The History and Future of VoIP (Part 1)

Whenever we adopt new technology into our lives or businesses, it sometimes helps to create context. In other words, when we understand how and why the technology evolved, we have a better idea of how we can use it to our advantage. For Orange County business owners, switching to VoIP might seem like little more than finding a cheaper way to have phone service. But when you know where VoIP came from and where it is going, you might begin to see numerous ways you can use the technology to make your business more competitive. Let’s take a quick look at how VoIP technology developed and where many experts believe it is going in the next few years.

Comparing Hosted VoIP versus Regular VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone systems provide many competitive advantages for Orange County small businesses—but not every VoIP system is alike. When making the switch to VoIP, one of the most important decisions you will make is whether to go with hosted VoIP or a regular, on-premises VoIP system. Let’s explore the differences between these systems and discuss some of the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision about which is right for you.

Integrating VoIP with Your CRM

If you are an Orange County small business owner, chances are you’re tracking your sales and client interactions using a Customer Relations Management (CRM) software like Hubspot, Zoho, or Salesforce. One of the best advantages of switching from conventional landlines to VoIP phone service is that VoIP can often integrate seamlessly with your CRM, greatly streamlining the client care process while improving overall productivity.

Advanced VoIP Functions for Small Business Owners

So you’ve made the switch to VoIP for your Orange County small business, and you’re already starting to see how it makes your business more agile and productive. You’ve also become comfortable with the system, and you’ve got a mastery of the basic features. Now it’s time to unlock some of VoIPs more advanced functionality so you can get the most out of your system. For those who want to dive a little deeper, let’s explore a few of VoIP’s more advanced features.

VoIP Basics for Small Business Owners

Despite the competitive advantages VoIP phone service can offer to small businesses, business owners are sometimes a bit hesitant to make the switch. Mainly, this happens because they aren’t too keen on the idea of learning new technology—and perhaps they are even a little intimidated by it. The good news is that you don’t have to learn everything at once. VoIP is fairly easy to set up, and even a basic working knowledge of it will help your Orange County business become more agile and competitive. So let’s look at a few basics on how to get started with VoIP.

Training Your Team on Best VoIP/Telecom Practices for Your Orange County Business (Part 2)

Modern communications technologies like VoIP have given Orange County small businesses like yours the ability to compete alongside much larger companies in the digital age. The best way to make the most of these technologies is to set up a “best practices” policy and get your team on board with it—but that’s just the first piece of the puzzle. Your next objective is to create some safeguards around your VoIP/telecom system to ensure it meets the demands of your business consistently and seamlessly. Your team needs to be familiar with these safeguards, as well, so in the event that you can’t be at the helm (due to emergency, vacation, or whatever), the system won’t break down at the first sign of trouble.

Training Your Team on Best VoIP/Telecom Practices for Your Orange County Business (Part 1)

If you’re like many Orange County business owners, you’ve already begun to appreciate the value of VoIP technology and related communications solutions for your business—especially in times that require your workforce to be more mobile and agile. You understand how to leverage these tools to your company’s best advantage—but that doesn’t mean your team does. The one thing that can make your current VoIP and IT setup more effective is to make sure your team members know how to utilize it well. This is especially important in times when you’re not in immediate contact with your team—for example, when working from home or on vacation. Let’s discuss some practical strategies for training your team to optimize their use of your VoIP and telecom systems.

Telecom/VoIP Solutions to Give Your Small Business a Competitive Advantage in 2021 (part 2)

No matter what difficulties your Orange County small business faced last year, there are many technological options at your disposal to help you find a competitive footing in 2021. Let’s explore some examples of how you can leverage the most current VoIP advances to position your business for greater success this year.

Telecom/VoIP Solutions to Give Your Small Business a Competitive Advantage in 2021 (part 1)

The new year is upon us, and after a challenging 2020, chances are you’re looking forward to a better year ahead for your Orange County small business. The new challenge for 2021 is that most small businesses are in the same situation you’re in: after muddling through unprecedented circumstances over most of last year, they are now crowding the starting gate, anxious to make up for lost time. What can you do to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace this year?

Top Small Business Telecom/VoIP News Stories of 2020 (part 2)

We have already discussed how the unique circumstances of 2020—especially related to the coronavirus pandemic—have affected the news cycles regarding small business telecommunications and VoIP technologies. As we continue this exploration, let’s turn our attention to some news items that look forward—predicting how the events of 2020 will affect small business IT and VoIP use in the coming years.