by Joe Taylor Jr
Even though a VoIP phone system features cheaper calling rates, other factors may require a second look at a VoIP service budget.
Now that VoIP phone systems have been generally accepted by businesses, it's hard to find fault with a technology that can radically reduce a company's phone bill. However, critics of VoIP services have discovered a flaw in many adopters' budget plans. For some businesses, legacy phone systems require far less power that VoIP. In an environment where energy costs have skyrocketed, come CIOs now wonder where they can find even more savings from VoIP phone systems to offset a bigger electric bill.
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Some companies prefer to use "softphone" systems that integrate VoIP service into a user's computer. During long periods of downtime, such as during a telephone conversation, a computer might go into sleep mode and reduce power consumption. In a softphone environment, the same computer must stay in "always on" mode during business hours. Under those conditions, researcher Gary Audin calculated that powering such a computer would cost between $10 and $25 per year. If, however, the same system also powers a user's voice mail or advanced calling features around the clock, the annual cost of supplying electricity for that user could reach $399 in some parts of the country.
Dedicated VoIP System Hardware Saves on Electric Bills
Audin and other researchers have concluded that companies can preserve more of their savings by opting for IP-based handsets or desktop VoIP phones. While still more expensive to power than traditional office phones, the electric bill for an IP phone costs as little as $9 per year. That figure includes the cost of maintaining and powering a dedicated phone switch to process incoming calls from the external phone network.
Other Hidden Savings of VoIP Phone Systems
CIOs who worry about the unintended consequences of their shift to VoIP phone systems can get additional budget guidance from recent cost analysis studies. As VoIP services become more competitive and less expensive every year, the sheer savings compared to traditional phone systems continues to compel business leaders to make the switch. In addition, researchers have discovered even more ways for companies to save money by adopting VoIP phone service, including:
- Consolidating voice and data cables. For new office buildouts or during renovation, running one set of Cat-5 cables is less challenging and less expensive than running multiple lines for voice and data access.
- Going wireless to eliminate cable management. Although heavy phone users in call centers typically prefer hard cables, a growing number of businesses can effectively use VoIP services over wireless connections. All-wireless offices eliminate the expense of running and maintaining cables, often saving far more money than the cost of a high powered wireless router.
- Consolidating voice and data technical staffs. Many larger corporations still maintain separate maintenance teams for voice and data lines. With both teams under one umbrella, companies can increase flexibility while reducing overhead expenses.
- Blending auto-attendants with fewer live operators. Direct extensions and carefully planned voice trees can streamline communications, reducing the number of employee hours spent handling front line phone calls.
By reviewing case studies, making energy audits, and requesting detailed quotes from a variety of vendors, CIOs and company purchasers can still make the case for saving money with VoIP phone systems.
Sources
International Conference On Emerging Networking Experiments And Technologies
About the AuthorJoe Taylor Jr. is an internal business consultant for a Fortune 500 company, who writes about finance, culture, and design. He holds a bachelor's of science in communications from Ithaca College.
