What You Gain Moving From a PBX Phone System to VoIP

Changing Technology

Comparing PBX, or private branch exchange phone system, to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) uncovers some real advantages related to business phone systems. 

In short, PBX phone systems are going the way of the telegraph. Voice systems now converge with data networks and Internet technology. If your business uses a PBX phone system with analog technology, you are missing advances in conductivity with computers and mobile devices.

The bottom line is that a PBX system is just a phone. VoIP-based technology works in unison with the data network, coordinating devices and allowing mobile workers to access data and communicate from anywhere.

Advantages of VoIP over PBX Phones

If your business is looking into a new phone system, consider the following advantages you will gain by implementing a VoIP system:

Configurations and Costs: A phone system that is part the IP network is easier to install and configure than a traditional PBX system, because most IP PBX or VoIP phone systems can be configured from a computer interface using software applications.

Increasingly, the PBX phone system cannot compete on costs with VoIP systems.   VoIP systems allow both Internet and phones to use the same cabling, saving on cabling costs while expanding on what a traditional PBX did in creating an inter-office phone connection.

Organizations with multiple branch offices, international calling and employee telecommuting have far more flexibility with VoIP platforms. Devices are interconnected and office extensions can be used via a laptop computer from anywhere with no extra cost, saving on long-distance phone charges.

Mobility:   Perhaps the greatest strategic advantage of moving from PBX systems to VoIP has to do with mobile workforce.

Simply consider how accessible the Internet has become, then consider that with VoIP, phone and other communication mediums are facilitated by the Internet. Suddenly, computer systems, data networks, and voice are working in conjunction on the same platform.

Beyond cost efficiencies, strategic advantages become a reality, allowing you to:

• Coordinate office phones, cells, and pagers so you choose how you want to be available    
• Unify voice and email so voice messages can become storable data 
• Mirror your office phone on your computer by transforming it into a software application. Use the same numbers and extensions from anywhere.
• Get information on availability of staff and know what device you can reach them on before you make the call.
• Automatically route customer calls to the most qualified person to support them.
• Update software phone technology, saving on hardware refreshes.

With a VoIP based phone platform, you can gain greater control of calls and messaging. Many busy executives waste hours every week trying to prioritize and respond to a flood of messages.

By moving from your old PBX system to a platform with underlying VoIP technology, you bring the power of the data network and computer software applications to voice communication. 

When you consider power of networking technology and reach of the Internet, you begin to realize that list of what a VoIP phone system can’t do is actually very short. 

For most organizations, moving from PBX to VoIP is not a question of if, but when.