If you’re looking to give your small business a technologically forward boost while lowering costs and increasing ease of productivity, then SIP trunking might be on the table as a worthwhile upgrade for your consideration. As ITProPortal recently reported, the accelerated growth of SIP trunking in recent years is a testament to its effectiveness for large and small businesses alike, as IT professionals and business owners continue to discover the perks of the service.
What Is SIP Trunking, Exactly?
In case you’re not entirely familiar with the term, here’s a simple rundown to get you up to speed.
SIP (which stands for Session Initiation Protocol) is a cloud-based technology used for voice communication over an Internet connection, rather than over an analog phone landline. This sort of communication is commonly referred to as VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. SIP trunking, then, is the technology that comprises this data connection. Think of the “trunk” as the bundle of wires and cables that would make up a traditional phone system, except with SIP, this “trunk” is invisible, as the “phone lines” are running through your data network, rather than through physical wires and cables.
To further pique your interest, here’s a more detailed look at the recent growth and popularity of SIP trunking and VoIP. According to reports at Statista, global VoIP service traffic is expected to rise steadily to 158 petabytes per month by 2016 (up from 147 petabytes per month in 2011), and in North America alone, the number of VoIP subscribers rose from 30 million in 2010 to 39 million in 2013. That’s quite a noticeable increase and makes a case for your consideration in switching over to an SIP trunk service as popularity of usage grows.
Now, here’s a quick and focused look at a few ways that SIP trunking services can benefit your small business.
1. The Bottom Line: Cut Costs
With Gartner recently reporting that businesses can save up to 50 percent by switching from traditional voice and legacy systems to SIP trunking, thus eliminating the need for telephone lines and hardware upgrades, the advantage here is clear. With SIP trunking, you only pay for the services and data that you use, making it ideal for small, as well as large, businesses. While you may think that a service like SIP trunking might only come in handy for businesses with a large number of employees, the service is incredibly customizable, and you can add as many or as few SIP trunk connections as you need, depending on the amount of phone numbers or extensions you require.
2. The Power of Unified Communications
With an SIP trunk provider like BroadConnect USA, you will also have the option to access to a full line of unified communications to keep everything connected, anywhere, anytime. Working within the cloud allows you to access video and audio conferencing, collaboration tools like file sharing, and also enables you to transfer your desktop phone number to your mobile phone for working on the go. You can also have all of your messages and notifications consolidated into one point of communication, like an email inbox, instead of having to worry about checking messages on multiple phones and mailboxes. Unified communication can make your small business seem larger than life by allowing everyone in your company to remain completely connected, no matter where they are.
3. Freedom and Mobility
Wired notes that the need for telecommunication in business is at an all-time high, with increased gravitation towards cloud computing and mobile technology. With SIP trunking, your connection won’t be limited to any one specific location, and can be used in any area that your SIP trunking provider’s service is available. This makes it easier for telecommuting and outsourcing, which might cut some of your costs even further. It can also simplify communication with employees and collaborators, as a cloud-based VoIP system makes it easier than ever to make and receive phone calls, share documents and data, and establish video conferencing wherever there is a wireless Internet connection.
4. Scalability
SIP trunking will allow you to scale services up and down, depending on the growth of your business and the necessities it requires. The number of users doesn’t matter; you’ll still be able to customize your services as your business grows, or cut down easily if you find the need to scale back. The ability to connect to unified communications via the cloud also makes it incredibly easy to give access to remote employees without having to worry about purchasing new hardware or new software upgrades and licenses. Unified communication options accessible through your SIP trunk are also scalable depending upon your needs.
The Future of Your Small Business
Though selecting an SIP trunk and choosing your services may take a bit of planning and research, the benefits are clear. Technology and business are constantly intersecting, and an SIP trunk might encompass all of the boosts that your small business needs to improve success or streamline efficiency.
