Gain Unsurpassed Flexibility for Scaling into New Markets with Virtual Phone Number
Find how business enterprises scale to new heights and enter new markets with virtual phone numbers
Gone are the older days when phone numbers were developed to work using a single phone line connection from the telecom carriers to the phone unit through physical telephone cables.
With Gen X ruling the world today, traditional landlines are a thing of the past. On-premises PBX was introduced to make communication flexible, but it has its limitations as it is confined to the premises of the business’s office.
Nowadays, people can’t hold on to their business requirements. So, is there any way to satisfy the need for business communications management?
Yes! We have a solution for it. A Virtual Phone Number!
You must be wondering — What a Virtual phone is? How does it work? What are its benefits?
So in this article, we have brought you all the vices and virtues of virtual phone numbers for your company. Virtual phone numbers help business enterprises scale to new heights and enter into new markets.
Introduction
A virtual phone number is a telephone number that allows you to make or receive quick phone calls without any physical location.
A virtual phone number offers various opportunities to communicate with anyone worldwide at any desired time using internet-connected devices.
It is a boon for employees working in the office or working from home. This facility provides businesses and their users enhanced flexibility in making and receiving calls.
With the features like VoIP desk phones, cell phones, or even softphones, users are no more restricted to connecting using telephone lines. Amazingly you don’t even need an actual phone unit. You can use your laptop, mobile device, or desktop as long as it is connected to the internet.
Virtual numbers are usually used to route calls between traditional phone lines (PSTN) and VoIP using direct inward dialing (DID) technology. Online phone numbers are rapidly increasing in popularity as they offer flexibility, privacy, and trouble-free accessibility over traditional phones.
Virtual Number — What is it?
A virtual phone number is a unique telephone number that does not rely on a physical phone line/device or specific location. Virtual numbers are Internet-based digits; they can make and receive calls from any communication device with an IP address. It may include personal cell phones, computers, and softphones in offices.
You can choose the devices that ring when someone calls your virtual number. You have the flexibility of changing your device whenever required. No one can differentiate between virtual or standard telephone numbers. So, it offers seamless lines of communication to customers.
Categories of Virtual Number
Virtual numbers are categorized into three parts -
- Local phone numbers — Local numbers are based on particular geographic locations; they are also referred to as rate centers or area codes.
- Toll-free numbers — These are unique numbers that are free of cost. They usually begin with 800, 888, 866, etc.
- Vanity numbers — These are attractive numbers that are easily memorized. One would like to purchase them as these numbers are like 1–800-STARS.
Virtual Number vs. Regular Number
The significant difference is that regular numbers are linked to a device or desk, contrary that virtual numbers are not linked to any device.
While using a virtual number, you can make or attend calls using any device of your choice (smartphone, laptop, or desktop).
Another distinctive feature of the virtual phone is how calls are routed, and VoIP numbers use the internet to route calls, whereas PBX phones run through copper wires.
How do Virtual Numbers Work?
Virtual phone numbers originate in the cloud and are linked to the telephone number that you already own. It is unique as it works on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology that helps you stay connected across the globe using the internet. You needn’t feel tied to a physical location or device.
It is highly beneficial for running small businesses as it allows you to assign a phone number to multiple people using DID (Direct Inward Dialing) technique. The only drawback is that it depends on the internet; if it goes down, you wouldn’t be allowed to make any calls.
Manifold Advantages of Virtual Numbers
Seamlessly expanding business is the most significant concern for all companies. Let’s look at how virtual numbers can take your business a step ahead. Here we present the top 5 virtues of virtual numbers
- Stay Omnipresent
Virtual numbers give you the freedom from hooking to your office desk. It allows its users to connect globally from anywhere using cloud-based technology. It will enable you to forward all customer calls to agents’ mobile numbers or landlines. It helps manage business calls from anywhere and quickly provides detailed information to you.
With virtual numbers, you can establish a solid local presence in the new market, thus increasing conversion rates.
- Curtail Operational Costs
The Virtual Phone system doesn’t require special hardware, thus reducing operational costs. These are cloud-based systems that are highly low on maintenance or upgrades.
Moreover, people can connect anywhere globally with the advanced use of virtual phone systems without paying expensive calling rates. Toll-free phone numbers are the best option for communicating with global callers.
Assume that you are executing a marketing campaign and want your customer’s feedback; provide them with your toll-free number (the virtual number at no extra cost for making calls).
A DID ( Direct Inward Dialing) will connect them to the person they want to speak to by using your virtual number. It won’t make a difference even if you are in different countries. It is a seamless process without getting noticed by your customers.
- Separates Personal & Business Phones
In the age of entrepreneurs, work-life balance is pivotal. Most people are not comfortable using their personal numbers to contact co-workers, clients, or business partners. The virtual number has the desirable feature of concealing your caller id while making calls.
Virtual numbers work ideal for remote workers, and it masks their caller ID, ensuring that the customers are unaware of their numbers. They also can select business hours for their virtual phone number.
- Incorporated IVR
Virtual numbers incorporate IVR (interactive voice response) technology that allows you to share a pre-recorded message while receiving a call. It gives the callers a faster and more personalized experience.
The welcome message could also be based on the native language of the caller as per their geographical location. IVR also connects the callers to the most appropriate department. It lessens the wait time and boosts positive client experience.
- Scalability and Reliability
When the business grows, the workload grows too. To combat this situation, one needs a reliable solution for smooth functioning.
A virtual number offers scalability and reliability to suffice the needs of efficient working, and the workload is handled statically using virtual numbers.
When you expand your team and the number of employees grows, you can easily add them to your existing virtual phone number at a nominal cost.
Virtual phone number service works as a tool that helps business enterprises scale new horizons and penetrate new markets.
Advanced Add-on Features
There comes a set of add-on features with a virtual mobile system. They offer features beyond any cell phone reach.
These distinctive features include call recording, call transfer, call forwarding, email notification, and customized voice mail, and some business phones offer video conferencing too.
These features make efficient business ownership.
Conclusion
A virtual number has proved to be an intelligent solution for any business communication essentials. It provides influential features like auto email/SMS notifications, calls routing/transferring, and more at reasonable prices.
Virtual number and cloud telephony solutions have made a remarkable presence in the business world by intensifying customer experience and business growth.
Your business can also grow with all the benefits of virtual numbers. Experience rapid change in your business by implementing these technological developments.
Startups and medium-sized industries can make a big difference in customer engagement marketing solutions with cloud communication services providers, who offer virtual phone number solutions in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a virtual number a real number?
Yes, a virtual number is a real phone number, and it is a regular phone number that isn’t connected to any physical phone or sim card. All incoming calls can be answered using a virtual phone via an app across the internet.
2. What is the use of virtual numbers?
The virtual number helps connect calls globally at cheaper rates. It also serves as a professional number keeping your privacy intact and saving you from sharing your number with co-workers or professional teams.
3. Is virtual number legal?
Yes, Virtual numbers are absolutely legal and very easy to implement.
4. Can a virtual number be traced?
Usually, a virtual phone number cannot be traced unless the government is involved. Your identity can be traced through call logs, data usage, location, and text messages, and law enforcement can insist that companies provide the information.
5. How does virtual number work for business?
A virtual business phone number works over the internet instead of traditional telephone providers, enhancing reliability, efficiency, and productivity for businesses.
Calls can also be set up to route to physical office phones, mobile devices, software-based “softphones” on computers, and even other phone numbers which make people omnipresent.
