2023 marks the official end of life for our old system: PSTN. The lines will be technically retired. That’s why companies have been slowly but surely switching to IP telephony for several years now. For all the professionals about to take this step, the advantages and disadvantages of this new system sometimes seem a little nebulous, even mysterious.
Learn more about definition and operation of IP telephony in our dedicated article.
Explore the IP telephony migration process, its benefits and precautions in our comprehensive guide.
Lower telecom costs
Let’s start with one of the most important aspects of any business: cost reduction. The use of IP telephony considerably reduces the cost of a switchboard. A dematerialized telephony solution divides the budget allocated to this main area of expenditure. The first impact is visible as soon as the system is launched. No expensive or imposing equipment is required. It’s all about the company’s Internet connection. In the absence of equipment, the professional can also draw a line under all expenses related to maintenance or various repairs. Finally, by using the Internet exclusively to make calls, whether national or international, the company opens up privileged access to attractive rates tailored to its business.A wide range of functions
In addition to substantial financial savings and unrivalled ease of installation, IP telephony offers a wide range of features that today’s businesses need:- reliable call automation,
- cascade calls,
- setting up an interactive voice server,
- the click-to-dial method…
To find out more about the advantages, specific needs and criteria for choosing IP telephony for businesses, read our detailed article.
A system that analyzes performance
How can you optimize your teams’ work if you don’t have access to the most essential information? By opting for IP telephony, the company benefits from an intuitive dashboard, giving access to detailed analyses and statistics updated in real time. This makes it possible to adapt, modify and improve many details: the impact of calls, the performance of teams, the performance of an individual agent, and so on.Unlimited communications
Using the Internet to communicate and canvass is a method that has revolutionized the industry. By digitizing exchanges, quality is optimized, as is quantity. Unlimited call offers are legion. The number of calls no longer has any impact on the company’s budget. The latter, freed from this constraint, no longer really encounters any obstacles. The number and duration of calls now depend solely on the efficiency of the agents.Greater mobility
IP telephony is available not only on landlines, but also on laptops, smartphones and tablets. For the company, this means greater flexibility, unlimited freedom and mobility. Telecommuting, business trips, travel – all events that used to be a hurdle to overcome, but are now no longer minor formalities that have no impact on team performance. A simple Internet connection is all you need to stay up and running and productive.The disadvantages of IP telephony
Like any new technology, IP telephony still has a few constraints that you need to be aware of before taking the plunge.Total dependence on the Internet
By definition, IP telephony requires an Internet connection. When the flow is insufficient, or even totally absent, it’s impossible to work. Fortunately, non-covered areas are rare. There is still the problem of bandwidth quality. If the latter turns out to be of poor quality or too low, team performance is inevitably impacted.Watch out for breakdowns!
Problems with access to electricity or the Internet are becoming more common, but they remain. In the event of a power cut or Internet access problem, the company is caught off guard. Its switchboard is unable to perform its role until the problem is resolved. Once again, you can overcome this problem by opting for an inverter to temporarily take over.Comparison: what is IP telephony really worth?
For a company, the choice of its telephony system is crucial, both in terms of performance and budget. At present, a professional can opt for one of four systems:- multi-line telephony,
- voIP telephony,
- PBX system,
- cloud communication.
Multi-line telephony
As the name suggests, this solution involves the installation of a telephone line dedicated to a single user. Each sales agent has a number and a device reserved exclusively for him or her. In this configuration, each telephone is physically connected to a switchboard via a cable. The process is reliable, but still complex to manage on a day-to-day basis. What’s more, it imposes a sedentary lifestyle that can be detrimental to the company’s development.Find out more about the benefits, offers and criteria for choosing IP telephony for home users in our special article.
VoIP telephony
All it needs is a good Internet connection. Exchanges and calls are all routed via a single active connection. In particular, this system provides access to the many functions of voIP telephony through a variety of media:- landlines,
- smartphones,
- tablets,
- laptops.
