Studies suggest that switching
to hosted VoIP systems can save companies between 50 and 70% on their
communication stack.
Using a service that transmits audio and multi-media data
through the internet is an excellent way to reduce the fees associated with
long-distance and local calling. However, not all VoIP providers will
necessarily offer the same deals.
When you’re looking for the ideal business telecoms
solution, you’ll need to consider a lot of different things, including the
reliability of the company, the simplicity of the system, and the features.
However, before anything else, most organisations will need to make sure that
the VoIP prices they’ll be paying match their budget.
How much do hosted VoIP systems cost?
The majority of business telecoms vendors offer packages for their
VoIP services. These packages include things like a monthly line rental
fee, and the costs of the services that you might use, such as call recording,
and IVR systems.
Some VoIP companies will also include minute or call
packages in their fees. This means that you get a certain number of calls for
free before you start having to pay for extras.
The price that you’ll need to pay for your business telecoms
will depend on several factors, including:
- The features you want to access
- The number of users you have to support
- Whether you’re using softphones or
desk phones
- The length of your agreement/contract
Let’s take a look at VoIP prices in more depth.
How VoIP providers charge per user
Technology, because VoIP communications are delivered over
the internet, they’re a form of technology service. Many of these IT services are priced
based on the number of active users that they serve.
Usually, VoIP users aren’t calculated based on the number of
employees that might pick up a phone or use the service. Instead, your provider
will calculate your fee based on the number of lines you need at any time. For
instance, if you want to be able to communicate with ten customers at once,
you’ll need ten lines, which equates to ten paid users.
Many leading VoIP companies offer discounts for businesses
that need to support a greater number of lines.
VoIP prices and feature sets
Aside from the number of users that you need to support, the
kind of features you can access from your VoIP provider will also have a significant
impact on how much you spend. The simpler your package is, the less expensive
it will be. For instance, basic features may include:
- Consistent customer service
- Number management
- High reliability and resiliency
- The ability to make calls from any device
- Number on hold and call routing
- Encrypting and security
Depending on the demands of your business, you may also need
additional capabilities like customisable IVR systems that direct your
customers to the right agents at the correct times. You may also want things
like call recording, predictive analytics, and machine learning. Those
high-level features will come with a bigger bill.
Hosted VoIP systems and contracts
Most VoIP providers want their customers to stay with them
for as long as possible. This means that they’ll offer lower prices if you’re
willing to commit to a contract for a longer period.
Despite this, a lot of organisations won’t want to be locked
into an agreement with a specific provider. It’s up to you whether you’d prefer
to commit to a service and save a little extra or choose a shorter contact and
have the freedom to switch to another provider if you have any problems. Some
VoIP companies can even offer month-to-month contracts.
Phone choices and VoIP prices
Finally, one of the significant elements that will affect
the cost of your business telecoms is how much you spend on endpoints. One of
the reasons that VoIP is so popular is that you can keep endpoint costs to a
minimum. While you’re free to buy the most advanced desk phones on the market,
complete with touch-screens and video-conferencing features, you can also keep
costs low by using a softphone instead.
With softphones, you only pay for the software that your
employees will use, so there’s no need to buy and install any additional
equipment. Many of today’s employees use their softphones on their business
computers. With the help of mobile device management,
you can also transform an employee’s smartphone into a business phone too.
For companies seeking the lowest possible prices for their
business telecoms, softphones are usually the best choice.
Want to learn more about your Telecom and VoIP options? Contact Nice Network today!