If your business is still using a traditional phone system, then you are paying more every month than you have to. By switching over your phone system to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), you can slash your phone bill by as much as 50-70%. To sweeten the deal, VoIP even has more features than a traditional phone plan!
VoIP uses your Internet connection to communicate with an IP phone by sending and receiving compacted data packets. The Internet aspect of VoIP allows your VoIP provider to include dozens of features with your phone plan that you would have to pay for a la carte with a traditional phone service. These features will allow your business to do more for less, which includes having a more professional image by taking advantage of VoIP's Interactive Voice Response feature (IVR).
IVR is the automated system that answers the phone and then guides a user through a series of menus that will lead to their desired department. IVR is a great way to efficiently and professionally handle a high-volume of phone calls, yet the business world is split when it comes to using automated phone answering systems.
On one side of the great IVR debate are companies that take full advantage of IVR and have many menus along with soothing background music--which you can set up with VoIP. One reason companies like IVR is that it allows them to save money from having to hire a receptionist. IVR also allows an organization to greet callers with a recorded message that can be edited to say exactly what you want it to say. The alternative is to have just any random employee answer the phone, and not everybody on your staff may know your company well enough to answer the phone. An unprofessional handling of the phone could lead to a loss in sales.
On the other side of the IVR debate are businesses that prefer the personal touch that comes with a human who answers the phone. These companies may be purposely avoiding IVR because there are some customers who have little patience for an automated menu. Surely all of us have experienced frustration when using an automated menu at one time or another; although, to be fair, this frustration usually stems from the menu being set up poorly rather than at the IVR system itself.
Whatever your opinion is about IVR, it's nice to have it as an option with your VoIP plan. Other communication features that come with VoIP are e-mail integration, an offsite phone system, caller ID, web and voice conferencing, and much more! To make the switch to VoIP and take advantage of all of these VoIP features and savings for your business, then give Elite Integration a call at (281) 313-1321.
