The benefits of telecommuting are apparent—increased employee productivity, reduced costs, and more flexibility are only a few. In fact, people who work full time from home are more efficient than those who don’t.

The average commute to and from between home and office consumes 3-4 hours a day or 15-20 hours a week, resulting in wastage of productive man-hours and energy. This is accompanied by the stress we endure. Car usage in India has been growing by leaps and bounds, and public transportation is practically running at full capacity. If only more companies offer remote working opportunities, the productivity and creativity will shoot up phenomenally. But the question arises – how do we clock hours?

However, one of the major disadvantages of telecommuting is that remote workers miss out on daily interactions in the office, which often results in employees feeling isolated and disconnected from the team and the company as a whole. So how can companies help their remote workers feel empowered and fully part of the team and company even though they’re not physically present? Video conferencing is the answer, and here are some of the ways it can impact companies and their remote workers:

• Video conferencing capabilities can drive telecommuting initiatives by optimizing collaboration.This growing trend is unsurprising, considering that one of the key advantages to video conferencing is enhanced employee performance despite geographically dispersed teams. While most workers use phone, email, and messaging to interact, 80 percent of communication is based on visual cues. Video conferencing allows for the best-quality interactions available next to in-person meetings. Therefore, as employees become more geographically displaced, there is an increased possibility of misunderstanding or reduced flow in exchange of information. Employees capable of participating in meetings over video have a better read on coworker expressions and are far more engaged. This allows them to make more accurate decisions than with any other mode of remote communication.
• Video conferencing helps strengthen virtual teams by helping remote employees integrate more easily into the group. That makes more meetings more productive, shortening cycle times and decision-making for a host of business processes and interactions.
• Like most other lines of business, HR departments are on tight budgets, trying to do more with less. They have fewer people and resources, and yet the challenges they face are increasing, especially as they must support a growing number of remote and mobile workers. By using video conferencing to roll out information on new policies and procedures, train employees on new software or business processes, announce company-wide information, and strengthen corporate bonds, HR can reach all their employees anytime, anywhere. All this can be accomplished without giving up the value of visual communications and without the need for costly and time-consuming travel.
• HR can also use video conferencing to significantly improve their online training. As the marketplace becomes more global and competitive, employees and partners must be well-educated, both to do their jobs efficiently and to make the most of new technology. Organizations must continually train their employees, as quickly as possible and regardless of where they are located in relation to the company or its training staff.
• As companies ramp up hiring, video conferencing can make the recruiting and hiring process much more effective, without increasing costs. Remote applicants can interview with multiple managers and potential colleagues, giving everyone a better idea of one another and whether the candidate is a good fit for the organization. Once they’re hired, new employees can use video conferencing to get up to speed on company policies and procedures and train on applications and processes.

Remote workers and the companies they work for need the benefits of video conferencing to overcome geographical barriers for everything from collaboration to training. Value-added resellers (VARs) that have clients with remote workers can demonstrate the benefits of adding video conferencing equipment, which will provide the VAR with steady  commercial, revenue from products and services, and contracts for professional services and maintenance agreements

source: https://yourstory.com; http://www.ingrammicroadvisor.com

Technology an essential ingredient in any business strategy. Investment in IT systems and software is a necessary requirement for business progression, offering a means to support growth and workforce productivity. Whatever the industry, there appears to be a technology available that promises to enhance your business performance and drive results however all too often organisations that commit to an investment in state-of-the-art technology, fail to see the dramatic returns they expected.

With budget constraints a common feature in many of today’s decision-making processes, return on investment (ROI) is not only an expectation but is increasingly viewed as a prerequisite of the project. When little or no return is seen, it can be frustrating and embarrassing for those in the business who pioneered investment in the new technology. Business leaders can be left scratching their heads wondering why the promised results haven’t come to fruition.

Investment in training

The answer to the problem can often be found in the decision to forgo additional investment in end user training. For projects involving the integration of Unified Communications (UC) into a business, end user training is often under-valued being a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity. Often the reason for choosing to omit end user training is down to an overall misunderstanding of the UC product. A simple telephone replacement project where the system will easily integrate into the business is a common misconception of UC. This view does not account for the extensive features and applications available to users including video and conferencing, telephony, presence information and collaboration apps. UC is a user friendly, intuitive experience meaning it can be delivered in part without the need for training however this approach can leave users confused and unaware of the many new supportive features available to them. Incorporating any new IT system into an organisation can be very disruptive and challenging for staff. The task of replacing well established legacy systems that have been in place for many years, can be particularly challenging as the workforce struggle with the shift to a new system they simply don’t know how to operate.

