Whether you’re switching your company to a VoIP system from another type of phone or you’re considering changing VoIP providers, you want to be sure that you have a VoIP implementation plan before making the change. Without a plan in place, it is too easy for mistakes to occur which can lead to downtime for your organization and ultimately lost revenue.
The following are the essential pieces of a VoIP implementation project plan. When these pieces are in place, your transition to a new VoIP provider should go smoothly with no downtime for your phones or your customers.
There’s no doubt that implementing a VoIP plan can be overwhelming. If you would like unbiased VoIP experts to help you pick the right plan and integrate it seamlessly into your business, schedule a discovery call with BCS.
1. It Should have a Clear Timeline
Any business service implementation plan should come along with a clear timetable so that you know what to expect. Your phones are critical to your business, which means that you need to know if you are going to experience downtime and how you can schedule a switchover to be least disruptive to your business. Be wary of any VoIP service provider that is not able to offer a concrete timeline.2. It should include an Assessment of Network Capacity
It is highly unlikely that your organization does not have the required broadband capacity to use a VoIP system. However, to ensure that your VoIP system can operate without interruption, assessing your network capacity remains an important step. Many organizations find it necessary to install a second internet connection -- not to make VoIP work effectively, but as a backup, in case the primary connection goes down. A second connection offers service continuity for both phone and data purposes.3. It Should Address the Implementation of QoS
One of the reasons that some companies have yet to make the change to VoIP is that they are wary of call quality due to previous bad experiences. Jittery or unreliable calls are much more likely if your VoIP implementation plan does not include Quality of Service, or QoS. When QoS is in place, traffic over your network is prioritized so that functions like VoIP and streaming video are prioritized over other functions. QoS is what prevents low-quality calls and dissatisfaction with VoIP reliability. If QoS is not part of the VoIP implementation plan your service provider presents, you have a problem.4. It should Take Security Into Consideration
With 47% of companies concerned about losing private data in security breaches, issues of data security are certainly not going anywhere. But while email leaks may be most common in the news, your phone system can be just as vulnerable. Phone system security must be a part of any VoIP implementation plan. Without security or encryption in place, it is possible for hackers to gain access to your calls and even to make their calls through your system. A VoIP implementation plan that does not include security safeguards is not one to follow.5. It Should Ensure Infrastructure Compatibility
While your phones are critical to your business, they are certainly not the only piece of technology you rely on to get through the day. Your VoIP provider should be able to assess business systems that you use and ensure that your new phone system is compatible with those systems and software. Even better, in places where your previous system did not offer full integration, custom VoIP integrations may be possible to improve efficiency beyond what you ever expected. Your provider should be able to look at how your business functions currently and show you how your new system can provide a competitive edge.
For more information on how your phone system can work with your existing enterprise systems, download our free guide to VoIP integrations below.
Topics: VoIP, VoIP Implementation
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