What Is SIP Used for in Professional Services?

While it’s been around for quite some time, SIP technology is continuing to change the efficiencies of businesses today. You have likely seen and heard about how beneficial it can be for you and your business.

Companies ranging from large world-renown enterprises to small local businesses are raving about how SIP trunking. It’s a more reliable and cost-efficient phone option.

SIP trunking is more than just a phone line, it’s a versatile telecommunications service designed to grow with your business. It’s customizable with many options to fit your business’s every need.

Curious about what SIP trunking can do for you? Here’s what you need to know about SIP and how it can benefit you and your professional services business.

All About SIP

SIP or session internet protocol allows people to communicate via phone over the internet. It requires an internet connection and a physical or virtual PBX system to allow for multiple phone lines within the business.

SIP converts voice communications into an application on the IP network similar to email and the web. A SIP trunk consists of many SIP channels that determine the number of lines available for use at the same time within a business. SIP channels can transmit voice and high-definition video allowing for video chat.

You can enjoy multiple phone lines in your office without having to spend a fortune. Here’s a closer look at how it can help your business.

What Is SIP Used For?

All-In-One Communications

With SIP, you can use one IP network for all your data including video, voice, SIP messaging, and more. There’s no need to pay for two separate services for voice and data. This is because it converts your voice services into data that is transferable over IP networks.

It’s worth noting that the merging of voice and data into a single network will require more bandwidth. So you’ll need to make sure you have enough bandwidth for the number of channels that you’ll be using.

Cost-Efficient

Besides paying for separate internet and phone services, your business often pays for different types of calling. You receive different billing for long-distance, international, and local calls.

SIP bases service prices on the number of channels rather than the type of call. Your monthly bill will be more consistent and easier to understand.

This is particularly true for businesses that regularly make long-distance and international calls. With SIP, there are no additional fees for making most calls. (Low international rates do apply.) You can make almost any phone call without worrying about how much the month’s phone bill will be.

Reliable 

Have you ever had your phone service stop or slow down due to weather or another unplanned event? Not only is it annoying but it can slow down workflows and cost your business valuable time.

If you experience a power outage or lose internet service, SIP services have a redundancy plan for such an event. SIP services will route calls to other offices and employee mobile phones allowing you to stay connected no matter what.

DID or Direct Inward Dialing

Do you want your employees to have their own business phone numbers? Direct Inward Dialing or DID lets you assign each employee a10-digit number. You can also assign different rooms or departments a unique number.

This makes employees more accessible to clients with saves both you and your customers time. Another benefit to DID is you don’t have to move phones should a new employee take over a new office. They can simply log in to the phone with their 10-digit number.

Do you already have direct numbers for departments and employees? You can port those same numbers to your trunking devices.

Out-Of-Office Access

Need to make and take work-related phone calls when you’re out of the office or set up employees to work from home? SIP phone services can route voice calls to your mobile device. You can use your work phone connection whenever you’re working from home or traveling outside of the office.

Growth and Scalability

No one can see into the future to tell you exactly how your business will change over the next few years. Traditional phone services require you to make guesses about the number of employees you’ll have for the next year or more. This can cause you to have too many phone lines or not enough.

It is flexible and scalable for any business. You can choose how many SIP channels you want from the start but have the option to always add or remove them as needed.  As your business changes, whether it be yearly or seasonally, your phone service should scale with you.

Improved Workflow 

Poor communication is often the biggest cause of slow workflow and productivity. If your current communications set up isn’t efficient, your productivity and projects could be suffering.

One of the major benefits of SIP trunking is how it improves communication between employees, management, and clients. This means you can spend more time completing projects and less time trying to figure out how to reach someone.

Your IT department can also access and record call logs. These logs can measure line-use to determine SIP trunking scalability for the business.

SIP Is Secure

Traditional phone lines are susceptible to security attacks such as wiretapping and more. With SIP trunks, you receive a dedicated connection that is safer and more secure from attacks.

If someone did gain access to your network, SIP trunks can monitor call activity. If any calls seem unusual, you can catch it right away. Your service provider can give you more detailed information regarding security.

Switch to SIP Trunking Today

What is SIP used for in professional services businesses? It helps businesses with everything from reliability to improved workflows and cost savings. Improving communication is the key to a happy and successful business.

Ready to make the switch? Let us know and we’ll start planning the right SIP trunking solution for your business today.