ISDN is still the favored choice for many businesses and it still performs well. However, VoIP is now overtaking it and, with some telecommunications providers now stating they’ll phase out ISDN over the next few years, it might now be time to make the switch.
Before you do so, it’s worth looking at what you’ll need to do, and what you’ll have to put in place in order to make sure that the transition from ISDN to VoIP is as smooth and as stress-free as possible. Once the switch is made, the possibilities are endless.
Why make the switch in the first place?
Perhaps the biggest reason is that in the long run, you’ll save a lot of money. VoIP will mitigate the need for having separate lines for both data and voices. ISDN rentals will be phased out and there will be no call fees within the network that you use. There’ll be less money lost to the business with unused call channels, and VoIP can be customized on a channel-by-channel basis.
VoIP calls are portable, meaning that workers do not have to be tied to their desks or a fixed phone line to make calls. Calls can also be diverted to separate locations if every other line is occupied. If you decide at a later date to move your office premises, your phone numbers and lines stay with you with no need to change them.
These systems also allow businesses to scale up and down as they experience changes in their structure or output. Using ISDN means that businesses are often restricted to a few channels, but again, VoIP eliminates this completely.
Phone calls are always of a high quality, as high-speed internet connections improve all the time. There are now built-in safeguards, which mean that phone services can be continued even if there is a network failure, or dropout of internet connection.
Make sure that if you decide to go ahead and invest in VoIP for your business, that you do so from a tried and trusted provider with professionalism and experience on their side.
Here is a defining checklist of what needs to be considered before you take the plunge:
1. What phone requirements does your business have?
VoIP offers many benefits to a business, and making the switch is actually a great deal easier than many entrepreneurs assume. It does take planning, organization, and research. The first step is to look at the needs of your business on a day-to-day level, and asking yourself and your employees the following questions:
- What volume of phone numbers does the business have?
- If phone lines are busy, are calls redirected?
- Do you require a voicemail service?
Look at your current phone network and consider all of the above. This gives you a clue of the day-to-day needs of your employees and the type of VoIP service in which you need to invest.
2. Where do improvements need to be made in your business?
Next, look to where improvements need to be made (if any) to your current communication systems. These could be any of the following:
- Considering disaster planning and emergency situations
- Looking at your communications as a whole
- Reviewing how mobile your staff are, and if any of them work remotely
- Looking at seasonal business changes
3. Carefully planning ahead for changes
Thirdly, look to make a solid contingency plan that looks at exactly how each change that you’ll make to your business network will affect how the company runs on a day-to-day basis.
For instance:
- How do your staff access data?
- How are calls directed?
- Are emergency procedures completely functional?
4. What is your current hardware set up?
From steps one to three you’ll have a pretty good idea of all the hardware that you’ll need in order to make the switch work. It goes without saying that while switching to VoIP is the ideal, it will still place an extra strain on your bandwidth, so you might need to make sure that you invest in assured broadband, or get a second connection to make sure that the call quality is as good as it can be.
5. Test, test, and test again
Step five is the time to put your plans into action. Get the equipment installed and set up. Configure all the software and test it out. Then test it again. Then do another for safety. Checking and rechecking can’t be done too many times! Once you’re confident that all is well, and everything is up and running, look at your test plans again and run it through a second phase of testing.
6. Begin to port all your numbers
Set aside enough time to make sure that you port your numbers properly. Before you start this process, make sure you implement a few actions that will ensure that the process runs smoothly.
Look at your provider’s porting agreement and iron out any glitches. Make sure you’ve got all the information that your new VoIP provider needs to hand. Once you’ve submitted your porting order, you need to be patient and await the confirmation that your request is being reviewed.
7. Stop your ISDN service
Lastly, once you’re sure that everything is perfect and in place and it has been tested again, then, and only then, should you cancel your ISDN service completely. When you do so, you’ll probably be asked to send back any rented equipment. Your ISDN line should stop working from the moment that you have switched to VoIP, but you’ll need to make sure that your old provider isn’t charging or sending you bills for this.
If you follow these procedures and plan, test, and test again, your transition from ISDN to VoIP should be a smooth and hassle-free process, and one which should ultimately benefit your business. There are plenty of advantages to be had from investing in this technology for your company, and you and your employees will be able to work productively and efficiently.
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