VoIP Systems: know the pros and cons before switching over

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a popular phone system technology that uses an internet connection instead of traditional phone lines. With the improvement of broadband internet, VoIP systems have become a cost-effective solution for business phone systems. Plus, they come with great features like auto attendants, caller ID, voicemail, call recording, and many others.

Sounds pretty great! While VoIP systems come with many benefits, they might not always fit every company. The system might not come with the features or technical support your business needs depending on the provider.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of VoIP so you can decide if it’s the best choice for your business.

Pros of VoIP

Cost-effective

VoIP is considerably cheaper than a phone system using traditional telephone lines. Conventional phone systems are expensive to install, require more hardware, and will require ongoing calling expenses. VoIP doesn’t have these charges. Plus, you don’t pay extra for long-distance and international calls. So, depending on the needs of your business, VoIP can save you a lot of money.

Flexible

Advanced VoIP systems are cloud-based, which means you can take and make calls from anywhere. Your phone number is also portable, so it doesn’t matter where you’re working from or how many locations you have. With an increasingly mobile and remote workforce, this provides more flexibility than a traditional phone system.

Expandable

If you want to expand your business, open a new location, or experience increase demand during certain times of the year, a VoIP system is scalable. You can scale up the system without having to purchase more lines or hardware.

Features

Auto attendants, caller ID, calls to emails, call transferring, internet faxing, conference calling – these are a few of the features you can get with a VoIP system.

Cons of VoIP

No internet, no phone system

If your broadband connection fails or weakens, it will negatively impact your phone system and call quality. While internet providers can provide more reliable service than ever before, service drops can still occur. When the service is weak, your VoIP calls can sound jittery and disrupted. To help avoid this, put your VoIP system on a dedicated internet network, so it isn’t competing for bandwidth.

Not always secure

Research your VoIP provider to ensure they have a high level of security encryption in place during call transmissions. Security measures ensure your voice data is protected and not intercepted or breached during calls. Unfortunately, not every VoIP provider offers adequate security measures.

Trouble tracking emergency calls

Because VoIP runs on the internet, it’s difficult for emergency services to determine your exact calling location. In an emergency, first responders usually use phone tracking to learn where the call is coming from so they can get there quickly to assist you. However, because the VoIP call will come from a broader IP address, it is more difficult to track in an emergency.

Complicated for some

You’ll have to be somewhat tech-savvy to first learn how to use, manage, and take advantage of the features with a VoIP phone system. Or at least be willing to learn. Your team will have to be motivated to learn how to use it properly, including the software of the system so they can benefit from the features. If you prefer a turn-key system that requires no training to master, a conventional phone system might suit you best.

Missing services

While advanced VoIP systems come with a suite of useful features, do your research to ensure your VoIP provider offers the features you specifically need. For example, does the system allow enough time for messages on hold? Do they have good customer support should issues arise? Are you able to upload data and audio to your system?

If you’re not sure what questions to ask when researching a phone system, the team at On Air can help. We’ll review your needs and goals and help you choose a phone system that meets them. The solution could be a specific VoIP system or another system that works better for you.