Skip the VoIP Provisioning: Get Pre-provisioned, Plug and Play VoIP Phones
Once you’ve made the switch to VoIP, most providers require that each individual company phone being implemented is provisioned by their staff, which can take hours to conduct and complete. Luckily, companies can skip the lengthy VoIP provisioning process and save precious time by finding a provider that offers pre-provisioned “Plug and Play” VoIP phones.
What is VoIP provisioning for?
Provisioning is a necessary step clients need to take in order to install company VoIP phones correctly. Since the phones need to work with specific employee accounts, connect to a company network, and function a certain way in regards to the client’s service plan—each individual phone implemented needs to go through a step-by-step, hands-on provisioning process with the provider.
What does Plug and Play mean?
To skip out on the time consuming provisioning process, companies can go with a VoIP provider that offers what are called Plug and Play office VoIP phones. Plug and Play phones describe the provisioning process they have gone through before they make it to a customer—which allows those customers to literally plug their phones in and be able to make and take calls right out of the box (hence the name: “Plug and Play”).
Traditionally, phones are delivered to clients before they’ve been configured. Upon arrival, an IT staff member from the provider must call the client and go through a guided, step-by-step process to correctly connect the phone to the network, route the phone number, upgrade software, and make any other configuration or detail adjustment critical to the company’s needs and service plan.
However, providers who offer Plug-and-Play phones gather this needed information from the client before the phones are shipped, so the necessary (but lengthy) steps are taken care of when they arrive at the client’s door.
Once received, clients are able to plug their office phones into each desk or workstation and they’ll be able to take and receive calls automatically with the appropriate phone number, system settings, and other information needed for immediate operation.
The Benefits:
Efficiency and Productivity – Getting the provisioning process out of the way immediately spares you from spending time on the phone with your provider. For some companies, it takes hours—if not days—to provision their phones to get them in working order. The more time employees spend away from their business day-to-day means the more time they spend away from critical tasks, potential sales, and other important objectives. Getting pre-provisioned, Plug and Play phones streamlines the entire provisioning process so there’s no time wasted.
Peace of Mind – Some companies require their clients to manually aid them in the complicated VoIP provisioning process—downloading files, using TFTP servers, and carrying out other manual functions that require a lot of painstaking attention and organization. A pre-provisioned process cuts all of that out. Clients can rest easy knowing their phones have been expertly provisioned and will work right out of the box. Additionally, the VoIP provider will offer 24/7/365 expert support with an intimate knowledge of the company’s phone setup before a call is even made.
Reduced TCO – A hosted VoIP provider will take care of monitoring, maintaining, and upgrading the VoIP network so you don’t have to. Since the hardware is handled on the provider’s end, your company won’t have to worry about covering existing or future costs.
To add, if your company would prefer not to have physical phones at all, you have the option to use the desktop VoIP client to make and take calls (in addition to a myriad of other features) without the need to purchase or lease a phone for each employee. The desktop client works on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones and can all come pre-provisioned as well. All you’ll have to do is log in and you’re set to communicate.
Ready to skip the VoIP provisioning process? Explore DOTVOX service plans here.
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