Business communication has witnessed a massive transformation with advancements in technology. Now businesses rely on smart cloud-based voice communication software to connect with customers. However, many companies combine traditional phones and virtual numbers to get the maximum advantage and provide their customers with better CX.
In this blog, we’ll compare virtual contact or online phone numbers and traditional phone lines and discuss the advantages and the disadvantages.
Internet requirements: Online phone numbers are cloud-based numbers and are not associated with a telecommunication company. It is completely managed and operated in the cloud using VoIP. Any business, whether its e-commerce, logistics, or manufacturing real estate, can use it to streamline client communication. The cloud-enabled calls work using VoIP- Voice over Internet Protocol technology that allows businesses to make and receive calls over the Internet. On the other hand, the voice calls are carried over copper lines over PSTN- Public Switched Telephone Network. Here the traditional phone system comes with an advantage: they don’t need the Internet to operate. The phone lines are not dependent on power or need the Internet, making them highly reliable where Internet penetration is low. But today, internet availability is rapidly increasing, and therefore companies are encouraged to rely on the internet-enabled virtual business number to communicate with their clients.
Infrastructure: If you compare the infrastructure required by both business contact numbers, you’ll realize that the virtual phone number perfectly meets growing businesses’ requirements. The Virtual phone software is smart plug-and-play software that can be integrated quickly and does not require any other IT setup. Whether it’s a start-up small or medium-sized company, companies can integrate the software with the existing CRMs and start using it immediately. On the contrary, traditional phone lines need extensive infrastructure and installation, and the process is lengthy and cumbersome.
Charges: The virtual phone numbers are software solutions cloud telephony companies provide. The software is available at a nominal price, making it easier for small and mid-sized companies to buy it. Even start-ups can easily afford flexible payment methods offered and streamline their communication. Businesses need not pay steep operator charges to connect with their customers and provide customers with free calling services with virtual phone numbers such as toll-free numbers to enable customers to contact them free of cost.
Extended capabilities: If we talk about the landline – the traditional way of business communication, it does not provide the flexibility for a company to operate its business from anywhere. However, the virtual phone offers businesses the same and enables them to extend their customer support beyond working hours. The calls received on the virtual number can be forwarded to the agents’ mobile numbers and their landlines, increasing the business’s availability to their customers. So, the cloud-based number has the upper hand when discussing 24×7 availability or flexibility to manage the business while on the go.
Remote work: The virtual phone is ideal for remote and hybrid work styles. Post- pandemic more and more businesses are favoring remote work. So, the cloud-based number is perfect for companies with distributed teams. The call centers of any business, like e-commerce, car rental, etc., can rely on it to communicate with its customers effectively. Companies can also depend on a virtual number to get real-time data insights on the call operations and make informed decisions to improve the same. But there’s no such technology present in the traditional phones as they mainly serve the purpose of making and receiving calls.
Call tracking: Businesses from different industry verticals depend on the virtual number to generate high-quality leads. The traditional phone systems lack such qualities and do not assist the business in such activity. The software allows call tracking and monitoring of the inbound and outbound leads. So, it is a powerful tool for identifying high-quality leads. Companies can grab the opportunity to nurture them to convert them into customers.
Conclusion
Virtual numbers and traditional phone line communication co-exist. Businesses are relying on them to meet their communication requirements. However, with rapid advancement in technology and the availability of the Internet at cost-efficient prices, companies now prefer virtual contact numbers. They have several benefits and empower the business to improve client communication, streamline call operations, and connect with clients better. Moreover, in today’s fast-evolving digital space, keeping pace with technology and getting the most out of advanced technologies such as cloud-based products is crucial.
