Phone systems in the modern office

In not-so-distant history, business owners didn’t have many choices when it came to phone systems. They had to make do with a standard desk phone, with very little flexibility on receiving calls elsewhere. Today, things are much different. With Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the power to depend on mobile devices only, and other options available, modern office phone systems have come a long way. If you’re not sure what’s right for your company, we’re here to help you learn more.

Traditional phone systems

Traditional business phone systems are usually desk-based. They involve using a classic handset and depend on you having a landline. 

One of the key advantages of a traditional phone system is that you don’t have to depend on the Internet. If your network experiences some downtime, you can carry on making and receiving calls. Some may also argue that these types of phone systems are more secure, as their lack of Internet connection makes it harder for cyberattackers to gain access.

However, it’s also worth considering that desk-based phone systems are expensive. You’re going to pay more per landline than you would pay per VoIP channel. As such, it’s worth considering whether they fit in with your current communications budget. 

Virtual phone services

Virtual phone services allow you to purchase a virtual phone number and route the calls to a mobile device. For many businesses, this is quite a liberating concept. You’re not chained to the shackles of your desk, and your employees have the freedom to work from anywhere. As a result, virtual phone services support the efforts of those who need to work on the road and those who telecommute from time to time.

Virtual numbers could work well for you if you operate a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy allowing employees to use their cellphones for work purposes. Around 87 percent of businesses depend on employees using their mobile devices for work. If your business is one of them, why not leverage that and bring virtual phone service to your organization?

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Although VoIP has technically been around since 1973, it didn’t become available as a form of software until 1995. In the last decade or so, it has become exceedingly popular among everyday users and businesses. VoIP has a lower cost-per-call than landline phones do. It’s also easy to scale and decrease according to your business demands. Holding conference calls with multiple users is easy, and the security and call quality are constantly improving.

According to some figures, the VoIP market will reach $55 billion by 2025. When you consider how cost-effective and flexible it is, that’s hardly surprising. If you are going to introduce VoIP to your business, always remain conscious of factors such as compliance. The software you use should be compliant with your industry’s current guidelines and it shouldn’t introduce any security risks to your business.

There are no rules that state you must rely on one type of business phone system only. If you’d like to bring some of the advantages of various types to your business, choose more than one to rely on. When selecting your phone system, always consider factors such as costs and how much flexibility you need. And if you’re ever unsure, make sure you consult a team of experts before making any big decisions.