VoIP – Cheap Calls Not Adequate. Fast ROI Important To Win Contracts
Posted by: Daljeet Sidhu / Category: BusinessVoIP providers have been playing on low-priced international and domestic calling rates and low service fees to sell the VoIP service to customers looking for low cost phone service. However, corporate decision makers do not make decisions based just on per minute price savings. VoIP service providers need to work harder – persuading business leaders on the quick payback potential of investing in VoIP systems.
Faster break even for technology expenditure
Trends indicate that businesses are looking at new tools and technologies that break even within 6 months – contrary to prevailing industry expectations of six quarters. In spite of significant progress in VoIP technology and products, this condition is tough on its service providers. They now need to produce financial break even information to close deals as corporate budgets are limited to projects that show noteworthy returns preferably within the same financial year.
Phased execution of projects
Restrictions on technology expenditure have made C-level executives rework their project plans. Technology requirements are now met in a phased fashion. Formerly, moving to a VoIP system was a gargantuan task involving upheaval in network, servers and desk equipment. The situation today is much different. Interoperable equipment gives managers the flexibility to implement parts of a long-term project as and when finances are on hand and business downtime is minimized.
Measuring benefits of VoIP systems
To measure the gains of installing or upgrading a VoIP system, CIOs have to consider both tangible and intangible results. Voice clarity and other useful features are intangible benefits that contribute significantly to employee productivity. Apart from this, CIOs need statistical results that have to be measured differently over a cyclic period. Some tactics used by CIOs to measure the performance and cost savings from a VoIP system include:
* Measuring the impact of the time expended in reconnecting dropped calls on staff’s output in terms of wasted hours.
* Collecting feedback from clients and evaluating the impact of a clear phone connection on deals that worked out and those that didn’t.
* Comparing the expense of managing a tele-presence suite over VoIP services with an executive’s travel bills.
* Distributing the total cost of a new VoIP system over the operations and maintenance budget of an existing system over half a year.
A true picture of the financial returns cannot emerge without accounting for the true cost of ownership. If a VoIP system successfully breaks even in 6 months, business managers can look forward to removing a line item from the budget. Few CEOs would argue with such a cost benefit.
VoIP system vendors – Proving claims
VoIP service vendors have to come up with realistic financial facts to substantiate their claims. They need to arm themselves with case studies and statistics to prove the actual cost of ownership over the existence of a VoIP system. For example, a VoIP project that breaks even in 6 months and does not need costly maintenance at least three years wins hands down with CIOs. The budget assigned to the corporation’s business VoIP system can be amortized over 36 months.
As VoIP systems are adopted in offices and homes, service vendors will be faced with bigger expectations from clients. Enterprise VoIP system distributors must prepare themselves with necessary financial information to convince potential buyers of the viability of a six-month ROI. All value-added VoIP service providers must learn this skill to win contracts.
Daljeet Sidhu. Read Small Business VoIP advice. Compare VoIP Service quotes.









