What is VoIP and How Does it Work? VoIP Calling Explained

what is VoIP: VoIP phone next to laptop computer

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a digital telecommunication system that allows users to make and receive phone calls over the internet, rather than a traditional public telephone network. Also referred to as internet telephony, VoIP calling helps make long-distance calls over the internet. Some VoIP services only allow you to call other people who use the same service. Others are more advanced, allowing you to call anyone who has a telephone number, including long distance and international numbers.

What is VoIP?

So, what is VoIP? VoIP technology allows you to conduct and receive phone calls over the internet rather than a traditional telephone line. VoIP calling converts the analogue audio signals of human speech into digital data. Traditional telephone systems make calls using the circuit switch method. When you make a call over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using a traditional telephone system, you connect with the person you are talking to using a circuit. While this system is reliable and has been around for decades, it is not the most cost-effective method of calling.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP calling relies on broadband internet connection to make calls rather than a circuit system. The VoIP calling system converts sound waves from human speech into digital signals that are then transmitted over the internet.

Every conversation that takes place over a VoIP system works according to the following steps:

  1. A VoIP phone receives digital data from another device and splits it into information packers.
  2. The packets are converted and sent to a router via a broadband internet connection.
  3. The router receives the packets and determines the most efficient way to get the packets to their destination.
  4. The receiving VoIP phone uses the addresses for each packet to place them in their correct order.
  5. The VoIP user on the other end receives the data as recognizable speech. 
VoIP phones in a line on a desk

Benefits of VoIP Calling

Switching from a traditional telephone service to VoIP calling can help streamline your business call center to make customer relations a much more structured process. In addition to reducing call costs, a VoIP system is also adaptable and efficient for both your employees and customers. VoIP calling can also be integrated with automation and management software to create a single, unified communication system.

Low Cost-Per-Call

As its name suggests, a VoIP calling system uses the internet rather than a phone line to make and receive calls. Using a traditional phone line VoIP calling, however, uses the internet to circumvent this problem, allowing you to make international and long-distance calls for a fraction of the cost. In fact, VoIP calling solutions for businesses usually give you the ability to make as many international calls as you want for no additional cost. Many providers allow you to make calls from almost any state in the U.S. free of charge.

A VoIP calling system can drastically reduce your business’ communication costs. Contact us today to learn more about how the right Contact Center Solution can help you save.

Call Center Management

Without the right systems and processes, your company’s call center can quickly become overwhelmed with incoming calls. VoIP call centers are uniquely designed to handle a much higher volume of calls than a traditional outbound call center. Many of them carry advanced capabilities like interactive voice response (IVR) and automatic call distribution (ACD), which help direct calls to the employees best equipped to meet customers’ needs. To further expedite your call center’s activities, some VoIP service providers even offer call waiting, auto dialers, and voicemail to text capabilities.

Fewer Analog Systems

Analog phone systems can often be clunky, adding another employee or department means only further complicating your network. VoIP calling systems often deliver a much higher call quality than analog systems because they depend on your business’ internet connection. Removing analog systems from your business can also help you save money on long distance calls that would have otherwise been expensive. With most providers, you won’t have to pay any long-distance fees when using VoIP calling. Looking to move on from your business’ outdated analog calling systems and set up a streamlined VoIP network? Call us today at (844) 446-3569. Let’s execute on your CCaaS vision.

User Accounts

VoIP phones are connected to specific user accounts, instead of phone numbers. Where landline phones are tied to your network’s on-site cabling, VoIP calling is dependent solely on internet connection. This allows you to take calls from multiple devices, as long as you login to your user account on that specific device. If your employees often work remotely, VoIP calling can prove to be a much more efficient and adaptable call solution than landline systems. VoIP works exceptionally well on both mobile and landline phones, so employees can still stay on the job even if they aren’t at their desks.

Adaptability

Traditional headsets are clunky and lack the mobility of VoIP calling systems. With a circuit system network, migrating your business can be an enormous hassle. You have to unplug and move every employee’s landline phone, only to spend hours installing them again in your new office. The number of phones you can add to your system is only limited by your network’s available bandwidth. VoIP calling makes it easy to grow your team, allowing you to add a new device or team member with just a few clicks inside your account dashboard.

VoIP calling: employee talking on VoIP phone

Increased Revenue

Are your employees reaching out to new leads every day but having trouble converting them into clients and sales? VoIP calling systems allow you to track every stage of the customer journey, from initial interaction to completed sale. This can help you identify customer pain points so you can tailor your calls and interactions to meet their exact needs. Our customer success managers bring the industry knowledge and experience needed to keep your customers coming back.

Integration Capabilities

VoIP calling systems can be integrated into other business applications including workflow management solutions and automation software to further expedite your business’ workflow. Integrating your CRM with a VoIP system creates a singular channel for all customer relations, allowing you to manage customer interactions more efficiently. This can improve your employees’ efficiency and productivity, as employees can manage multiple conversations and interactions simultaneously with just the touch of a button.

Unified Communications Solutions: Next Steps

The right customer experience solution can make streamlining and redirecting communication simple, so you always have your expert employees on call. At InflowCX, we partner with unified communications solutions that provide advanced features and robust benefits, including ZOOM, and RingCentral.

Get Started With VoIP With InflowCX Today

For businesses who are looking to migrate their phone system and reduce costs, VOIP can be a great option. Our approach to VoIP call center management starts with identifying your business’ unique needs and roadblocks. Get a consultation today to learn how InflowCX industry-leading solutions can help make customer communication a more cost and time efficient process for your business.