B2B sales teams are always keen to adopt the newest and best call and conferencing technologies to boost their virtual communications. With video conferences and multimedia chats taking center stage, many businesses look to replace their existing phone lines with dedicated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies.
VoIP allows businesses to place phone calls via an internet connection. With broadband becoming faster, more reliable, and more accessible, VoIP seems an obvious choice for B2B businesses.
This article will outline six key benefits that make VoIP an attractive choice for certain businesses.
1. Cost efficiency
Businesses of all sizes are keen to cut costs wherever possible without cutting corners on quality. That is why there are phone systems for small businesses, as well as systems designed with bigger companies in mind.
When it comes to VoIP, the only costs to consider are monthly charges from your internet service provider, plus fees from the platform you choose. Because very little extra hardware is needed to run a VoIP system, there are no extra costs associated with infrastructure.
Cable-based calling plans increase in cost depending on how many phone lines you’re using and often charge a hefty premium for long-distance and international calls.
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2. Conferencing solutions
With no need for multiple phone lines, VoIP facilitates streamlined video conferencing between and across teams, as well as external calls across the globe. Instead of hosting multiple callers on a single line, you can take advantage of the native features of your network to let callers join from their own devices and broadband connections.
Additional features of VoIP software can also allow for multimedia conferencing. This allows companies to host virtual breakout rooms, share slides, images, and videos, and share links and recommendations via an integrated team chat app.
High-quality conferencing calls can be almost as effective as an in-person meeting, which is why some companies now use VoIP technology to host one-on-one meetings and even international events for hundreds of people.
3. Mobile access
Many B2B business owners are embracing remote and hybrid work, with benefits including a more diverse workforce and lower outgoings for office space and equipment.
Thanks to cloud-based communications, remote employees can access meetings and data from anywhere, as long as they have a reliable internet connection and a compatible device. This promotes real-time collaboration between internationally remote teams.
Moreover, a VoIP system can be easily moved in the event of a relocation without any added transfer or installation costs.
Another benefit of mobile access is increased reliability; should an office suffer a power cut, the clients’ calls won’t be disconnected but rerouted to mobile phones and other devices that aren’t dependent on mains electricity.
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4. Customer centricity
Critics of remote and hybrid work are concerned that the modern workplace’s lack of centralisation could lead to breakdowns in communication with key clients, removing an aspect of trust from important working relationships.
Technology like VoIP helps counter these concerns: a VoIP-based customer experience strategy can increase customer centricity by making key contacts, documents, and data readily available, and allowing account managers to build more personal relationships with their clients.
Moreover, VoIP phone solutions give companies control over how and when they receive calls. Options such as call forwarding, for instance, can automatically reroute an unanswered call from an office desk to a home phone or an assistant’s phone after a set number of rings. This means key clients won’t feel frustrated at being unable to reach the business.
Using the video chat feature can also help account managers leverage emotional intelligence, picking up on cues from facial expressions and body language to understand and respond to clients on a more personal level. Like most technology that digitises the customer experience, the use of VoIP allows can allow users to elevate the customer service they offer.
5. Installation and integration
IP phone lines are easier to install and customise than landline-based alternatives, and an office does not need specific cabling.
A company can use their existing ethernet or even WiFi as the foundation for their network. VoIP-capable handsets, headsets, microphones, and cameras, are also readily available.
Another significant advantage is that a VoIP system can be integrated with other business software, such as customer relationship management systems (CRMs) and databases. In this way, contacts and other useful information can quickly be accessed from the VoIP console.
Calls and contacts can also be integrated with email providers such as Outlook, so that customer records can be viewed during calls and agents can ensure they’re on the same page as their clients. This can be used to build a mailing list based on inbound and outbound contacts—a vital step in lifecycle marketing.
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6. Extra features
Companies offering VoIP services also provide additional features designed to boost productivity and improve communications.
Many business VoIP packages include specific analytics platforms that allow users to analyse stats such as average call time and customer satisfaction to improve productivity over time, as well as improve customer service.
Moreover, these advanced analytics provide insights that allow businesses to reduce average handle time, cut costs, and increase call efficiency.
Most VoIP services offer features such as caller ID, contact lists, automated answers, and voicemail as standard, along with forwarding voicemails and voice-to-text transcriptions to designated inboxes. This allows team members to review them and respond on the go.
Why B2B businesses turn to VoIP
VoIP has become inextricably linked with modern sales, allowing for remote meetings and a transfer of data between remote employees, partners, and clients.
The VoIP industry is constantly evolving to meet global demand and increasing expectations; B2B businesses are enjoying the benefits of advanced video conferencing and calling capabilities to move with the changes and successfully meet customers’ expectations.
