Every business has a certain component that it couldn’t operate without. A logistics provider wouldn’t be feasible without a fleet of vehicles, for instance, nor would a tradesperson be able to complete the job without the right tool. One necessity that almost all modern businesses have in common, though, is a solid connection to the cloud, and the right enabling technology. A reliable connection is crucial to maintaining efficiency and keeping productivity high, and the tools and systems that come with it – along with features you may not have been aware of.
VoIP
VoIP–short for Voice over Internet Protocol–converts traditionally analog voice calls into digital into packets of data. These packets are then able to pass over a public or private Internet Protocol (IP) network. That means you can make calls to landlines, mobiles, or even other computers all the while using your internet connection. This could cut costs by up to 50% and suppliers like PackNet aim to have you set up and ready to go within the hour.
With VoIP technology, you can also take advantage of SIP trunking. This uses streaming media service based on the Session Initiation Protocol which could allow you to use numbers outside your area code as well as make video calls.
Video Conferencing
Conference calling has existed for a long time, but it never really worked as intended. People were always cutting off each other’s sentences and you could never be sure the other party was taking the talk seriously or had access to the necessary slides or documents. Video conferencing changed that, but it required expensive equipment to get started. Skype has become integral to companies that have teams working in different parts of the country, or even the globe, and plans start at just £1.30 per month for businesses. This includes online meetings, messaging, calls, and video with up to 250 people.
With freelancing, traveling, and working from home becoming increasingly popular, companies should take the steps to ensure they can cope in new business environments.
Cloud Computing
For the last several years, the cloud has been one of the most common buzzwords touted amongst tech circles. Many outside the industry were starting to believe it may just be another fad, but many different industries are seeing the benefits. By using a network of remote servers, companies like Google and Microsoft are able process much larger amounts of data than if they were limited to the power of their local machines.
Cloud-based business plans are both flexible and scalable, and very much offer a “pay-as-you-go” like solution to what used to be a very complicated procedure of buying and installing expensive hardware. This is evident in the new document management, data storage, and processing power solutions now available to businesses around the globe.
Adopting those enabling technologies could have more advantages that you initially realised. Consider how you could incorporate these features into your business.