The overall commitment to UC integration should always incorporate some element of staff training.

End user training is available in many forms from computer-based training , user guides and handbooks, to hands-on instructor led classes and one-to-one support. Businesses can also choose to avail of Train-the-trainer courses which offer the opportunity to arm the workforce with in house system experts who can learn from the providers expert team and then develop and deliver in-house training to staff. Developing staff to provide this level of in house expertise reduces reliance on the provider help desk which can be an expensive way to handle simple trouble shooting issues. In-house experts can offer ongoing support to colleagues with extended user knowledge and problem-solving skills.

When evaluating the best training plan for staff, the technical skill of the workforce should always be considered. The technical knowledge of some staff may be limited, and the choice of training should be tailored to the audience with various levels of support for the more and less ‘tech savvy’ of the group.

When users receive little or no training for UC systems, they can become disillusioned, confused and frustrated even feeling nostalgia for the old system. In this case, users tend to lean on the features they can access easily while ignoring the rest; failing to make use of the enhanced tools UC offers.

When creating a business case for a new IT system, end user training can sadly be viewed as an unjustifiable cost however the reality is that without training, user time and system usability can be limited which can have a direct impact on ROI. When employees don’t understand how to use the product, they can waste time trying to resolve issues with little or no user knowledge. This also drives further frustration with a system they feel does not operate efficiently or support them in their role

Harness the power of unified communications

The introduction of UC has the power to transform how a business and its workforce operate. It provides an opportunity to unify email, telephony, web conferencing, instant messaging and communication systems. It provides flexible and agile workers with the ability to gain full access to company data and communication systems from remote locations anywhere and on any device. The role of UC is to enhance communication and collaboration with customers, partners and across a business enabling better usability and providing easy access to company data bases and remote staff. These features allow organisations to enhance the performance of staff while reducing overall costs but like any technology, it is only as powerful as the people who use it. When users are unable to access the UC platform, they fail to see these benefits and can feel frustration with company leaders for investing in the new system in the first place. The result can be an investment in technology that users do not understand and therefore choose not to use.

Underestimating the value of employee training can be the downfall of a business project. This applies to the introduction of any new system, IT based or otherwise. When choosing to integrate UC into an organisation it is important that businesses consider not simply what technology to invest in, but how best to build the system into the company culture. When adopting any new technology, the people behind the IT, the users, ultimately hold the key to driving results. Effective end-user training will result in increased adoption rates, more confident users and enhanced operational efficiency.  Empowering staff with user knowledge and a thorough understanding of the product through structured initial and ongoing training support is the key to ensuring UC success.

source: www.itproportal.com

There are so many things to take care of while shifting to a new office. And usually PBX systems are the last thing on your mind. Faced with the countless headaches around moving into a new space and signing a new lease, office telephony tends to be overlooked. And when the question does arise, most business owners turn toward their existing PBX system – and investigate how to move it into the new space.

Many business owners soon discover, attempting to move an existing PBX system is not only complicated, but also very costly. Firstly, PBX suppliers have little to no interest in assisting clients to move PBX systems. When providing a quote, they will quote high. Why? Because these are product-based businesses, so they would rather push business owners into an upgrade/new finance contract than arrange to move an existing PBX system.

To solve this issue (and avoid getting stuck in the same scenario the next time around) business owners should consider a cloud-based PBX system. Cloud-based PBX providers are inherently service-based businesses, with a solution driven approach. As a result, questions around uptime, handling and diverting call traffic, and of course, making a smooth transition to new premises, can all be answered with ease. Indeed, cloud-based PBX providers have dedicated account managers who have every incentive to ensure that office telephony requirements are met – around the clock, during and after a move. These solutions are designed with mobility in mind, hence removing all the usual headaches associated with moving into new premises.

While there are many attractive reasons and substantial benefits to switching to a cloud PBX, there are a few considerations that businesses must make if they have decided to switch from an on-premise PBX to the cloud

Costs & Budgets

What is a business’ budget and what options will work within that? Cost is one of the big factors to assess when upgrading equipment and technology in an office. It is important to look at the different costs that will be associated with the cloud PBX solution, including setup and support costs. Also, businesses must decide if they are going to be upgrading phones or will need to purchase new compatible devices. While these expenditures must be part of the cost analysis, remember that initial start-up and/or equipment costs generally are a one-time expense.

