Phone calls still remain an essential form of communication to and from clients, business partners, and employees even as we shift towards an increasingly digital world. However, as with many of our essential tools, they can be pushed to the back-burner when it’s time to upgrade. No one wants to deal with the hassle, but before you know it, your business is paying more for outdated equipment than it’s really worth.
While there are a large variety of phone systems one could choose for their business, today we’re honing in on two of the heavy hitters in the business world: landlines and VoIP. For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and managers alike, being aware of the different phone options can be the difference in higher phone bills that eat away at your profits and lost, garbled calls versus crisp, clear connections for a much better value.
If you’re not quite satisfied with your business phone infrastructure and are curious on the different ways you can set up your business phone systems, save money, and upgrade easily, we’ll break down the differences and benefits below.
What’s the Difference?
Landline phones use physical wiring to connect specific phones in specific locations in order to communicate. This is a system established almost 150 years ago, and while familiar to most, is costly due to the required physical materials. It’s, however, a fine choice for organizations with few connections and is also reliable due to the hardware.
Pros:
- Dependable
- Consistent Call Quality
- Familiarity
- Great for Locations with Poor Internet Connection
Cons:
- Fixed Locations
- Costly
- Limited Features
Landlines provide consistent call quality, and for small businesses that don’t require many connections and aren’t anticipating speedy growth, this can be the perfect option.
VoIP Phone Systems can be considered a blend of cellular and landline benefits. Voice Over Internet Protocol uses the Internet to provide service and exchange call data. VoIP provides the option to call from either your cell phone, office phone, or even computer. VoIP Phone Systems unlike landline systems, use the Internet to transfer call data. This lack of hardware and installation means that VoIP is much more cost-effective. VoIP also makes it easier to scale, so for growing businesses that are adding on employees, this is an ideal system.
Pros:
- Cost-Effective
- Flexible Hardware Options
- Easy to Scale
- Added Features
Cons
- Dependent on Internet
- Compatibility Issues with Older Equipment
VoIP works best in areas with great Internet connection, so that may be an important factor to consider if you’re considering switching to this system.
What’s at Stake?
An organization without a functional phone system means disconnected calls and frustrated callers or in other words, potential lost clients and missed opportunities. You want a reliable phone system that can support your business needs.
- Business Costs
- Phone Quality
- Ability to Scale
- Consistent Communications
So Which Phone System is the Best for Business?
And to answer the question of what’s the best business phone system? Well, it’s a bit anti-climatic, but it depends! There’s no one size fits all because there’s no two businesses that are exactly the same.
The bottom-line is: it’s tough to run a business, and you shouldn’t be losing clients to shoddy phone service or lack of communication access, and there’s no reason to be overpaying on a phone bill that might not be giving you the best bang for your buck. Consider your options carefully as well as your providers to see what will give your business the best security and best connections for the best value.
We hope that you have a better idea of what each phone system can accomplish, and if you have any more questions about VoIP or are interested in switching over, talk to our experts today and we can find out what’s best for you!