Across the business community there has, for a while, been a palpable sense of urgency regarding the capability to access modern communications platforms such as super fast broadband, business VoIP (voice over internet protocol), and internet protocol (IP) telephony.
Most commentators agree that those businesses unable to access these platforms will find it increasingly more difficult than other companies to both respond to customer needs quickly and effectively, and to maximise operational efficiencies.
In the case of business VoIP there is also the potential for significant savings on telephone costs.
The urgency of the need to gain access to these platforms is evidenced by the demands echoed up and down the country by both councils and business leaders for the expansion of broadband in their regions’ more rural locations; and by the UK Government’s response to these demands in the form of recently targeted broadband development grants.
It is also evidenced by the increasing numbers of smaller companies rushing to adopt business VoIP or IP telephony in the quickest ways possible, with – in some instances – too little consideration for the suitability of the systems chosen.
For example, those companies which already own a conventional business phone systems network, can often find it is cheaper and easier to simply add session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking gateways in order to make their network compatible with business VoIP and IP telephony.
The theory behind this is fine, since SIP trunking has in most cases shown itself to be an effective enabler of these communications technologies.
Where some businesses have gone wrong, however, is to install SIP trunking without fully testing the network, and without being able to access specialist technical support when it is needed.
This danger can be easily avoided however through establishing a strong service level agreement at the outset with a reputable host business VoIP provider or VoIP reseller.