Where are the cost savings? PBX phone saving studies show that cloud PBX systems can save companies up to 50% (in comparison to other PBX solutions). Cloud-based phone systems are known to have relatively limited upfront costs. Additionally, the need to install, maintain, reconfigure, and upkeep a premise-based PBX, which can lead to unforeseen future costs, is removed from the equation. Cloud solutions also have a tendency to have low set-up costs, call rates, and subscription fees. When completing a cost analysis, do not forget to include the monthly Internet service fee.

Business Needs & Feature Sets

What are the overall business and associate-level needs? It is imperative to assess whether or not the cloud solution comes with all the advanced features (or more) that an on-premise PBX would have. Ask if the solution has all the management capabilities needed, such as import/export of extensions, troubleshooting, and provisioning. Does the business rely on a third-party chat and collaboration program (Slack, Teams, etc.) or does the cloud PBX need to have a chat feature built-in? What security features are a must-have for an organization? It is not safe to merely assume that all cloud PBX offerings are the same, so feature needs should be outlined and then compared with feature sets.

Some of the top key features include:

• Business Features: Blacklist/Whitelist, Custom prompt, distinctive ringtone, music on hold, one-touch recording
• Call Features: Attended transfer, blind transfer, call detail records, call forwarding, call monitor, call parking, call routing, caller ID, conference, DND, queue, speed dial, SIP forking, video calls
• Management: Backup & restore, import/export extensions, multi-level user access, phone provisioning

Multi-Locations & Branch Offices

Does a business need a multi-location solution? If business spans different geographical areas and is not contained in one location, it makes sense to gravitate towards a cloud PBX. Many cloud PBX options can connect employees on the opposite sides of the globe, offering all employees access to the exact same features. Easily utilize these options to transfer calls between different offices. One other consideration is to assess the cost of long distance calling, which may already be rolled into the package price.

Access on Mobile

One cannot ignore the fact that business extends outside of the four walls of the office. A quality cloud PBX solution will possess the capability to fully function on a mobile device. This is perfect for those employees who have home offices, telecommute occasionally, or even travel frequently. To ensure that this is possible, choosing a cloud PBX with a comprehensive mobile client is a must. In addition to calls being properly routed to mobile devices, a mobile client needs to offer full access to all features.

Internet & Networking Requirements

When setting up a cloud PBX system, determine whether the current Internet connection speed is high enough, both up and downstream. Also, check that all basic networking equipment is up-to-date (routers and switches). Ensuring a high level of call quality can be done by having a QoS-enabled Internet connection. Certain equipment, like an Edgewater router, can prioritize your traffic over data.

From a single source on your desktop, you can survey your entire working world. The opening sentence of an email from your team leader fills one corner, a discussion thread from your colleagues scrolls down in real-time on the opposite side. Your own project status sits neatly in the middle, ready to update as you check off another task, and a video call icon is flashing in the bottom right corner, letting you know a teammate wants a quick face-to-face.

That was part of the promise of unified communications pushed by high-end video conferencing and IT providers. It demanded complex infrastructure and dedicated, expensive hardware, but would seamlessly bring together every aspect of a company’s digital communication.

Instead, however, the scenario above was made reality by a single app, Slack, that came out of nowhere several years ago to create a new genre of business tools under the banner of workplace collaboration. The resulting friction between workplace collaboration, unified communications, and video conferencing will shape the modern office. In fact, all three are about to meet in an industry-defining collision.

A Simpler Digital Workplace

Slack isn’t the complete answer that unified communication was meant to be. It isn’t as elegant, nor does it properly stitch together the internal and external business worlds. It might be, however, close enough and user-friendly enough to make the average business stop searching for high-tech perfection.

Its popularity is undeniable. It has 4 million daily active users, and 1.25 million paid subscribers. More indicative of its importance is the rash of copycats it has inspired–and these mimics are some of the biggest names in tech.  Microsoft’s version, Teams, has been sold to 30,000 businesses, and Facebook’s clone, Workplace by Facebook, is being used by 14,000 more.

In fact, Slack operates a lot more like the traditional Facebook than it does any unified communications wizardry. Once you’ve downloaded the app you can integrate all the software and hardware (simple items like webcams, not complex in-room hubs) needed to do everything from create a document to attend a video conference. That simplicity is why industry experts think workplace collaboration will change the very meaning of the term unified communications.

