VoIP is a great way to connect your office. However, it’s important to ensure your internet connection can handle it.
If not, you’ll experience choppy audio and other problems. To avoid these issues, test your network hardware before proceeding. You may also need to purchase new hardware, like ethernet cables or switches.
Identify Your Communication Needs
The perks of VoIP go far beyond standard business phone features. In addition to voice, you can integrate your business’ video and text communications into one centralized system that allows employees to work from anywhere.
Identifying your communication needs and understanding the basics of VoIP are crucial before deciding on an installation and configuration plan. This includes determining your company’s current call volume and type, the number of phones you want to use, and the business features you want to incorporate.
You also need to test your internet connection as VoIP relies on an Internet connection. Your business should have a fast Internet speed and a reliable provider to ensure excellent call quality. Lastly, ensure your router has data prioritization options that prioritize VoIP calls over other network traffic. Having all this guide by Ooma on VoIP phone system helps to eliminate network congestion that causes jitter and other VoIP errors.
Test Your Internet Connection
Before switching to VoIP, it’s crucial to test your internet connection to ensure it can handle the additional bandwidth that voice traffic requires. This will prevent your business from encountering call quality problems and allow teams to make more calls at the same time.
A ping test can help you determine how well your network is performing. This will show the average latency, the time it takes for sound to travel from one endpoint to another. A good ping result should be below 100 milliseconds. It will also indicate whether or not your network is losing packets, which could interfere with the quality of your VoIP phone calls.
To do a ping test, open Command Prompt and type ping [IP address]. Then, use Ctrl + C to save the results. The results should include the number of packets sent, received and the percentage of lost packages. Loss should be at most five percent.
Get Help from Professionals
In most cases, VoIP system setups will resemble traditional landlines, except ethernet cables replace telephone cords. Once you have your hardware, the software-related steps will take more effort, but your VoIP provider should offer comprehensive instructions.
Once you have a solid internet connection, you’ll be ready to design your call flow, incorporate third-party tools and make test calls. Your provider should also be able to help you train your employees and answer any questions.
In addition to standard business phone features, most VoIP systems can provide unique tools like video conferencing. They can even allow you to obtain a vanity number that spells out your business name, helping you establish a memorable brand identity. In addition, many companies can monitor and maintain your network running smoothly. This can save you money and prevent lost productivity due to system downtime. In most cases, this service is free for businesses.
Test Your Lines
VoIP can deliver whether you’re looking for an affordable option to boost employee productivity or a cutting-edge system that elevates day-to-day operations. However, you must ensure your network is ready to get the most out of your investment. A VoIP speed test can help you identify and troubleshoot issues that might impact the quality of your calls.
You’ll want to pay attention to the jitter values, which measure the time it takes to send and receive packets. A jitter level of less than 30 milliseconds indicates good VoIP performance. You should also check your network’s latency value, the time data travels from your router to your computer and back again. A latency value of below 150 milliseconds is acceptable for VoIP.
Remember, when choosing a provider for your VoIP solution, consider whether they offer virtual numbers and a web interface for configuring the phones. This way, you can keep your existing business number while switching to VoIP, which can help retain current customers and avoid disruptions in customer service.