Many companies now opt for VoIP call center phone systems over PBX, for multiple reasons. On the other hand, others stick to the tried and tested and don’t venture into alternatives than PBX. Here’s how you can get started in updating your office’s communications system or downgrading it to something more manageable and convenient. Here’s how either will work.
But first, we need to understand the terminology.
PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. It is located on-premise, which means that it is static. It stays in one place, and its signal reach is quite limited. It is also referred to as time duplex multiplexer (also known as TDM) or Key Systems.
VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It can be static like PBX, but it is unique in the sense that it makes use of internet hosts. Its signal can reach multiple areas of the office and numerous office branches of the same company or system. It is made possible by the presence of a data network, which is absent in PBX.
The advantages of each are as follows:
VoIP
- The system can is more adjustable. The features are abundant and simple, allowing users to adjust their preferences and connect a myriad of both old and new devices to the central communications system. Conversion is relatively quicker than in PBX, which tends to work better in old tools and connections.
- It is more reliant on licenses. VoIP systems are licensed, making this incredibly handy for businesses who want to ensure that their products, services, and secrets are kept within the confines of the company. It is also easier to expand the system when the company forms new branches or scale back when the company limits its activities.
- It is not reliant on material expenses, allowing for ample virtualization. That means that you can access the system not only through your phone but through any device that hosts a compatible data network.
PBX
- Since it is more straightforward than VoIP, PBX is more user-friendly and nowhere as intimidating. Despite its outdated features, it has been tried and tested through the decades. It also has fewer chances to be hacked.
- Because of its simplicity, its system is cleaner, quicker, and more manageable. Without the complications, the human-to-human interaction comes swiftly, and urgent needs are immediately expressed. It is particularly crucial in life-or-death situations, particularly health emergencies.
- Despite the added features and the up-to-date malleability of VoIP, when it comes to cost-effectiveness, PBX wins. It is without any frills, but it is sturdy, easy to install, adjustable, and, most importantly, cheaper.
Call centers differ from each other when it comes to the novelty of their data communications system. The thing is, it depends on the needs and clientele of each company. VoIP has a more millennial approach, perfect for young companies that want an edge in the technological landscape. On the other hand, for necessities that won’t disappear in the advent of new technology, like food and health services, PBX continues to prove to be reliable. Either way, one must think of the good of the whole company when making such decisions.
