Tag Archives: #In-House

A Practical Guide for VoIP vs Traditional Phones – Pt 2

VOIP, , , , ,
Businessman using a computer with VOIP video conferencing features to connect to his remote team members.

Connecting with your remote team members through video conference.

Welcome back for part two of our discussion on VoIP vs Traditional phones.  If you missed the first part, click here to catch up on the discussion started in last weeks segment.

Video Conferencing: Digital Only

Video conferencing, already popular, has seen a skyrocket in use during the last year of COVID remote work. It is also one of the things that traditional phones simply cannot do. Video conferencing is a digital-only feature that most VOIP packages are equipped with by default. Whether you are holding conferences with many remote team members or connecting with distant teams in other business locations, video conferencing is a great way to turn your phone system into a live digital meeting platform at the same time.

Flexibility: In-Office Only vs Any Device Anywhere

Of course, the biggest difference between traditional phones and VOIP is flexibility. Traditional phones are installed one office at a time by stringing physical wires from desk to desk. This requires your team to all be in one place, or for a new installation of traditional phones in every office location.

VoIP is not at all limited in this way. Because VoIP is a program that can be run on any connected computer or mobile device, it is ultimately location-flexible. Just as employees could answer their work number in the parking lot or lobby of your building (not just at their desk), they can also forward that number to the VoIP installation on their home laptop, personal cellphone, or to their desktop computer in another business location.

VoIP numbers and the unified network they create for a business are both device-flexible and location-flexible. This allows for remote team members, dispersed and traveling team members, and multi-location businesses within one business account and installation process.

Scalability: New Installation or New Accounts

VOIP is also considerably more scalable than traditional phones. To add a new member to a traditional phone system, you must wire a new desk. And to subtract a desk or team member is not an easy task. With VoIP, scaling is as easy as making a new employee account. You can give individual lines to all your summer interns and then put them away again when the interns go. You can expand your business with new team members and quickly connect them with their own business phone line or you can easily subtract a departed team member from your plan with no hassle or cables to consider.

Cost: Getting More for Less

Comparing the cost of traditional phone lines to VoIP business plans is often found comparable as an effect of the industry. However, as VoIP pulls further and further ahead of traditional phones, the value for that cost becomes less comparable. Get more features and more flexibility with VoIP business phone plans. In addition, the scalability makes it possible to fine-tune your phone costs based on your team size and communication needs.

Technology: Even Traditional Phone Companies are Making the Switch

One of the best arguments in this comparison is that traditional phone companies are also expanding into VoIP. This is not a matter of straight industry competition, even the traditionalists recognize that VoIP is the future and will eventually replace traditional business phones.

VOIP – The Modern Business Phone Solution

Comparing traditional phones to VoIP, the choice becomes clear. Even if you have moved into a building with a few handy phone lines still hanging around, there is no question that VOIP is the business phone solution of today and the future. From supporting remote workers in the same phone network to easy online dashboard management, traditional phones are steadily falling behind.

 

Making plans for your business phone system? Every modern business should consider the merits of VoIP whether you have old phone lines or would need new lines put in. To discuss the potential of VoIP for your company and team, contact us today! We look forward to working with you.

Debunking 7 Myths About Managed IT Services – Part 2

Manage Service, ,
Team of diverse IT services employees working in an office with different computers.

Providing quality customer service is just one feature a managed service company brings to the table

Welcome back and thanks for joining us for part two of our segment on the seven myths of managed IT Services.  If you missed the first part, please check out myths 1 through 3 posted last week by clicking here

Myth 4: Managed IT Teams Won’t Work with In-House IT

A darker version of the same myth is the idea that an MSP will refuse to work with in-house or even insist that you fire any in-house IT on your team. This is patently ridiculous.  Managed IT teams often rely on teamwork with in-house in order to fully understand and manage their part of the company’s technical tasks. They’re often our favorite people in the company because we work together so often and collaborate to most practically split up the mountain of technical management, service provision, and upgrades that take place inside a modern business.

Myth 5: A Managed IT Team Can’t Care About Your System Like In-House Will

Another myth floating around is that a managed IT team will be indifferent to the needs of our company. The idea is that outsourced outsiders just don’t have the same passion or investment in your business systems, so they won’t put their heart into the work. The reality is that passion is an individual factor, but professionalism is a powerful force. A managed IT team stakes their reputation and future client trust on their dedication to each system they work on. If there was really a lack of passion for strong security and well-built systems, then there would be no successful manage IT businesses from which to outsource.

Managed IT teams often care deeply about the integrity of the servers, networks, and tech-stacks they work with.  While your in-house team may also be dedicated don’t underestimate the passion for good systems that an MSP team can bring to the table.

Myth 6: Working with Managed IT Can Compromise Your Cybersecurity

Many businesses  worry about protecting their servers and cybersecurity. This is a good worry to have in a hacker-rich environment. However, sharing your server’s credentials and hiring a managed IT team to take care of your tech is the exact opposite of bad for cybersecurity. Your device, network, and cloud security are about to get a major tune-up, one that in-house IT may have been unable to take care of with work piling up.

Remember again that a managed IT business goes in with their reputation on the line. If any team became associated with compromised security, they would have a hard time keeping other business clients. Therefore, your MSP will naturally be dedicated to both providing great cybersecurity integrations to your software and absolutely ensuring that they are not the cause of any security weakness.

Myth 7: All Managed IT Teams are the Same

Last but certainly not least is the myth that every managed IT and MSP business provides the same services at similar prices for comparable results. Just like any industry, managed IT service teams are hardly identical from business to business. One team may specialize in web servers, another may have a crack team of cybersecurity specialists. As we mentioned earlier, some MSPs focus on big enterprise services while most provide a variety of helpful and cost-effective technical services for small to medium sized businesses.

No two managed IT service teams are completely alike, even if they do offer similar services to the same types of businesses. It’s always worth your while to compare your options before choosing a managed IT provider for your business.

There are myths and false rumors floating around about every industry, and the truth is just as easy to find. These myths come from anecdotes, misunderstandings, and often from baseless conjecture around the water cooler. To find out more truths about managed IT services or to discover the benefits for yourself, contact us today!