The Future of Workplace Collaboration

What we may be left with is a crude approximation of what unified communications could have been. While Polycom creates state-of-the-art telepresence displays, and Cisco delivers new ways to interact during a video call, employees on the ground in offices are messaging and video calling from their desktops with Slack and its descendants.

The simpler solution lets employees collaborate in real-time from anywhere, including home, without moving from their desks. If they need to be on the same side of a video call they are preferring to decamp to small, shared huddle rooms that conserve space and don’t require any IT department support to operate.

The new challenge, under Wharton’s vision, will be to continue innovation within these almost DIY conditions. Next generation video and collaboration technologies like augmented and virtual reality will have to be intuitive and non-invasive so as not to disturb the workplace flow–having to don a pair of goggles every time you make a video call isn’t practical. Whatever comes next will also have to include the rising Bring Your Own Device movement. And finally, a bridge needs to be found between the desktop and the external business world. It could be as simple as patching into group video calls, with in-camera green screening to clean up callers’ backgrounds, or as complex as creating an entirely digital meeting place, as some virtual reality specialists.

Ultimately, we’ll get a clearer vision of our workplace future once the dust settles from the impending collision between high-minded unified communications and practical workplace collaboration.

source:www.videoconferencingdaily.com

Business telephone providers have a range of products and services that can significantly improve the operation of your small business.

Outside of their initial offering of helping you call customers, clients, and suppliers, business telephone providers can provide a range of specialist services – often very specific to your needs as a business owner.

Not just issuing physical handsets, software and accessories, a good phone provider will also manage the installation setup process – while offering valuable expertise and experience throughout the duration of your contract.

Understanding what your business telephone service provider includes is important. Do they offer packages? Do they have specific plans suitable to your business? Can they provide equipment and services that match your needs?

Business phone services

Once you’ve worked out what type of calls you likely be making, how often this will be, and where your phone will be located, you can start considering what business phone services will best suit you.

• Landline:Very self-explanatory, if your business chooses to solely use a landline for its calls, you’ll gain all the features you have on your home phone, but nothing more. Most home phones will allow you to make multiple calls at once, via the help of cloud-based conference call software. However, most providers will bill these as separate calls, so you’ll most likely incur high charges – particularly if some recipients are overseas.
• Business mobiles:Commonly referred to by business owners as their ‘work phone’, a business mobile is a regular mobile phone – but with all bills paid for by the business. An obvious benefit, particularly for a small firm, is that the phone can passed around between employees as and when they need it – and used outside of the office.
• Multi-line system:Also referred to as switchboard systems, multi-line systems allow you to condense multiple phone lines into a single device – allowing you make, receive and transfer multiple calls from a single desk. Very user-friendly, multi-line phone systems operate in the same way landlines do.
• Sip Trunk phones:Standing for session initiation protocol, Sip trunk phones allow you to make calls using your internet connection. Containing elements of VoIP, which we explain below, a SIP trunk connects your business to an internet telephony service provider (ITSP) and allows you to make multiple calls at once in a very cost-effective manner.
• VoIP phones:Once again, using your business’s internet connection to host calls rather than through traditional analog signals VoIP allows for both video and voice chat. A big benefit for businesses: calls are essentially free, even international ones, once your broadband or mobile data plans are paid for. Furthermore, VoIP can allow you to make calls to remote staff members via their notebook PCs or tablet. However, initial setup for VoIP can be expensive and calls to other businesses are only free if you’re both using the same provider.

Business phone services and features

Business phones require and offer a range of features to help your staff operate as effectively as possible. In the table below, you can find out a little bit about some of the features you might have included with your business phone system.

Automated call forwarding – Automatically transfer calls to your business phone to a different number at any location. Can be very useful if you are expecting an important call to your business but are out of the office or even on holidays.

Conferencing – Use conference calls to speak to people off-site, without issue. Conference calls can be popular for team meetings with off-site staff members or for calls between your sales team and relevant clients.

Automated attendant – Also known as a virtual receptionist, an automated attendant allows callers to be automatically transferred to an extension without the intervention of an operator – while also informing callers of how long they can expect to wait until their call is answered, what hours you are open for business, or even directions to your office.

Dashboard – A dashboard allows you to manage your office phone system from one unified interface or programme, with access for all staff, dependant on what their needs are. Some dashboards also allow you to integrate all your communication channels, so you have control over your voicemails, emails, SMS and fax messages at one touch point.

