subject: How Voip Consultancy Can Help Business Choose A Voice Solution [print this page] As more businesses consider replacing their old PBX phone system with a more cost effective and functional VoIP system, the value of using a voice technology consulting firm to help choose the most appropriate VoIP vendor and configuration is becoming more apparent.
While there are significant long term savings to be had by replacing your traditional office phone system, there are many variables and options involved in the technology that can cause decision makers to get a little overwhelmed. The fact is that businesses are rather spoilt for choice when it comes to VoIP solutions and the potential capabilities. The initial investment in VoIP technology needs to be done right and a VoIP technology consultant can ensure that your new telephone system is the right one for your business.
Independent Assessment of Requirements
A voice technology consultant can independently assess what your particular requirements are and what kind of solution would best suit the business now and into the future without blowing out your costs. A consultant who is independent of the vendors can give frank and fearless advice to a business who is looking to take steps towards embracing VoIP technology and its many benefits. Going direct to the vendor might not get you the best solution because their services will not necessarily provide everything you need or at the best price. When you engage a consultant to put together a business communications solution, that consultant is being paid specifically to find the best solution possible at the best price rather than attempt to sell you the biggest most expensive deal.
Proprietary Equipment and Software vs Open Source
When assessing hardware requirements, a good voice technology consultant will not lock you into using proprietary technology, especially if you are using VoIP technology. From the server to the telephones themselves, there should not be any reason to be sold hardware that exclusively works with certain VoIP providers and not others. Also the business grade VoIP software can often be exclusive proprietary property that constrains who can configure it. This sort of thing can leave you in the cold if you cant get proper support or can turn out to be very costly. Rather than navigate this minefield by yourself, you can avoid the subtle tricks and pitfalls of ISP and Telco deals by consulting an independent professional.
Understanding VoIP Capabilities
VoIP is a very useful, yet complicated technology. Although the technology is more reliable now than ever before, the sheer number of customised functions that can be implemented in a business setting has probably served to confuse many who have been talking to vendors about their various products. This isnt helped by non-VoIP telcos who offer the traditional PBX solutions to businesses and who can give false or bad information about the state of VoIP technology whilst having an interest in steering you clear of using a VoIP phone system.
VoIP can do so much more than the old office PBX system.
Ensuring a Reliable, Robust VoIP Solution
Business grade VoIP is a very robust solution, but is greatly dependent on how robust your Internet connection is. If your Internet connection fails and a backup is not available, your phone system will also go down. That is why it is worth having two broadband Internet connections as a fail-safe. Both connections can be utilised at the same time office wide using a load balancing router. If one broadband connection fails, the second will take over. Another way to ensure that your voice calls over the Internet are of the highest quality is to configure your VoIP server to prioritise voice data packets above normal data packets. In other words, your voice call traffic will always get priority over your network than emails and web traffic. This is not enough, however, what about when your voice calls leave your office network and is sent across the Internet by you Internet provider to switch though to your call destination? There voice call needs to be ensured that it will retain quality the whole distance to the other end. A voice technology consultant will make sure that the Internet provider is also prioritising your voice packets as well. This kind of attention can mean the difference between good call quality and poor call quality.
Unified Communications Consultancy
As enterprise voice solutions move further into the mainstream and the benefits realised, so will the benefits of consultants in this area of expertise. Interestingly, many experts in the field of VoIP and Unified Communications are also largely by default also experts in office networking. Because of the technologies dependence on complicated data networks, communications technology consultants need to be very knowledgeable in this area.
Whether you have a small or large business, AWD can provide reliable, robust and cost effective set up of a VoIP solution that suits your needs and can grow with your business without hassle .Contact AWD about our Unified Communications Consultancy services.
