VoIP, voice over internet protocol, is growing in popularity amongst American businesses who have begun to move away from traditional phone systems. One of the biggest reasons behind this change in business phone systems is that VoIP can save 20-50% on a monthly phone bill, making it a great investment for the business owner looking to save money.
However, many companies haven’t adopted VoIP business systems due to misgivings about the stability of the networks, viewing traditional systems as the better bang for their buck. And while a traditional phone system may remain a solid option for businesses, VoIP systems are improving rapidly and putting phone systems to shame.
But despite the issues of stability or quality, there are ways to improve your system without costly investments. Here are some ways to help make your VoIP system run smoothly:
- Hunt Down a New Headset
Sometimes, the answer to your problem is the simplest solution. Assuming most of the work you do over VoIP comes from the computer, your headsets might be the issue for quality. Cheap or obsolete headsets can reduce audio clarity, making the call seem poor and unstable. You should invest in headsets with short, insulated cords, and replace them when the headsets start showing signs of wear and tear.
This is very important if your employees make calls from home, as their headset might not be suited for your business needs. - Lower Bandwidth Use
Outside of purchasing an internet connection with a higher contention ratio, you can reduce the bandwidth use through simple changes to day-to-day operations. Cut down on simultaneous calls, pause downloads when using VoIP, and run a lower number of items on the company’s computers when the VoIP is in use.
You should also check the network speeds regularly with speed tests on the computers. This can help you find the changes in the internet use, and when the most bandwidth usage occurs during the day.Then, you can analyze your findings and go from there. - Consider Contention
As we mentioned previously, the contention ratio measures the difference between the bandwidth available and the amount possible for service. Your VoIP compete with other users on the network that are doing a number of tasks that take up bandwidth. The more your company competes, the lower your call quality.
You can buy an assured contention ration from your provider at an additional price, and it could see a large increase in call quality and stability.
Don’t run the risk of losing customers because of a power connection. You need a stable and quality VoIP program to run your business successfully, and hopefully, these tips can help you get just that.