Throughout Europe and beyond, service providers are switching off their ISDN networks and migrating their customers over to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). The first service providers have already made the switch, including Slovakia and Macedonia. Most have made their plans public, including Swisscom (2017), Deutsche Telekom (2018), Orange (2020) and BT (2025). In future, fixed network, internet and TV, and all related services will operate via the Internet Protocol. There are a number of points to observe with regard to the changeover to VoIP.

Make use of the time now to already think about how your company can benefit the most from the upcoming changeover. For VoIP offers you a host of Unified Communication (UC) solutions which you can select according to your needs.

Advantages of VoIP and Unified Communication

Thanks to various flat-rate options, VoIP enables you to make cheaper calls at home and abroad than the conventional ISDN connection. Your employees can then always be reached at the same number while working in the field or in the home office. Smartphones and tablets can also be integrated into your telephone system using an app. You can easily add or remove individual connections.

A further advantage are the options offered by the Unified Communication solutions. UC unites your communication services such as telephony, mail and messenger and can also enrich them with information from other systems. This enables you to make your collaboration and communication with customers, suppliers and your employees more efficient and professional.

How do I best approach the changeover to VoIP?

Before considering which telephone sets or softphone products to buy, you should check the performance of your internet connection. As the name already indicates, VoIP refers to voice transmission over the internet, and depends on a stable network. Consequently, the bandwidth must be geared to the telephone behavior in your company.

Take some time to think about the future of your telephony infrastructure. For you can now design the telephone system in line with your requirements by deciding whether you wish to operate it on premise, have it hosted externally or implement it as a cloud variant. Also take into consideration other solutions, such as Skype for Business.

How do I select the optimum UC solution for my company?

Technological progress shapes the way in which we communicate and work together, and ultimately how we offer our customers added value. In order to obtain the most benefit from this changeover, think about the following seven questions:

1. Which departments need a UC platform for communication?
2. Which UC features are worthwhile for your company?
3. Which UC platform offers the selected features?
4. What costs are incurred during introduction (hardware, software, consulting and training)?
5. How high are the current monthly costs for your existing communication tools?
6. What budget is available to you for the new communication tools?
7. Which business processes can be optimized by using the new UC solution?

Smooth migration to VoIP and UC

Many modern telephone systems are already IP-ready, so first check your existing infrastructure. If you don't want to change your entire infrastructure to VoIP at once, you still have the option of continuing to operate your system as a hybrid telephone system. This way, you can also migrate your system step by step and test solutions before rolling them out to your entire company.