VoIP Switch: from a landline to a digital telephony system

The benefits of VoIP technology are well-known, but if you've avoided making the VoIP switch over for your business, you may be wondering where to start. Is it going to be expensive? Do you need a new PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and new phones? Are VoIP systems easy to use?

The answer to those questions depends on the scale of your business and what hardware you currently have. Most times, the VoIP switch requirements are simpler than you think, and you may be able to reuse your existing equipment.

Are you ready for the VoIP switch over?

If you're considering switching from landline to VoIP, the first thing to do is make an inventory of your current systems. If you're using a PSTN system (old-fashioned copper phone lines), you'll need a VoIP gateway to support you with using IP telephony. VoIP and PSTN are interoperable, and you can make PSTN calls using VoIP platforms.

You may be able to keep your existing PBX and use it with VoIP communications, although, in the long-term, upgrading to a cloud PBX could make more sense because of the extra features and ease of use of modern systems.

Can you keep your number after making the VoIP switch?

One thing that many people wonder about is whether they'll be able to keep their old number after making the switch to VoIP. The good news is that in most cases it is possible to take your phone number with you when you move from a traditional provider to a VoIP provider.

Moving your phone number is known as "porting." Some VoIP providers will help you port your number over to them for free as a part of the setup process, and porting local numbers is usually a fast and simple process. Porting a toll-free number may take longer to arrange, and porting several numbers could be a more involved project if you have a large contact center.

It's a good idea to budget for a couple of weeks of transition time if you're moving all of your business over to VoIP, although you're unlikely to need that much time.

Why your business needs VoIP

There are many reasons to consider updating your systems to VoIP:

  • Adding and removing lines is easy
  • VoIP adapters enable you to keep your old hardware
  • Numbers are portable and can point to any device
  • VoIP is more cost-effective than traditional telephony
  • Robust business continuity options can reduce downtime
  • Cloud-based VoIP systems are simple to manage
  • VoIP systems can handle more than just voice
  • Many VoIP platforms integrate with CRM systems

Besides the above benefits, there's an urgent reason to consider preparing for a VoIP upgrade now. Traditional telephony systems are being decommissioned worldwide. While there are systems you can use to make your existing hardware compatible with VoIP, in the long run, you'll get better performance and increased reliability from VoIP-ready systems. Taking the time to upgrade your systems today gives you time to prepare and more flexibility while you future-proof your telephony system.

If you'd like to know more about how a VoIP upgrade can improve your call center's performance while reducing costs, contact the 8x8 team today and arrange a demo of our all-in-one communications solutions.