Voice to email – Converting voicemails into a readable email that gets sent straight to your inbox, this feature allows you to sort and scan through missed calls and voicemails at a quicker rate than simply listening to each message individually

Call logging – Helps you to collect and correlate information from all the calls you receive or make, known as meta-data, which you can then use to help fine-tune customer services, anticipate consumer demand during certain periods, or evaluate various sections of your business

Hunt group – Much like the automated call forwarding feature, in a hunt group, inbound calls are configured so that a group of local extensions ring in unison. Should no one answer from this group, the call is quickly routed to the next free extension until the call is answered. This feature is particularly useful for when you’re waiting on important sales or customer service enquiries or even a client call

Call barring – A standard feature, even on most household appliances, call barring allows you to block numbers from being dialled – as well as blocking numbers from calling you. A good use of this feature might be to block cold calling businesses who are continuously pestering you

Auto dialler – Popular with telemarketers and call centres, auto dialers are used to call multiple numbers at much. Normally this is accompanied by an automated voice which will give the receiver various options to select. If the receiver agrees to press a suggested number, they will normally be then put through to an actual sales or customer service rep.

Headset-enabled – Allowing you work hands-free, provided you have an appropriate headset, headset-enabled phones are a must for sales staff or those in customer services

Microphone muting – Important in a number of situations, muting your microphone so the person on the other end can’t hear you can allow you to delegate in private during a conference call.

Hold music –Although a source of irritation for many consumers, studies actually show that when a customer is put on hold, they are less likely to hang up if they are greeted by music rather than silence. For this reason, many businesses choose to play ‘hold music’.

Though many people do not know it, there are three variations of the phone line that a business phone provider can offer.

• POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) lines– Sometimes referred to as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), these traditional analogue lines let users make or receive one call at a time and provide very basic features such as caller ID and call diversion. Less common in business environments, this option is the same as those used in houses before the introduction of more advanced lines such as a DLS line.
• ISDN2– Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines allow for two channels to be used at the same time and also allows for data and voice to be transmitted simultaneously. Sometimes referred to as Basic Rate Interface (BRI), ISDN2 lines generally offer higher quality than POTS.
• ISDN30– ISDN30 lines have eight channels available through a single cable, significantly improving on both options above. ISDN30 lines offer higher quality than POTS and also help businesses to save space by reducing the number of lines required in total.
• SIP/VoIP– As mentioned above, SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol and is the line type for connecting Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to a phone system – allowing video and voice calls to be made over the internet.

Business phone lines, while often overlooked in lieu of the hardware, handsets and accessories are integral and essential in any telephone system. Understanding what your business needs, and what providers can offer, is incredibly important.

Virtual Learning Environments seem like the perfect blend of efficiency and practicality for a generation accustomed to speaking over video call, learning via the internet, and expanding their lives beyond their locations–and who might well be headed for a partly or entirely telecommuting job. Attending a college lecture in the digital world involves the same process of information exchange as talking to a friend via Smartphone. Maybe it should become just as flexible.

In fact, if your college is willing to explore the flexibility video conferencing can provide, you can choose to attend class in person or from the refuge of your home as each day presents itself. Washed out from an all-night study session, sit in on that morning lecture from home. Wake up refreshed and replenished, take the walk down to class in person.

The modern office is rapidly changing into a flexible workplace where employees are free to put in their hours from whichever location best suits their professional and personal lives.  So, it stands to reason that college campuses are starting to put more resources into education through video conferencing.

The wide availability of video calling devices and platforms means students, young and old, shouldn’t have to exclusively attend classes in person. In fact, it may soon become essential that educational centers provide video conferencing options, because the coming Generation Z is the most technologically savvy bunch of students any professor ever encountered.

Shifting Between Education Realities

Students attending Lake Michigan College’s Virtual Learning Environment already have this choice between attending class in person or via video conferencing. They can switch between the two as the weather, work schedules, personal commitments, or just a flat tire dictate. Well, it’s not quite as efficient as that, since students at the community college still have to sign up for digital delivery, set up the necessary connection, and maintain something of a regular routine. The program, which was first delivered as a pilot back in 2015, is certainly a step in the right direction, a good example of a coming wave of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE for short).

Like all good VLEs, the Lake Michigan system uses the two-way nature of video conferencing to allow students and professors to see each other in person, speak to each other, and share their faces and computer screens with the entire class. From a webcam on their computer–and HD cameras have become an affordable industry standard in recent years–they can be heard as clearly from home, at work, or during their professional lunch break as they can in the lecture hall. The business world got there first, but at least some colleges are catching up.

