Get even more bang for your buck by adding these five bells and whistles to your VoIP server.
As long as you have one, you may as well get the most out of your IP PBX by taking advantage of the plethora of applications and systems designed to work on it. IP PBXs of course coordinate your VoIP communications, but they can also do a host of other things. Here we list five non-voice services your IP PBX can perform for your business.
1. Keeping track of time
Time is money, and IP PBXs allow you to keep better track of it across your organization.
IP network clocks
Clocks can be connected to your IP (Internet protocol) network in two ways: via the Ethernet or over Wi-Fi. PoE (power over Ethernet) clocks get power from the Ethernet and don’t require electrical outlets or batteries. Furthermore, they don’t need a master clock because they are set automatically by NTP (network time protocol). Wi-Fi clocks get their time from your company’s 802.11 network time server. Either way, all of the clocks in your facilities are synchronized and updated automatically. Click here to see some of the IP clocks available at TeleDynamics.
IP time punch clocks
Your IP PBX can control a TCP/IP attendance punch clock and log employees’ work time. If you have remote employees, you can link Internet-based punch clocks or phone apps to your network so associates can punch in and out from their computers or smart phones.
2. IP-based door access and entry control
IP PBXs can control physical entry into your facilities through software-based door control. These systems can include access readers and intercoms outside each door, electric locks to control entry, as well as video cameras to see who is coming and going. All of these components can be powered with PoE so no additional electrical wiring is necessary. Click here to peruse our range of IP door access solutions.
3. IP surveillance systems
In contrast with closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems, IP surveillance uses digital cameras to record video footage, which is then distributed over an IP network. Digitizing the footage has a number of benefits that CCTV systems do not. For example, the footage is searchable and there is no degradation of the image quality over time. Digital systems also allow you to record and play simultaneously as well as compress the content to maximize storage space.
Furthermore, because the information is distributed over a network, you can view the content remotely, store it in any geographic location, share it easily, and connect it to other systems on the network for the purpose of communicating alerts or updates.
Click here to see a range of IP surveillance products available through TeleDynamics.
4. FoIP
Yes, the fax still lives on in this day and age. Many doctors and lawyers still swear by fax transmissions. Whatever the reason for using them, many businesses today still need some way to send and receive faxes. But you can ditch the fax machine because your IP PBX can function as a fax server for sending and receiving faxes over the IP network, a feature known as fax over IP (FoIP).
FoIP is superior to analog fax machines because by digitizing the documents and sending them over a network, you can store, search and send documents more easily and securely, as well as deliver and receive them remotely.
5. Local DHCP server
To round up our list, your IP PBX can double as a local DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server, saving both space and costs.
CONCLUSION
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of things you can do with your IP PBX, we hope we’ve at least given you an idea or two on how you can get more leverage from your VoIP server. What other things do you do with your IP PBX? Let us know in the comments section.