Businesses are always looking for ways to be more productive and lower costs, and in this work from home business environment that is more true than ever. Voice Over IP technology (VoIP) uses the power of the Cloud as well as the business existing internet connection to provide solutions that do exactly that, increase productivity and lower costs. The term VoIP is used when referring to a Cloud Phone System but is this the only option? The answer is no. There are other uses for VoIP as you can see below.

VoIP to replace the phone lines for your existing phone system

If you are a business that has a traditional in-house phone system, and you are not ready to move to the cloud, you can enjoy the benefits of VoIP technology by replacing your analog phone lines with VoIP phone lines also referred to as SIP Trunks or SIP Trunking.

SIP trunks connect to your traditional phone system so you continue to use your system as usual but now you are with a VoIP company with lower costs, additional reliability and when it comes time to replace your system, you can consider moving it entirely to the cloud as that provider already has your phone numbers, making your transition faster and smoother.

To put things into perspective the average price of an analog phone line can be anywhere between $35 and $60 dollars, while the average cost of a VoIP phone line (SIP trunk) is between $12 and $24 dollars.

Even with the option to use VoIP lines, businesses might want to make the jump right to a Cloud Phone System.

You should be considering moving your system right to the cloud if:

1. If you need to upgrade/replace your existing phone system soon:

Where are you on the equipment life-cycle? If you have a system that is due to be replaced, no longer is supported by the manufacturer, or you are afraid of not being able to get parts, you have an upcoming expense for that upgrade/replacement.

Moving your phone system to the Cloud should definitely be considered as an option as it does not require an initial capital investment. Instead, when you move the phone system to the cloud you are simply adding the system to the monthly ongoing telecommunication costs.

2. If you have limitations or Bottlenecks:

You should be considering a move to Cloud Phone System if your phone system only allows you to have a certain number of extensions or a certain number of phone lines. In this work from home business environment, you may need to allow employees working from home and if your phone system cannot handle the additional requirements, you are are looking at purchasing and installing expansion modules or replacing the system altogether.

3. If you have a limited number of phone lines in order to keep costs down:

You might be limiting the number of lines in the system to keep costs low and for the cost of increasing those lines, you could have a new phone system in the cloud.

4. Ongoing Support costs:

Phone support costs are sometimes hidden because many companies see it as part of their IT costs and are not directly tracked as a phone system cost. If after calculating your last 12 months of phone support expenses, the costs are high, you might want to consider moving to a cloud phone system as the provider is responsible for maintenance, upgrades, phone system support including end-user support.

If you need assistance with understanding whether switching to VoIP lines or moving your phone system to the cloud is the right approach for you, we would love to connect you to one of our Local Authorized GreenLink Partners who will not only help you make the right decision but would also assist in the migration. Please email us at sales@greenlinknetworks.com or chat with us!