Keeping your company’s communication lines open is key to running a successful business. Chances are your employees are used to using email and phone networks to stay in contact. But each of these methods of communication has its own problems. If you’re running a business, simple mistakes can translate to substantial losses and downtime for your business.
Email might seem like the perfect way to communicate at first: it’s instant and easy to use, and every message stays on record for easy reference. While it might sound good, in practice, emails are hard to maintain when dealing with many of them at once. With hundreds of emails and text messages, some are bound to slip through, with potentially catastrophic results for your business.
A better approach to business communications is the use of SIP trunking and Unified Communications as-a-Service (UCaaS) platforms. The best way to ensure clear communication is to follow the three message rule: if the issue isn’t resolved after three email messages, it’s probably best to discuss over a meeting or in a phone call.
For larger businesses, it might not be practical to set up a landline for every employee using traditional methods. Remember, each employee needs several phone lines to conduct business, and you may employ hundreds or thousands of workers. SIP trunking is a solution to this problem at an efficient price.
What Is SIP Trunking?
The modern solution for your business phone lines is SIP trunking, a method to virtualize your phone connections by running them on an Internet connection rather than an analog landline.
A SIP trunk is essentially a virtual phone company that takes no hardware to build. The service is installed over your company’s existing Internet connection using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
Using VoIP and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), SIP Trunking routes all communications into one point of entry for your business phone network, creating only a small load on your network.
What’s the Difference Between SIP Trunking and IP Trunking?
SIP is a communications protocol that specializes in voice, video and other mediums. IP trunking is only available for an Internet-based phone. On the other hand, SIP trunking can also set up additional features such as direct VoIP calls, video calls and any other type of communication that can take place online.
SIP trunking brings with it the benefit of complete security in your network, as well as features you wouldn’t be able to access with a simple landline. Modern businesses aren’t interested in a simple VoIP connection: they want to use the Internet to its fullest extent. SIP trunking is, for instance, capable of running an entirely virtual call center for your company, but IP trunking technology is incapable of producing the same results.
Benefits of SIP Trunking
Should your business make the switch to SIP trunking? The answer is almost always yes. Here are just a few of the advantages SIP trunking has over traditional phone lines:
- Simple setup. SIP trunking offers your business a fully functional phone line with no hardware needed.
- Security. Communications over SIP trunking are completely secure, as VoIP is a secure protocol.
- It’s cost-effective. Compacting your communications will significantly reduce your phone bill. SIP service typically costs around 60% less than a regular landline.
- No maintenance. Your SIP network takes almost no technical support from your end, which saves you on IT costs.
- Mobility. Your employees can stay in contact when mobile with a simple, easy-to-use VoIP app connected directly to your company.
SIP Trunking Best Practices
It’s easy to get excited about employing new VoIP technology like SIP trunking. Don’t go overboard, though. Remember, just as important as setting up your company’s voice network is setting it up correctly.
When deploying your SIP trunking system, make sure you follow these best practices:
- Check your company’s requirements. For SIP technology to work for you, you need to make sure you’re buying the right package. Outline your company’s current requirements and how you will want to expand your communications network in the future before you start considering which SIP trunking service to buy.
- Make sure you’re getting the features you need. Different vendors offer different plans. You may be interested in extra features for your SIP network, such as MCID (Malicious Call Identification), 911 call routing and call recording. Collaborate with your vendor to find a plan that suits your business.
- Evaluate your plan carefully. SIP trunking is an unregulated service, so you should make sure you’re getting what you want out of your vendor by reading the fine print.
- Take it slow. Rushing new technology into deployment often results in multiple problems. Take your time, deploy your SIP trunking service over a period, and enjoy the extra features and convenience.
Common SIP Trunking Mistakes
As with most business tools, knowing what not to do is often just as important as knowing best practices. If you have a clear idea of what kind of errors to avoid, you will ensure your business will get full value out of its SIP trunking service.
You should avoid:
- Paying for a service you don’t need. Always check to make sure you’re paying for a SIP trunking service package that covers all of your business needs and nothing you don’t need.
- Cutting corners. One of SIP trunking’s main selling points is that it’s a much more budget-friendly option than a traditional landline. That being said, don’t go overboard on trying to save. Prioritize high quality service that covers your requirements, and you will find that you’ve still made significant savings overall.
- Ignoring security. When properly configured, SIP trunking is a secure form of communication. Make sure your SIP voice network is safe before you start using it, or your business will be in danger of cyber attacks.
Voyant – Where Streamlined SIP Trunking Starts
At Voyant, we make it our goal to keep your organization’s communications network online in a way that is convenient and easy for you. Our SIP trunking services allow your business to have a fully virtual telecom network tailored for your needs.
Voyant’s secure, geo-redundant network provides voice SIP Trunks while offering two affordable service options to address your needs. Our self-service solution, based on phone numbers and minutes of use, enables your company to get up and running with new numbers and services quickly or to rapidly port existing numbers. Voyant’s alternative SIP Trunk option provides your company with sales and technical resources to build scalable trunking configurations to meet your complex needs of your business or contact center needs. Both options offer live support for your business at all times. Businesses can choose to connect via public Internet, MPLS or VPN. Our entire service is easy for business owners like you to understand and deploy across your company.
Having clear, reliable and effective ways to connect your employees is key to running your business smoothly. Your company probably relies on its communications network every day, so, if you’re thinking about deploying a SIP trunking service provider, you should make sure you get the job done right.