If your business is tired of dealing with distorted audio, dropped calls, and general telephone bill chaos, you’re not alone. Countless small businesses are in the same boat, struggling against their telephone provider as they try to run their business in a more efficient manner. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, offers a comprehensive solution to this dilemma, provided you take the time to implement a system that works for you.
That’s what we’re going over today—how to find the right VoIP solution for your SMB and avoid the five most common mistakes they encounter when doing so.
Mistake #1: Trying to Minimize Per-User Cost
Most businesses save money with VoIP, but this is only true for businesses that don’t opt for the cheapest option.
True, you “save money” on the surface, but you lose out in so many other ways, leaving valuable features, support, and infrastructure out of the conversation while you fixate on per-user costs. Like most technology solutions, with VoIP, you get what you pay for, and choosing the cheapest option available is likely to cost you more than you expect. We recommend you choose an option based on the quality of the service level agreement, redundancy, security measures, and scalability.
Consider the total cost of ownership of your VoIP solution to see if your chosen tool is actually saving you money. Remember, a solid phone system is an investment in your company’s future, so make the best choice now rather than later.
Mistake #2: Starting Without a Comprehensive Network Assessment
The amount of value you get out of your VoIP solution is going to depend on the underlying network that supports it, as well as the quality of your configuration and your Internet service.
This is why we recommend you perform a network assessment before implementation: to see if your network can even handle VoIP. While a network can be suited for other business-related tasks, like web browsing and email, VoIP is a whole other beast that requires stability. You might encounter issues with latency, jitter, and packet loss if you try to run VoIP on a poor network, and that’s exactly the kind of issue you want to avoid.
The network assessment keeps you from building on shaky ground, so if you want your VoIP implementation to be a success, conduct a comprehensive bandwidth test, ensure your firewalls and routers are configured, and make sure your internal cabling and switching works the way it should.
Mistake #3: Downplaying Integration and Features
One of the greatest benefits of VoIP lies in its value beyond a simple telephone system, and if you ignore these integrations and features, you’re making a big mistake.
Not only is it a phone system, it’s a phone system with features that save you time and money. Your VoIP platform can integrate with your CRM and collaboration tools, function as an auto attendant, manage call flow, convert voicemails to text messages or email, and so much more. With VoIP, you have a productivity engine that allows your team to do their jobs in an efficient way, which is a powerful contribution to the overall success of your business.
Simply put, if you choose a VoIP platform that doesn’t have these integrations and features built in, you’ve missed the point of VoIP, full stop.
Mistake #4: Not Going Wide with a Softphone and Mobile Strategy
Again, one of the main draws of VoIP is that you can go hybrid and remote, so choosing to ignore these features is downright silly.
You wouldn’t believe how many SMBs forget that they have the keys to working outside of the office bundled into their VoIP platform. They continue working from the office, tethered to their physical desk phone, ignoring the flexibility and cost savings that softphones and mobile devices provide. If your business continues to rely on physical handsets, external events can influence your business in stronger and more impactful ways.
This is why we recommend a softphone-first strategy. It helps you achieve flexibility and organizational resiliency at a whole other level.
Mistake #5: They Implement VoIP Alone
VoIP is a solution that requires ongoing attention, and it’s definitely not a platform where you can “set it and forget it.”
In truth, the real work with VoIP begins after you install it and get it rolling. VoIP can place a lot of stress on your network, which is why you want a dedicated managed service provider on-hand to help you ensure that the quality of your service is maintained. A good MSP can monitor call volume, adjust it as needed, and provide support for your staff as they navigate using the new tool.
Business Solutions & Software Group is here to provide you with the support you need to make the most of your VoIP solution. Learn more by calling us at (954) 575-3992 today.
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