The REAL Benefits of VoIP

You may not have considered it but there are many benefits that
businesses can achieve by utilising data networks to carry their
voice traffic (VoIP). By marrying this voice traffic with data
traffic (IP Telephony) it becomes even more powerful.

Here are a few examples;

Cheaper Phone Calls - as your utilising existing data networks

Simpler Infrastructure - one set of CAT5 cables

Scalable - simply extend the existing data network

Reduced Operating Costs - converged system is simpler to manage

Enhanced Customer Service - "Click to Talk" web services and
easy role out application like call centres

Flexibility - Remote or home workers can work as if in the office

Its fair to say that most people focus on the costs savings but
in most cases the business improvements far out way the costs
savings.

For example if your business operated from multiple sites it
would be possible to have a single centralised system located at
one site, with optimal staffing resources to operate, manage and
support. No need to have 3 receptionists when one will do!

Say you had staff that wanted to work from home or from a remote
office. With this technology it would be easy to give them the
look and feel of being in the office and the transparency that
their co-workers and customers enjoy.

Rolling out a distributed business application such as a contact
centre or call centre is much easier and more robust.

But....its not that simple to get right!

You must consider;

Quality of Service - across the data network

Reliability – Think when did your LAN / telephone system last
fail?

Security - May increase exposure to data and voice

Support - Which department is now responsible - training?

With the latest handsets it is possible for them to act like a
PC with their own IP address and with the right handsets they
can even run XML applications cutting down the need for
unnecessary PC's etc.

To get it right requires the right planning and foresight to
make sure that your systems will grow and deliver the maximum
benefit with the minimum risk.

Copyright 2005 Nicholas Windley

Business Phone Systems :
Comz4Biz Mercia

Telephone System
Education Zone

Voice
Over IP (VoIP) Education Zone

nic.windley@comz4biz.com