The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for businesses across the board, and until a cure is found and life goes back to the way things were, the world will continue to trek a new normal. For many businesses, this could mean that working remotely from home will continue until the pandemic (and with it, the mandatory social distancing and city-wide lockdowns) officially comes to an end.
One of the lessons the pandemic has taught us is that flexibility and mobility are critical for ensuring business continuity. At the very least, you need to have communications infrastructure that will allow your employees to maintain internal (or inter-departmental), business-to-customer, and business-to-partner lines open. An IP PBX phone system can give you these capabilities, and more.
IP PBX: A Quick Review
An Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP PBX) system is an upgrade of the traditional telephony system (PBX). Instead of a telephone operator manning a switchboard, you get an automated system that routes incoming calls, transfers active calls from one trunked line to another, or declines calls based on specific preset criteria. For a more apparent contrast, PBX is mostly hardware-based, while IP PBX is primarily software-based.
An IP PBX phone system is the infrastructure that supports VoIP (Voice over IP). Essentially, VoIP is the technology that enables users to make calls through the Internet using an IP PBX system.
The Benefits of On-Premises and Hosted VoIP
Before COVID-19 struck, many businesses transitioned from traditional telephony to on-premises (also “on-prem” or “on-site”) IP PBX. It was the most logical set-up: in-house IT teams would monitor the servers and interface equipment at the office to ensure that on-site teams will have tech support anytime they need it. Simultaneously, the IT team can deploy hosted VoIP/IP PBX capabilities whenever necessary to enable executive and sales officials to make and receive calls on the go while still connected to the office network.
When the pandemic struck, companies that already had IP PBX in place had an easier time transitioning to remote work with cloud-based VoIP support.
Does this mean that only businesses with on-premises IP PBX can benefit from VoIP? No, because VoIP is also available through hosted or cloud PBX. Companies without VoIP capabilities may subscribe to a hosted PBX system and enjoy VoIP benefits — benefits that can help them survive the pandemic.
- No extra cost for on-site equipment; employees can work from home with only their laptops, mobile phones, and a stable Internet connection
- Effortless routing and facilitating of calls, should the volume of inbound callers increase, whether it’s on-premises or hosted VoIP
- Unlimited calls at a fraction of the cost of traditional telephone lines
- Multiple VoIP features like call forwarding, creating and sending voicemail, automatic transcription on voicemails, auto call attendant (the disembodied voice that tells you what to do to get rerouted to the right person), audio and screen recording, and more
- One number to use for calling or sending media files if several users (e.g., salespeople, project managers) must contact business partners; crucial for maintaining order in external communications
- Reduced operational costs because you only pay for the lines that you need
- Higher productivity, thanks to time-saving features like auto transcribe and email
- Enhanced customer experience
Your business can benefit from more functions and features with VoIP. Get in touch with Kital and discover the possibilities that on-premises or hosted VoIP PBX can give your business.