Video Conferencing for Flexible Offices

Around 3.9 million Americans currently work from home at least half the time, an increase of more than 110% over the past decade. That growth is made possible by advances in video conferencing that have made it easier and cheaper to use, but it also reflects a change in culture. By working from home half the time, those telecommuting employees are, logic suggests, also coming into the office 2-3 days a week. That means companies have to accommodate these workers with a whole new vocabulary of equipment. This translates to the hot desks we mentioned earlier, which are unassigned desks shared between employees, as well as huddle rooms, small versatile rooms set up for quick, on-the-fly video conferencing, usually with offsite colleagues. More frequent telecommuting has also meant reassessing the qualities of good management, but these sometimes-in, sometimes-out employees have proven to be happier, more productive, and less likely to quit.

Would these benefits transfer to students given the opportunity to learn via remote, two-way communication? If major American corporations, such as Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Cisco, are able to adapt to the demands of a technologically-empowered workforce, then surely major educational institutes can do likewise to support students–especially when those students represent the most digitally advanced generation yet.

Educating through Video Conferencing for Generation Z

Generation Zers were born between 1995 and 2010, meaning the oldest members make up the majority of current college students. The group makes up a quarter of the U.S. population, and has been using computers since elementary school, smartphones since high school, and social media since they developed social skills (or since their parents gave the OK).

The Facebook they grew up with, and are starting to tire of, is a good example of how digital these young lives have become. The social media giant’s recent move into office collaboration with Workplace by Facebook, and its pioneering work in e-commerce, means it now has an interest in how you work, play, shop, dine, communicate, get your news, and more.

That seems to be how Gen Z works, too. So aren’t these students going to be drawn to educational facilities that can fit into that digital way of being? Doesn’t it stand to reason that they’ll want to slip between the digital and “real” worlds for their education, the same way they do in their social life?

Virtual Learning Environments seem like the perfect blend of efficiency and practicality for a generation accustomed to speaking over video call, learning via the internet, and expanding their lives beyond their locations–and who might well be headed for a partly or entirely telecommuting job. Attending a college lecture in the digital world involves the same process of information exchange as talking to a friend via smartphone. Maybe it should become just as flexible.

Source:www.vcdaily.com

What is communication? Let’s look at the importance of regular and proper interaction amongst the internal workers in an organisation. Since the time, humans were labelled as storytellers; people know that internal communication spells success for any industry. It is apparent that from writing letters to sending text messages; the tools and meaning of communication have received tremendous modifications. While talking about the communication devices, technology has developed from Analog to VoIP. The shifts have also changed the way entrepreneurs have to channelize budgets for investing in communication solutions.

Increasing utilization of VoIP technology has improved access to different communicating modes. By installing in an EPABX, enterprises can consolidate these and help employees minimize the struggle of working through multiple channels. Besides this, there are many facilities that any communication solution is designed to deliver.

Each feature has different application in every industry. Therefore, businesses have to be careful when looking for an office telephone system.

1. Real Estate: The developers have to offer impeccable services to their clients for building a loyal customer base in this era of fierce competition. They have to get personally involved in all the aspects of property whether it is selecting the construction venue or deciding interiors of houses. They have different tasks to handle and at the same time they have to remain constantly connected with their customers as well. For smooth management of all the activities, realtors should invest in a hybrid communication solution that offers mobility and access to different trunks. The real estate developers can use the communication solution to send text as well as picture messages for promoting their properties and amenities amongst hopeful clients.
2. Travel and Tourism: Since the demand of travelers keep on changing with time, agents need to keep themselves updated regarding the trends. They need to remain constantly connected with each other for discussing ways to offer enhanced experience to their clients. Tourists carry good reputation of the agency if they get to talk with the same agent every time. The agency owners can eliminate customers’ need of repeating their requirements by investing in EPABX telephone system that routes the call on basis of previous interactions. By using sequential ringing and group ringing feature of the PBX, the authorities can weave an improvised experience for their clients. Purchasing a PABX with a recording capability can help the authorities keep a track of the conversations and ensure quality of offered services.
3. Hospitality: Hospitality is one of the most dynamic industries services are constantly evaluated on parameters of promptness and precision. To rest assured that the guests are served well, authorities need to build different departments which can take care of different aspects. The receptionists have to manage multiple tasks along with handling and transferring numerous calls to desired extensions. The hotel is also judged on its aesthetic value therefore, hoteliers need to invest in a solution that offers wireless connectivity between rooms and departments and consumes minimal space.
4. Retail: Like hospitality, there are different departments in retail center where internal communication plays a critical role in ensuring proper supply chain management. The employees have to remain on move for promotion of their products and services. For retailers with branches across the globe, uninterrupted flow of information between offices and headquarter is important. To fulfill all the needs, authorities can invest in EPABX telephony system which brings different premises on the same IP network and is equipped with redundant power supply and processing units.

