April 1st 2025
WHICH IS THE BEST VoIP SERVICES FOR SMEs?
The term 'VoIP' (Voice over Internet Protocol) might be technical, but the solution it provides is straightforward to use. Also known as ‘digital voice’, a VoIP phone system allows businesses to transmit calls over the internet without the need for traditional phone lines.
The ISDN Switch Off is a leading factor behind the rise of VoIP services - digital transformation waits for no one, and VoIP is just one of the technologies that will take us ahead. In this blog, we’ll delve into the different VoIP solutions on offer and what features you should look out for when upgrading your phone system.
VoIP Phone System Or UC Platform: Which Setup Is Best?
Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP is available in various solutions to help meet different business needs. To know which setup is right, you first need to know the differences between a VoIP phone system and a unified communication (UC) solution.
VoIP Phone Systems
A VoIP phone system is cloud-based, meaning you can eliminate the cost of on-site hardware and maintenance contracts.
You have more control over your phone system, so you can manage users and set up features like auto-attendant without the need for extensive IT staff. This flexibility supports hybrid working models, which are currently adopted by 28% of the British workforce.
With a VoIP phone system, you can access it as both a hard phone and softphone.
- VoIP hard phones: This is similar to an on-premise system, as it functions like a desk phone but comes with advanced features unavailable on a traditional handset.
- VoIP softphone: A software-based phone that you can access on your mobile, PC or smart device. Softphones allow you to make and receive calls from anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection.
At Lily, we partner with leading VoIP technology providers to ensure we meet the needs of all our clients. Our hosted VoIP phone system, Lily Cloud, allows you to answer calls on a handset or through an app available on any smart device. This system is beneficial for organisations that promote flexible working and need to be accessible at all times.
Developed by Ericsson, iPECS is an alternative cloud communication ecosystem that is accessible as both software and hardware. This hybrid platform supports IP, digital and analogue communication technologies, meaning it can be used on your existing handset. For superior call quality, we offer a range of PBX iPECS handsets that are feature-rich, user-friendly and designed to meet extensive call requirements seen in care homes, hotels and schools.
Unified Communications System
UC or UCaaS (unified communication as a service) centralises all your communication needs in a single platform. Switch between video conferencing, instant messaging and phone calls within a few taps.
Powered by VoIP technology, UC platforms offer features like crystal clear call quality, encrypted messaging and file sharing to help boost collaboration across teams. Unified communications is a step up from a VoIP phone system as it combines not just voice calls but other routes for team collaboration, too.
At Lily, we provide marketing-leading UC platforms like iPECS One, Microsoft Teams and Horizon with Webex (compatible with Lily Cloud), which now use AI to summarise meetings, messaging and scheduled actions.
Upgrade to a VoIP Phone System Today
So, what VoIP solution do you go for? VoIP phone systems are great for handling phone calls, while a UC platform handles all your business communications in one place. If you’re unsure what’s best for your business, contact our team - we’re here to help.