Whether you run a small team, a remote crew or an enterprise size business, it’s universally true that every organisation needs strong communication.
For small businesses in Northern Ireland, onboarding a modern business phone system can significantly boost your business, your team’s productivity, and your customer satisfaction.
In today’s guide, we’ll explores how VoIP phone systems for small business can transform how SMEs are handling communications.
Understanding VoIP and cloud phone systems
Let’s dive straight into what VoIP is. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) allows you to make voice calls using a broadband internet connection, unlike traditional phones, which instead use a regular phone line. The result: a more flexible and cost-effective communication solution.
Cloud phone systems take this a step further, hosting the entire phone system in the cloud. This means there’s no need for on-site hardware, and you can manage your phone system through an online interface. For small and medium businesses looking for a reliable solution that reduces maintenance costs and increases scalability – then this everything you need in one tidy package.
What are the benefits of VoIP for small businesses in Northern Ireland?
1. Cost savings
If you’re interested in switching to a VoIP phone system, you’ll see cost reductions across your business. Why? Well, traditional phone lines often come with high setup and maintenance fees. At the opposite end of the spectrum is VoIP systems, typically offering lower monthly costs and minimal setup fees. An extra bonus: international calls are usually cheaper with data transmitted over the internet.
2. Flexibility and mobility
Here’s where cloud phone systems and VoIP really come into their own. They enable employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection, which is beneficial for businesses with remote workers or those with multiple offices or locations. You also get some great features such as call forwarding and mobile apps, all helping your team stay connected, no matter where they’re based.
3. Scalability
You have a growing business, which means your communication needs also need to adapt and evolve with you. VoIP systems allow you to easily add or remove users, providing a phone system that easily scales with your business. Flexibility like this is essential for small businesses planning to expand.
Features to consider when choosing a small business phone system
When selecting a new communication solution, it’s important to consider the ways your phone system needs to work for you, and how it can boost your business. Here’s an example of some features:
- Call routing and IVR: direct calls to the right department or individual, improving customer experience.
- Voicemail to email: receive voicemails directly into your email inbox, allowing for quicker responses and efficiency.
- Call recording: extremely useful for training purposes and maintaining records of important conversations.
- CRM integration: connect your phone system with your CRM software to increase productivity and efficiency across your teams.
- Real-time reporting: easily monitor call metrics to help make informed business decisions.
Why it’s important to choose the right Northern Ireland phone provider
When choosing a provider, consider factors like customer support, scalability, and the specific features your business requires. Here at Barclay, we help small businesses find the perfect solution for their setup, making sure you’re getting the right phone, the right features, at the best price.
With years of experience, our team can advise on everything from hardware to configuration, and we have partnerships with industry-leading providers (including Gamma and iPECS), enabling us to tailor everything to suit you! Find out more about our VoIP partners here.
Onboarding a VoIP phone system
Switching to a VoIP phone system for your small business doesn’t need to be complicated. We’re here to help you get you set up with the right VoIP system. We’ll do this through the following steps:
- Step 1: Assess your needs, determine the number of users, required features, and budget.
- Step 2: Choose a provider that aligns with your business requirements.
- Step 3: Set up the system, working with the provider to configure the system, including call routing and user extensions, making sure you’ve got the right tools for your team.
- Step 4: Train your team to ensure employees are comfortable using the new system, we’ll help get your team familiar with their new tools.
- Step 5: Monitor and adjust using reporting tools to track performance and make any necessary adjustments.
Why you should future-proof your business communications
Moving to a VoIP or cloud phone system is not just about meeting current needs, it’s about preparing for the future and thinking ahead to what might change in your business, as well as in the world of telecoms.
With legacy telephony on its way out, cloud phone systems and VoIP are leading the charge for businesses looking to onboard a cost-effective, future-proof solution. The comms landscape is continually evolving. It might seem a huge shift, but incorporating new technologies like AI-powered call analytics and advanced security features means there’s a lot to like about VoIP and the cloud.
Investing in a modern business phone system might feel like a switch you can put off, but your small business in Northern Ireland will need to move with the times and embrace the benefits on offer with modern options.
Is your small business ready to move to VoIP?
So, to recap, transitioning to a VoIP or cloud phone system offers numerous benefits for small businesses in Northern Ireland, whether that’s cost savings, increased flexibility, or scalability.
Working with a local provider helps make sure you’re onboarding the right solution. As a Northern Irish-based telecoms company, we help small business secure the right solution for them, whether it’s configuring your phones or advising on hardware. Better still, our support doesn’t stop after installation, we’re here for you whenever you need us.
If you’re ready to grow your business communications and position your company for future growth, we can help. Chat to us about your VoIP options, or book a demo to discover more.
