The integration of VoIP systems with business productivity applications can help you reach the next level of efficiency, synergy and collaboration.

One of the most profound changes that businesses have experienced over the past year is the increased need for effectively managing remote teams. It is not enough to simply be able to communicate with your remote workers by using voice or instant messaging, or to see them in your virtual meetings. You need a way to be able to create projects, delegate tasks, meet and modify deadlines, and keep track of a multitude of actions and processes.

The remote nature of today’s workforce has turbocharged the development and deployment of dozens of online business applications that equip organizations to do just that. In fact, it is highly likely that you already are using one or more of these platforms for your business.

But the question is, have you integrated these applications with your VoIP system?

VoIP integration with business applications

VoIP systems, both on-premises and cloud-based, are the future for all enterprises seeking to install a new telephony system or to upgrade their existing one. They take advantage of network convergence, enable workforce mobility, and offer rich collaboration tools. These features deliver advantages to implementers, administrators, and end users. But what about the benefits to the company as a whole?

By integrating VoIP systems with business productivity applications, enterprises can provide their employees with a complete set of communications tools that will enable greater efficiency and workforce flexibility.

Useful integration features

Some of the most useful features that result from such an integration include:

Integrating phone calls with tasks – It is possible to set up the platform so that incoming or outgoing phone calls create tasks, save phone numbers, record and save conversations, and automatically assign tasks to specific users.

Creating phone lists and auto callers – By creating a task or a project in one of these applications, it is possible to also generate a phone directory with the contact information of all the people or entities that must be contacted for the project. Calls can be made directly from the platform or can be transferred to either a desk phone or a VoIP softphone running on a smartphone.

Call scheduling and automatic conferencing – By integrating with a platform that includes calendar events, online meetings can automatically be created and scheduled. Participants can be automatically informed and asked to RSVP regarding their availability. At the time of the meeting, the platform can automatically call out to the participants’ video and voice endpoints.

Platforms have varying integration capabilities

Not all platforms are capable of the same level of VoIP integration. Some require additional connecting software or API configurations, while others are capable of integrating with specific VoIP products and services right out of the box. When it comes to finding out what product works with what service—and how readily these integrations can be set up—it can get complicated indeed. However, for the most part, the majority of VoIP vendors and business application developers offer information about how their products can be integrated.

Some vendors have integrated with specific platforms. For example, Yeastar has chosen to team up with Microsoft Teams and Yealink has partnered with Zoom and Microsoft (Skype for Business and Teams). This delivers the following benefits:

• Business telephony and collaboration communications are consolidated onto a single platform
• Internal and external calls can be made directly from Teams, incorporating the PSTN into the system
• Existing phone numbers and VoIP endpoints become Microsoft Teams end users
• Communication can take place seamlessly between smartphones, desktops, laptops, and IP phones

Most other platforms have either chosen to work with a VoIP vendor, provided API information to permit integration with other platforms, or have developed their own VoIP system with which these applications can be used.

Conclusion

VoIP integration with business applications is primarily focused on offering your business the tools to operate much more efficiently. This empowers VoIP to play an enabling role in improving the efficiency of your business.

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