Remote work was already climbing before the pandemic, but the last few months have accelerated the trend. If your business made this pivot, there’s a chance you don’t intend on bringing everyone back to the office. Instead, you want your staff members to be able to work from anywhere, which requires connection and communication. And that’s where VoIP for remote workers comes into play.
While it’s possible to have a traditional landline forward to a worker's personal cell phone, VoIP can go further than that, allowing your remote workers to stay connected from anywhere.
Here are some of the benefits VoIP can offer you and your remote staff…
1) Stay in touch through more than just voice
Although the “V” in VoIP does stand for voice, this type of communication solution can do more than just let your team make calls from anywhere. In fact, you can set up systems that go well beyond basic calling. Along with transmitting audio, you can use VoIP for remote workers to send…
• Videos
• Documents
• Instant messages
• And more
Further, VoIP systems are sometimes linked to real-time collaboration systems. This allows multiple workers to edit a file, perhaps while they are talking about it. And as a result, your team can not only stay in touch but also collaborate more effectively despite the distance.
2) Keep communication costs down
If you haven’t implemented VoIP for remote workers yet, it may be because you’re concerned about the cost. After all, equipping every member of your staff with the technology necessary to make calls from anywhere must be expensive. And right now, you’re looking for ways to save money.
In that case, you’ll be pleased to learn VoIP can help you keep your business’s communication costs down.
Each individual line in a VoIP system tends to be much less expensive than a traditional phone line. This makes it an affordable solution as your business grows. It also allows you to have extra lines for specific purposes that can be forwarded to on-duty personnel. This provides a more cost-effective way to do a customer service hotline.
Another advantage of VoIP is that you can downsize quickly if needed. Lines are created virtually with no physical connection. They can be turned off when an employee leaves and then simply reassigned to their replacement. You pay a monthly flat fee only for what you use; as the data is transmitted over the internet, there is no charge for bandwidth or time.
Additionally, modern VoIP systems are hosted in the cloud. So, there is generally no need to buy more hardware. Instead, off-site hosting of VoIP gives you an effective solution without costly upkeep and equipment. You can even get 24/7 maintenance, which is vital if you run a business that needs to support customer emergencies.
3) Enjoy greater flexibility and convenience in terms of hardware
One of the main reasons VoIP for remote workers is so highly recommended is that it allows for greater flexibility and convenience. This is especially true in terms of how you’re able to communicate. When you take advantage of VoIP, you can choose the option that’s most convenient for you and your team.
For example…
• Each employee can simply unplug their office phone, take it with them, and then plug it in at home.
• You can provide employees with phones to use at home if they work remotely on a regular basis. However, this does result in a different number with most systems.
• Your team members can use softphones. By running the appropriate application, you and your staff can turn your smartphones into business-level communication tools.
• You can opt to route calls through a computer or tablet, avoiding phones altogether.
When it comes down to it, there are several possibilities when you adopt a VoIP solution for your business.
4) Improve customer service through auto attendants
Many business owners worry about customer service declining when workers are out of the office, but VoIP addresses that concern. In fact, you can benefit from an auto attendant that goes beyond the old-school out-of-office message. You can, affordably, have an auto attendant that directs the customer's call to the right person to help them. This significantly reduces the number of calls that go to voicemail.
The auto attendant can be programmed to give emergency status messages to the caller upfront. This helps free up your personnel to deal with the emergency rather than having to explain the situation to multiple callers. While not everyone likes auto attendants, they can be a great time-saver in an emergency and reduce the number of times you have to transfer somebody around.
5) Truly work from anywhere
Modern, device-independent VoIP systems allow your workers to use whatever device they have handy to connect to the network. For businesses that have technicians in the field, this can be absolutely vital. They can check-in, report their status, and let managers know when they are available.
Remote workers, meanwhile, can join calls from any quiet location. They can call from their living room, their backyard, or the beach with equal ease, using either available Wi-Fi or the cell network. (Be aware that it's a good idea to use a VPN to encrypt calls made over public Wi-Fi.)
6) Look forward to better call quality
VoIP for remote workers doesn’t just allow your team to stay connected no matter where they are; it helps improve call quality too. The call quality over VoIP systems is generally higher than either traditional landlines or regular cell service.
The internet-based service (provided both parties have enough bandwidth) results in clearer calls and thus fewer errors when key information is transmitted between employees. Improved call quality also improves the user experience, which reduces worker stress and increases productivity. Moreover, calls become shorter when employees no longer have to check what they heard.
7) Take advantage of advanced features
VoIP gives you all the legacy phone features, including caller ID and call waiting. However, it can also give you a variety of advanced features, such as conference calling.
One other particularly useful feature is voicemail to email. This allows your team to download voicemail messages right into their respective email inboxes. That way, customer service voice mails to slide into the email queue, where they are less likely to be overlooked.
Takeaway
If you are considering VoIP for remote workers, IT Management Solutions can help. Our cloud-based VoIP solutions offer advanced features, improved call quality, and the ability to easily work anywhere. As we move into an increasingly remote and mobile future, adopting this solution now will put your business in a better position to grow and thrive. Learn more about the VoIP solutions from IT Management Solutions today!
