The popularity of IP PBX software is increasing at a rapid pace in several large industries such as education, healthcare, hospitality, banking, insurance, and financial services sectors. As per a report by Future Market Insights, the worldwide market for IP PBX software is projected to reach a valuation of USD 30,821.3 million in 2023.
The demand for IP PBX software is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 10.4 percent, with a valuation surpassing USD 83146.8 million by 2033. The growth is attributed to the increasing demand for cloud-based IP PBX software and systems. Another factor that drives the adoption of IP PBX software is better uptime and support.
This blog post describes the major reasons why more and more businesses are adopting IP PBX software as well as some useful tips using which you can select the best IP PBX software for your business. So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive right into the blog.
Benefits of IP PBX software
Sophisticated IP PBX software provides a wide range of benefits to various types and sizes of businesses. Read on to know the unique benefits of high-quality IP PBX software:
1. Cost Savings
Cost is always a significant concern for businesses, and IP PBX software offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional phone systems. With IP PBX, you can reduce or eliminate the need for physical hardware, which can be costly to purchase and maintain. Additionally, long-distance and international calls can often be made at significantly lower rates through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services, further reducing communication expenses.
Besides, as your business scales, the cost savings continue to grow. You won’t need to invest in new hardware or pay for expensive technician visits to expand your phone system. This allows businesses to allocate resources to other critical areas of their operations.
2. Scalability and flexibility
One of the most significant advantages of IP PBX software is its scalability. Traditional PBX systems can be cumbersome to expand as your business grows. You may need to purchase additional hardware, reconfigure wiring, and hire technicians to make even minor changes to your phone system. This can be both time-consuming and expensive.
Flexibility in communication is vital for modern businesses. Whether your employees are working from the office, remotely, or a combination of both, IP PBX software adapts to your needs. It supports features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and mobile device integration, enabling employees to stay connected from anywhere.
Sophisticated IP PBX software often comes with a wide range of features that enhance communication and collaboration. These may include video conferencing, instant messaging, and integration with other business tools like CRM systems. This flexibility in features and accessibility empowers businesses to streamline communication and boost productivity.
3. Reliability
Reliability is a top priority for businesses. It’s even more so when it comes to selecting a business communication system. As per a study, almost 70 percent of business owners consider reliability the most important aspect of their phone service.
Many IP PBX solutions offer built-in redundancy features. This means that if one server or data center experiences an issue, calls can automatically be rerouted to a backup server or location. This redundancy ensures uninterrupted communication, even in the face of hardware failures or network problems.
4. Superior mobility
IP PBX software offers far superior mobility solutions as it easily integrates with mobile devices and enables employees to make and receive business calls using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Whenever employees are working from home, traveling for business, or enjoying a workcation, they can access the same communication features as they would have in the office.
IP PBX software often supports softphone applications, which replicate the functionality of desk phones and enable users to make VoIP calls, engage in video conferencing, and access essential features like voicemail and call forwarding.
How to select the right IP PBX software for your business?
Selecting the right IP PBX software can make all the difference between success and failure. Here are some steps that can help you find the right software in a highly competitive market.
1. Assess your business’s communication needs and set a reasonable budget
If you want to invest in the right IP PBX software for your business, then you must define your purpose and objectives. That would give you clarity about what you want to achieve from the IP PBX software. Do you want the IP PBX software to provide you with additional flexibility and scalability? Do you want the IP PBX software to streamline your communication needs?
Asking these questions to yourself will not only give you clarity but will also help you find the features you need in the software. After determining your purpose and objective, list the features you need and set aside a reasonable budget that would allow you to invest in the right software without overspending or under-spending.
2. Look for reliable and reputable omnichannel contact center software providers
After assessing your business’s communication needs, the next step is to look for reputable and reliable IP PBX software providers. Use the internet to research a wide range of IP PBX systems in the market. All you need to do is open a browser and type high-intent search terms such as “best IP PBX software for small and medium businesses,” “top IP PBX software for businesses,” “cloud-based IP PBX software,” or “cost-effective IP PBX for companies.”
If you’re looking for IP PBX providers in a specific country or locality, use terms such as “best IP PBX software in (Country Name)” or “top IP PBX software provider in (City Name).” Some examples are “best IP PBX software in the US,” “best IP PBX software in the UK,” “top IP PBX software in Australia,” “top IP PBX software in Canada,” “best IP PBX software in South Africa,” and more such countries.
3. Visit websites and compare features, prices, ratings, pros and cons
After pressing the ‘Enter’ key, you’ll get many results on the search engine result page. Some sites will belong to leading IP PBX software providers. Others will belong to aggregators such as SoftwareSuggest, Software Advice, Trust Radius, G2, and many more.
With so many websites on the first search engine result page, you don’t have to go beyond that. If you visit vendors’ websites, you will easily get their mission and vision as well as contact information. But if you visit aggregators’ websites (such as 20 Best IP-PBX Alternatives & Competitors in 2023) you’ll get a complete overview of the best 20 IP PBX software providers.
4. Contact shortlisted software providers
After comparing the features, pros and cons, and pricing plans (free demos also mentioned), shortlist. Some IP PBX software providers and contact their team to know more about their software as well as the things not mentioned in their or aggregators’ websites.
Also, confirm if they provide free demos. If they do, well and good, but if they don’t, move on to the next provider. Rinse and repeat the process till you find a provider that ticks all your boxes.
5. Get the free demo and seek your team’s feedback
Now that you have asked for the free demo and the vendor is ready to provide that, it’s time to introduce the software to your team. Ask them to use the software for a specific period and seek their feedback. If everything meets your expectations, go ahead and buy the software without thinking twice.
All in all,
No doubt, a wide range of businesses across industries are using IP PBX software more than ever before. Many more businesses are also planning to join the bandwagon. The rising demand for IP PBX software will also mean that the market will get crowded with many types of vendors. Only a few of them will provide quality software. That’s why while looking for the right IP PBX software, it’s extremely crucial to check the credentials of the vendors and get a free demo to know how their software will work in real-world conditions.
