Bringing unified communications to the business place
SIP telephone systems took digital technology one step further when they mixed it with Internet Protocol (IP) networks, and the result was unified communications.
This highly productive relations platform streamlines business processes and creates even more efficient working practices.
Read on to see if the features and benefits match your business model.
Features that take you further
- VoIP
VoIP is a sub set technology of SIP telephony which allows you to transmit voice over a computer network, including the internet, much like sending file or email data over a network. The signals, aka voice packets, can be interpreted by all telephone networks enabling you to talk to landline or mobile users without any noticeable difference.Working with VoIP is a technology called SIP trunking, this is a new tool enables a business to replace existing digital telephone lines with a data connection without any change to telephone call handling methods.
- Voice mail to email
You can now manage your voice messages from your PC and mobile phone using an internet based voicemail answering service. This technology delivers voice mails directly to your email inbox on your PC or mobile phone giving you the most efficient way to respond to messages throughout the day.
- Database integration
Effectively manage your calls by dialling from existing contact databases, using caller ID and creating meeting and task requests based around information that is collated on your database.
- Fax to email
Speed up the process of faxing by sending and receiving faxes from your email system, just like an email. Incoming documents are converted into an image file and promptly delivered to the recipient’s inbox as an attachment. To mail a fax you simply reverse the process and attach the document you want to fax, to your email and send it your recipient’s fax number.
- Conference calls
This vital communication tool acts as a virtual meeting place when traditional meetings can’t take place. Unite your team by managing conference calls with any number of in-house and remote participants.
- Extended call routing
Maintain 100% call availability and business professionalism by automatically routing calls. Streamline your call answering service further by adding rules and actions that control the routing of calls according to caller ID, dialled extension, time and date and more.
- Mobile integration
Integrate business mobile phones with the office telephone system to keep remote employees as accessible and productive as those in-house. Many of the key functions are available such as call swap, conference, recording, call forwarding, voicemail retrieval.
- Call capture
Capturing calls for the purpose of training, confirmation of discussions and security measures is increasingly recognised as a must have in the business place. Ad hoc conversations can be recorded, saved and forwarded by email.
- Call monitoring
Training all staff to manage all types of call is not always possible. By monitoring calls you can build a profile of incoming or outgoing calls ideal for training purposes and additionally by silently monitoring the call, a more experienced employee can give advice to the employee on the call without the caller hearing.
- Standby telephone server
No business wants to be faced with a telephone system that has gone down leaving employees with no way of receiving and making calls. Should your existing telephone server become unavailable due to maintenance or a fault, a standby replica telephone system is ready to take over in seconds.
Benefits that make business sense
- Keep your phone number
As your business grows you may need to relocate. Many businesses fear this simply because they will lose their recognised phone number. With SIP phones this is not the case and you can use your number nationally, taking it with you should you move.
- Reduced network spend
Running your communications network from a single platform under one contract eradicates the expense of separate voice and data systems with individual purchase, support and maintenance fees.
- Cost effective calls
Using VoIP and SIP trunk technology a data network offers you reduction in on-going phone costs. Businesses operating from more than one site, can use the data network to make internal voice calls free of charge, in addition telephone lines are provided at lower rental charges than other standard analogue or digital telephone lines and the internet provides your business with flexible, cost effective external voice call rates.
- Scalability
Unlike most traditional digital phone systems SIP Telephony is easily scalable. New lines and services can be directly built-in to the system to allow you to expand your existing network.
- Flexible remote access
The flexible access of SIP Telephony allows for any place deployment, such as the home, abroad or customer site, which is another advantage over traditional digital phone systems. As long as the location has a suitable connection, voice calls can be received remotely over the network just as they would be in the office; a cost effective alternative to expensive mobile phone calls.
- Better presence management
To effectively manage communications further, employees will automatically know the availability of their colleagues. Regardless of location, they will see whether someone is logged in, on a call or away from their desk.
- Simple programming
If a phone needs re-programming, SIP telephones can simply update the network by registering the phone at any location where upon the new owner’s details and features become immediately available. This is not the case with traditional phone systems which require a lot of time and resources.
- Improved productivity
Unified communications marry the communication tools you use on a daily basis into one workable platform useable by all employees and saving on time and energy.
- Optimise satisfaction levels
Implementing a SIP telephone system highlights that your company recognises the need for modern practices and meets with the demands of today’s business savvy customers.Effectively responding to customers’ needs raises satisfaction levels among both staff and customers.
- Security
A SIP telephone system offers several unique security methods to make your network safe and secure, none of which are available on existing digital phone systems. 3 stages of authorisation, authentication and transport layer security, take place to provide a secure communication channel between the client and business server in order to prevent eavesdropping, tampering or message forgery.
Are these features and benefits right for your business? Get in touch with us today using our quote form.