Modern business is unthinkable without effective means of communication. When it comes to enterprise telephony, executives are faced with a choice: stay true to traditional phone systems or move to IP telephony. How to choose the best option for your business?
What is IP telephony and traditional telephone systems?
- Traditional systems: Based on analog or digital lines. Typically, telephone lines are used for voice transmission, which may result in restrictions on the number of simultaneous conversations.
- IP telephony: Transmission of voice information over the Internet using the IP protocol. Such communication can work on any device connected to the Internet, be it a computer, smartphone or specialized IP phone.
Price
Traditional systems:
- Pros: Initial costs may be lower if you already have telephone infrastructure installed.
- Cons: High monthly subscription fees; The cost of long-distance and international calls is usually higher; do not take it with you when moving.
IP telephony:
- Pros: Low or no monthly subscription fees. Many VoIP providers offer competitive rates for international calls.
- Cons: Initial costs may be higher due to the need to purchase specialized equipment or upgrade the network infrastructure.
Scalability
- Traditional systems: Adding new lines or expanding a system can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
- IP telephony: Easily scalable. Adding new users or lines is often as simple as adding a new device to the network or changing settings via the web interface.
Integration options
- Traditional systems: Limited integration options. For example, integration with CRM systems may require additional hardware or software.
- IP telephony: Provides ample opportunities for integration with various business applications, such as CRM, ERP, etc. This allows, for example, to automatically display customer information on an incoming call.
Practical example
Company A was using a traditional telephone system and faced scalability issues when opening a new office. Switching to IP telephony allowed them to save on installation costs and quickly integrate new workstations. In addition, the company successfully integrated its telephony with a CRM system, which improved the quality of customer service. At the same time, the cost of additional equipment turned out to be significantly lower than the cost of integrating analog telephony with CRM.
Conclusion
The choice between IP telephony and traditional systems depends on the specific needs of your business. However, given the advantages of IP telephony in terms of cost, scalability and integration capabilities, it is becoming an increasingly popular choice among modern companies.