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How AI can shape the future of VoIPArtificial intelligence (AI) can significantly complement Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Here’s how AI-enhanced VoIP can introduce remarkable efficiencies to your business communications. Interactive voice response (IVR) systems with conversational AI An IVR system is designed to automatically respond to customer queries with AI agents. These agents allow businesses to take on more customer calls […]

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How AI can shape the future of VoIP

Artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly complement Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Here’s how AI-enhanced VoIP can introduce remarkable efficiencies to your business communications.

Interactive voice response (IVR) systems with conversational AI

An IVR system is designed to automatically respond to customer queries with AI agents. These agents allow businesses to take on more customer calls without having to hire more human agents. Among AI assistants’ most powerful features are the following:

  • Text and speech recognition – the ability to understand and respond to written and spoken messages
  • Intent recognition – the ability to discern what the person communicating with the AI tool wants to happen based on what that person is saying
  • Contextual guidance – the ability to “keep in mind” what was stated earlier so that the AI tool can understand references to those past statements
  • Multilingualism – the ability to communicate in many different languages

While in a call, AI assistants can concurrently gather and assess all relevant customer data such as personal information and recent transactions to resolve a query. In this manner, this makes them more efficient than human agents who have to put a caller on hold in order to access that caller’s records.

Thanks to machine learning and natural language processing, these AI-powered IVR systems will only get better at communicating with customers over time. However, for more nuanced queries, AI agents still transfer calls to human business representatives, who are better equipped to serve customers.

Chatbot functions

Chatbots are useful programs that receive instructions via textual or auditory means to perform automated tasks.

Like IVR systems, bots are used by businesses to automate customer interactions. AI-powered chatbots go beyond regular bot duties by performing more complex tasks like setting up meetings, inviting attendees, managing schedules, and much more.

AI-powered call recording analysis

AI tools can parse through call recordings to identify issues such as poor customer service. These tools can also identify trends (e.g., increasing customer satisfaction) and the challenges your agents encounter when they provide customer support or try to keep customers from closing their accounts.

AI-enabled web conferencing

Web conferencing has improved over the years with internet speeds and telecom technology constantly developing. AI advances it even further with real-time language translation and speech recognition technology, which greatly benefits businesses with offices in multiple geographic locations and whose stakeholders come from diverse backgrounds.

AI-enabled web conferencing can even provide intelligent prompts and relevant data to guide your conversations and ensure a fruitful meeting.

With AI-powered systems vastly improving contact center operations, businesses are understandably eager to adopt them. There’s so much more that VoIP systems can do for your business, and we’ve got the expertise to handle all your VoIP-related concerns. Just call us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How to enable VoIP for your remote workersWith business trends like bring your own device policies and remote work, companies using VoIP in their office have had to expand their remote communication capabilities to hold their own against competitors. However, they may still struggle to extend VoIP to off-site or mobile employees. To cater to your out-of-office workers, there are a variety […]

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How to enable VoIP for your remote workers

With business trends like bring your own device policies and remote work, companies using VoIP in their office have had to expand their remote communication capabilities to hold their own against competitors. However, they may still struggle to extend VoIP to off-site or mobile employees.

To cater to your out-of-office workers, there are a variety of ways by which you can expand the mobility of your VoIP services.

1. Look into unified communications (UC)

If your employees are able to bring their personal devices to work, your IT administrators will insist that all of them comply with your company’s policies. You will need to establish good security and compliance measures to meet the needs of both your customers and employees.

A solid solution is UC, which integrates real-time communication services, such as instant messaging, telephony, data sharing, and video conferencing. UC bridges the gap between VoIP and other computer-related communication technologies. It makes communication more convenient and manageable by providing a single number to reach as well as a status indicator that conveys whether employees are available or if they don't want to be disturbed.

2. Employ easy-to-use apps

Most top-rated business apps began as user-focused tools to help people find data more independently. Some of these apps have transformed into more customized tools focusing on specific business needs. The problem with this is that satisfying these needs often sacrifices overall usability. If your employees are struggling to use the mobile version of your VoIP solution, then they likely will dump it.

This can lead to employees using unauthorized apps, which increases security risks. To avoid this, implement an app or a tool that is easy to use, navigate, and manage. Ask VoIP providers for a free demo to evaluate how user-friendly the software is.

3. Cloud support

Having on-premises equipment and support for your VoIP solution is a good idea. However, your existing IT team may not be ready for the challenges of providing a cloud-based mobile app or voice support. We recommend you go for a hosted VoIP solution, which delivers the same cost-effective, network-based service, but the equipment is housed based at a provider’s site rather than in your data center. This eliminates the cost of on-premises gear, maintenance costs, and overall management while increasing the overall effectiveness of your mobile solution.

4. Work with an experienced solution manager

It can be tough to manage your VoIP solutions as you’re expanding them. That’s why it’s best to work with an IT partner like us; we have the expertise and experience to pull it off. When you outsource the management of your solution to us, we can get your apps and solution up and running, then administer them for you.

If you need to expand your VoIP mobile capabilities to enhance your efficiency and productivity, or if you’re interested to learn more about VoIP solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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VoIP for SMBs: Hardphones or softphones?Your company has decided to avail of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and has given you the task of choosing between its two types: traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based phones (softphones). Worry not — we’re here to help you understand the benefits of each type. What’s a hardphone? A hardphone functions like a normal […]

The post VoIP for SMBs: Hardphones or softphones? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

VoIP for SMBs: Hardphones or softphones?

