These measures make VoIP phones for business an especially secure communications strategy.

4. Does your business employ a remote or hybrid model?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way businesses operate, particularly when it comes to remote work. Nearly a third of employees split their time between their home and the office, while 12.7% work completely remotely.³ That makes VoIP ideal for remote businesses—all your remote employees need to stay connected is access to the internet.

VoIP can also easily incorporate video conferencing, which is essential to remote work. Many VoIP services integrate with your existing systems, including calendars and contact information, creating a more streamlined way for employees across locations to communicate.

5. Are you expecting large call volumes?

What’s your primary method for facilitating sales or helping customers? If much of your business is conducted via phone, you’re going to need a smart way to manage it. VoIP technology uses features that make this significantly easier, such as call screening, call logs and call recording. You can even set up call queues to make sure none of your customers fall through the cracks.

6. Would you like to automate some customer service functions?

To further streamline those large call volumes, consider VoIP services with auto-attendant features. For example, some auto-attendants can parse customer requests and direct them to the appropriate department, which saves time. They can also provide customer self-service with automated answers to simple questions.

7. Do you have a reliable internet connection?

While VoIP phones offer businesses a number of advantages, there is one caveat: you must have fast, reliable internet service. When your entire communications network is powered by the internet, a sudden outage can wreak havoc on your plans.

For many companies, finding reliable internet service probably isn’t a concern. But when 42 million Americans still don’t have access to broadband internet,⁴ it’s worth acknowledging that not all areas provide the same connection opportunities.

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Sources

1. 48 Significant VoIP Software Statistics: 2024 Market Share Analysis & Data, Finances Online

2. The Effects of Cybercrime on Small Business, Forbes

3. Remote Work Statistics and Trends in 2024, Forbes

4. Millions Of Americans Are Still Missing Out On Broadband Access And Leaving Money On The Table—Here’s Why, Forbes

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