source: siliconindia.com

A VoIP phone is a hardware- or software-based telephone designed to use voice over IP (VoIP) technology to send and receive phone calls over an IP network. The phone converts analog telephony audio into a digital format that can be transmitted over the internet and converts incoming digital phone signals from the internet to standard telephone audio.

VoIP phones, also known as IP phones, include features and capabilities not found in traditional analog phones. They also have additional performance requirements because phone calls are placed over the internet instead of the legacy public switched telephone network (PSTN).

How does a VoIP phone work?

Some VoIP phones require A/C adapters for power, while others use Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE uses an Ethernet cable instead of an A/C adapter and removes the need for separate power and data cables.

Several networking components are required to make VoIP phones work. Phones are assigned IP addresses through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which automatically configures the network and the VoIP parameters. A domain name system (DNS) tracks the IP addresses to enable devices, such as IP phones, to connect to each other.

VoIP phones require a number of protocols to facilitate the delivery of voice communications over the internet. H.323 is the most commonly used VoIP protocol that supports audio, video and data communications across IP networks. It provides several VoIP functions, including bandwidth management and call control.

Session initiation protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol that sets up VoIP connections and is used as an alternative to H.323. Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) is used to send and receive multimedia information between two devices. VoIP services use RTP and SIP or H.323 to stream multimedia content. The Simple Traversal of UDP through NAT(STUN) protocol is used on some SIP-based VoIP phones to enable communications behind network firewalls, which can sometimes block SIP and RTP packets.

Some providers use their own proprietary protocols for VoIP phones. For example, the Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP) is a proprietary Cisco standard for communicating with H.323 VoIP systems.

Types of VoIP phones

The two main types of IP phones are hardware-based and software-based phones.

Physically, a hardware-based VoIP phone resembles a traditional hard-wired or cordless telephone. These phones include physical features such as a speakerphone or microphone, a touchpad, and display hardware to show user input and caller ID. VoIP phones also feature call transfer, multiparty calling and support for multiple VoIP accounts. Some VoIP phones can transmit and receive image data during calls, so they are considered video telephones.

Software-based IP phones, also known as softphones, are software clients installed on a user’s computer or mobile device. The softphone user interface often resembles a phone handset, with a touchpad and caller ID display. A headset with a microphone that connects to the computer or mobile device is encouraged, or sometimes required, to make calls. Users can also make calls using their device if it includes a built-in microphone

Softphone clients offer similar capabilities to hardware-based IP phones, such as voicemail, call conferencing and call transfer. Some clients may offer additional capabilities, such as video conferencing and instant messaging, however.

Traditional analog phones may also be converted into IP phones by connecting to an analog telephone adapter (ATA). Analog phones can be converted by plugging the Ethernet network jack into the ATA, which then connects to the phone. The analog phone will connect to the internet rather than the PSTN, and it will appear to the phone system as a VoIP phone.

Advantages and disadvantages of VoIP phones

• Organizations can reduce calling costs by switching to VoIP services. While traditional analog phones can have lower upfront costs, they are more costly to support, upgrade and integrate with communications applications. IP phones also offer cheaper long-distance and international calls, as VoIP phone calls are charged at the local rate of the call’s destination.
• VoIP phones offer greater mobility and scalability than traditional handsets. If an organization moves to a new location, it doesn’t need to acquire new phone lines, which it would with a traditional phone system. Adding new phones to a VoIP system is only limited by the available bandwidth on the organization’s network. Softphones also provide increased mobility, as the clients are not tied to physical locations like they would be with hard-wired phones.
• VoIP phones can also integrate with other communications applications. For example, organizations can integrate their customer relationship management (CRM) software with VoIP phones to enhance caller ID and keep records of call information.
• VoIP phones, however, do have disadvantages. For example, VoIP phones require a reliable internet connection and are susceptible to bandwidth constraints. With insufficient bandwidth, phone calls may experience latency, which can result in delays and dropped calls. Additionally, if an organization has a power or internet outage, users cannot make calls from their VoIP phones.