Your company has decided to avail of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and has given you the task of choosing between its two types: traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based phones (softphones). Worry not — we’re here to help you understand the benefits of each type.

What’s a hardphone?

A hardphone functions like a normal phone, but it's connected to your business's IP network instead of a telephone line. There’s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at an affordable price. More advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens for video calls, eliminating the need for separate equipment for video conferencing.

What’s a softphone?

A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software application that allows users to turn their PCs, laptops, and tablets into phones that can make and receive local and international calls. Softphones let you dial a number on your computer or mobile device and speak through its embedded speakers and microphone or through a headset with a microphone, so you can make and take calls wherever you are.

Which VoIP phone is for you?

When choosing between hardphones and smartphones, consider the following questions:

Are your employees always moving around?
Do they require 24/7 connectivity?
Does your company take pride in offering top-notch customer service?
What’s your IT budget?

Your answers to these questions will determine the type of equipment you need.

Why choose hardphones?

Nothing beats the voice clarity and noise cancellation features of hardphones since they are designed specifically for voice calls, unlike softphones that share power with other programs on a device. They also let you make and receive calls without being disrupted by poor PC performance or malware.

Because you have to purchase actual phones, the initial setup costs for hardphones are greater than those for softphones, but the monthly phone bills are more affordable. Not only that, softphones may be more costly in the long run, as they require separate headphones and microphones that may need to be replaced or maintained frequently.

Why choose softphones?

If your company has a mobile workforce, adopting a softphone solution may be the way to go. Softphones feature call routing, which allows you to divert calls to one or several specified internet-enabled devices, ensuring your clients have 24/7 access to your company. This is most useful in a contact center environment. Transcribed voicemail messages are another helpful feature, as this enables you to receive messages promptly, even if you’re in a meeting or on the road.

Our experts are available 24/7/365 to answer any questions you may have pertaining to VoIP and especially about whether hardphones or softphones are right for you. If you’re interested in upgrading your telephony infrastructure, give us a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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VoIP business phones: Are they right for your company?Should you consider adopting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems for your business, or will legacy phone systems suffice? The decision will ultimately boil down to which technology can best address your business needs. To help you decide whether VoIP is right for your company, read on about this phone technology that’s enabling organizations […]

The post VoIP business phones: Are they right for your company? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

VoIP business phones: Are they right for your company?

Should you consider adopting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems for your business, or will legacy phone systems suffice? The decision will ultimately boil down to which technology can best address your business needs. To help you decide whether VoIP is right for your company, read on about this phone technology that’s enabling organizations to deliver excellent results while helping them cut costs.

What is VoIP?

Traditional telephones are still very much a part of today’s business operations, and companies use them to connect with various stakeholders such as customers, investors, and suppliers. But telephony has come a long way from when the first telephone was invented in 1876. Modern phone systems are now automated, cheaper than ever to acquire, and have virtually unlimited reach. One of the most widely used modern phones in the market today is the VoIP phone.

VoIP technology uses the internet instead of wired circuits to transmit data. And it does more than just transmit audio like legacy phones do. It can also send a variety of data (e.g., video, multimedia, SMS, etc.) and perform other tasks such as call routing and anonymous call rejection.

VoIP setups: On-premises vs. hosted

A VoIP system’s hardware and software can be either on-premises or hosted. On-premises means that all of the VoIP’s components are housed within the premises of the company. Hosted VoIP, meanwhile, means that only some of the hardware, like phone units and other equipment, can be found within a business’s premises. The rest of the technology, including the software, is hosted online. In this setup, service providers look after hosted systems for their clients.

Which setup should you choose? You may want to consider the condition of VoIP hardware and software in different environments.

Generally, hardware is affected by the wear and tear stemming from daily use, so whether you choose to house it on-premises or not doesn’t make much of a difference. Barring any accidents or physical damage, any VoIP hardware should last several years.

On the other hand, software requires regular updates and security patches, and it’s faster and cheaper to update software that’s hosted in the cloud versus one that’s on-premises. If you want to better protect your systems from cyberattacks and enjoy the latest VoIP features as soon as they come out, choose hosted VoIP.

Business adaptability with VoIP

In the past, hardware and software were built to last. Traditional phone systems, for instance, rarely get new features once they’re deployed. Meanwhile, modern IT solutions like VoIP are built to adapt and change.

These days, critical updates are released regularly, with complete overhauls taking no longer than 2–3 years. If you choose hosted VoIP technology and outsource its management, then you can enjoy a faster, easier, and cheaper upgrade via cloud-based rollouts.

Most hardware components are also improved upon every once in a while, with replacements and upgrades coming every 5–8 years on average. Note that if you outsource your VoIP systems, your VoIP provider will be the one to ensure that the hardware is up to date, and your company won’t have to shoulder outright hardware upgrade costs.

As your business moves forward, you must have a phone system that is agile and fast, and can integrate smoothly with the other systems in your business, such as email or management software.

Be one step ahead

VoIP is reliable. As long as you have a high-speed internet connection, you can guarantee high-quality voice calls with 99.9% connection uptime. Unavailability, choppy connections, and other traditional phone issues translate to lost sales and productivity. If your phone service is spotty and is constantly unreliable, perhaps it’s time to switch to VoIP phones.

VoIP is reliable, adaptable, and won’t cause a dent in your budget. Call our experts today so you can always be a step ahead with VoIP.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post VoIP business phones: Are they right for your company? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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