The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more businesses having employees working remotely than ever before. While remote and hybrid arrangements allow employees to work in disparate locations, the ability of teams to serve clients and work together effectively depends on the quality of communication tools.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software is a flexible, cost-effective solution that enables employees to communicate from anywhere with an internet connection. Due to the increasing popularity of remote work, the VoIP software industry is growing rapidly, predicted to reach $55 billion by 2025, and set to employ a number of exciting developments in the near future.
Roebuck Technologies believes that the most impactful changes to VoIP will involve the areas indicated as follows:
1. 5G integration
The ever-increasing pace of business innovation and widespread adoption of VoIP communication necessitate faster and more stable connections. 5G, or fifth-generation wide-area wireless networks, provides faster data transfer speeds, resulting in clearer calls with less jitter and packet loss, and lower call drop rates. The improved connection also facilitates higher-quality video content, enabling teams to better connect and share ideas even when miles apart.
2. VoIP assistant artificial intelligence
The popular notion of artificial intelligence (AI) is something out of a science fiction movie — sentient, speaking machines that are nearly human. Real AI, however, is already a part of people’s daily lives, responsible for deciding what updates to present on social media or what shows to recommend on streaming services.
In the business world, AI is becoming ubiquitous. A noteworthy application of AI is virtual assistants, programs capable of executing software functions such as conducting Internet searches or setting meetings in response to verbal commands. As VoIP assistants become more sophisticated, they will be able to automate more tasks such as transcribing meetings and rerouting incoming callers to the appropriate customer service representative.
3. Number portability
One of the tenets of business communication is keeping lines open to clients and ensuring they know how to get in touch with the business at any point in time. Historically, a business that switched phone service providers would have to overcome the obstacle of being forced to change numbers and inform customers about the new contact information.
Developments in blockchain technology, which is aimed at permanently storing information online, have made number portability far easier for VoIP technology. Instead of manually switching numbers, blockchains retain a record of the company’s phone number across different service providers. With the technology to preserve contact information, businesses can consistently cultivate a loyal customer base.
4. The rise of unified communication
Mobility has been one of the biggest technological trends in the 21st century, consolidating multiple functions onto a single platform. Mobile phones, for example, serve not only for calling and texting but also for browsing the internet, shopping online, and running various software applications.
VoIP systems serve a similar function in terms of communication, facilitating not only traditional voice calls but also video calls, instant messaging, and conferencing. With the launch of 5G networks, the functionality of VoIP is only expected to increase, expanding to include advanced data analytics to produce valuable insights into customer interactions.
5. Death of the analog telephone
Analog telephones have long been losing popularity in personal use, with only 45% of households in the United States having a landline telephone compared to 90% in 2003. Mobile phones offer the same service as landlines as well as a plethora of others, and have superseded them entirely in many cases. The same situation is expected of VoIP services for businesses, which enable voice calls and other communication channels to replace traditional desk phones. The trend to embrace a digital platform is especially important for businesses to adopt as customers increasingly rely on other channels as preferred methods of communication.
As VoIP technology evolves at a breakneck pace, it is becoming much more difficult for businesses to justify continued operation of traditional phone systems. To enable seamless remote work and gain a competitive edge, implementing cutting-edge VoIP phone systems is the best solution. Call us today to integrate VoIP into your business and reap all its benefits.