Source: www.techtarget.com

How to prepare your network for high-quality VoIP?VoIP is a fast-growing area for SMBs. If you’re switching to VoIP, then it’s critical to ensure that your network infrastructure is fully optimized for it. Almost 40 percent of small businesses have said goodbye to their traditional, telephone services and hello to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) because of the significant cost and productivity benefits that VoIP delivers. VoIP uses data packets to digitally transmit voice over the internet and performs extremely well as long as the network is properly provisioned.

Given that voice travels over the same lines as data and is sensitive to the fluctuations within data transmissions, call quality can be degraded by internet slowdowns and low bandwidth. This is often related to under performing or overly constrained networking gear. Having the right connection and network infrastructure in place is critical to high-quality VoIP calls. Let’s look at ways to prepare your network.

1. Evaluate the WAN connection.

It’s important to allocate the right amount of bandwidth to ensure optimal results for VoIP, which means knowing what you need. Bandwidth requirements depend on the number of VoIP clients (phones) and the number of concurrent calls you want to make. Beyond your maximum call volume, it’s good to identify which other network applications consume a portion of your available bandwidth. Now, let’s talk connection. Forget DSL. A fiber T1 line or coax cable connection is much faster. SMBs deploying VoIP should look at a business-level internet provider with a decent throughput. Check requirements of your VoIP service to determine minimum download and upload speeds based on VoIP lines. The quality and number of lines on a VoIP system will be higher with a faster internet connection.

2. Assess your network infrastructure and replace outdated equipment.

Speed alone doesn’t guarantee optimal results for VoIP. The backbone of the network is important, and old network infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to VoIP success. Know your network and make sure it’s properly prepared before cutover. For example, the speed of the switch is not the only problem – it’s about reliability. Old, outdated networking gear can have undetected problems that surface with latency-dependent applications like VoIP.

Consider upgrading specific equipment that’s key to network performance, like the routing and switching gear. If you decide to replace, don’t skimp. Low-quality, under performing equipment will cost you in the long run (remember those headaches?) and degrade your call quality. Equipment plays a major role in the success or failure of your VoIP deployment.

3. Prioritize, segregate and segment VoIP traffic with a VLAN.

When there are different services running on a network, it can impact the performance of an application that needs more bandwidth, like video conferencing, or more priority, like VoIP. For the best quality of service (QoS), dedicate bandwidth for voice by segmenting the network with a virtual local area network. VLANs enable you to prioritize data traffic for applications that are sensitive to network delays, improving performance and maintaining QoS so you don’t have to worry about dropped calls, latency or jitter.

Network segmentation typically starts at the router, so invest in a business-class router with QoS features, and pair it with a managed or smart switch that offers other key features we will address later. Create a VLAN with a separate Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) range and apply it to the switch to specific ports, giving high priority to ports used for VoIP lines. For switches, look for hardware with gigabit ports that have high throughput and auto-configurations that adjust to QoS for each phone.

4. Go big with PoE+.

Power over Ethernet was a technology initially built for VoIP devices. Simply put, PoE allows you to provide power to a device over the same wire that supplies the data or voice. This allows for simple, safe and efficient power provision to all PoE-enabled devices, like VoIP phone systems.

Unlike a traditional phone system, which continues to work during a power or internet outage, a PoE VoIP system relies on the electrical power from a network switch. If power to the switch goes out, VoIP will not work. This is easily fixed with UPS backup power.

In addition, by deploying PoE-enabled switches on the back end, you simplify installation for wireless access points, IP cameras, phones, and other equipment that needs data and power simultaneously. PoE allows you to control the power in the network via the switch. When you centralize power on the switch side, you streamline VoIP phone rollout and simplify connections for users – and minimize possible future problems.

How much power do you need? Check the maximum power wattage your phones need and the minimum power budget of the switch; the consumption by phones or other powered devices in the office has to be less than the switch budget. And plan for the future: Buying a bigger switch (i.e., more ports) and one with a bigger PoE budget will allow you to easily add devices in the future as you need them.

Achieving high-quality VoIP

A VoIP rollout requires a proper connection and adequate bandwidth, plus the right networking gear with a battery backup to protect the office in case of power failure. If you’re switching to VoIP and your business relies on communication, then it’s critical to ensure that your network infrastructure is fully optimized for VoIP.

source:https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-optimize-network-for-voip/