Is VoIP still relevant in the age of WhatsApp?

WhatsApp has grown into a vital tool for both personal and professional communication, with over 25 million active users in South Africa alone. Companies use WhatsApp groups and broadcasts to communicate with clients, provide updates, and offer assistance. So does this mean that other channels of communication, such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), are becoming redundant?

The short answer is no. Cloud-based VoIP services have remained a staple for enterprises for several reasons, even though WhatsApp provides a familiar and easy-to-use platform for communication. VoIP technology has been developing steadily and now provides a strong and dependable communication solution tailored to business requirements.

Advantages of VoIP over WhatsApp

VoIP is designed for business-critical communication and offers more reliability than cellphone-based communication channels, thanks to the fibre infrastructure upon which it’s based. VoIP's dependability is one of its biggest advantages over WhatsApp; WhatsApp is prone to connectivity problems and outages if cell networks play up.

Continuous availability is essential for business communication. Reputable ICT companies like SEACOM offer VoIP or Voice Termination services, which use redundant networks and resilient infrastructure to ensure less downtime. This guarantees that your important business calls will always connect.

What’s more, VoIP offers excellent call quality. Effective communication is essential to projecting a professional image. VoIP services provide incredibly clear audio quality, far outperforming the constraints that WhatsApp calls often have. We’ve all been on a WhatsApp call when the signal is interrupted and the call becomes patchy – it’s frustrating. This is far less likely to happen with VoIP.

Advanced features of VoIP

VoIP also offers a full range of capabilities intended to simplify business communication – going beyond basic audio calls. These features include auto attendants, where incoming calls can be routed to the correct department according to predetermined guidelines.

In addition, VoIP can record and save calls for compliance needs, training, or dispute settlement. Another great feature of VoIP is call forwarding to personal cell phones or other extensions, which ensures you never miss a crucial call.

Many people will argue that WhatsApp’s video call capabilities set it apart, but VoIP also allows video conferencing. This is an essential feature for remote working and improved teamwork. With the right VoIP partner, you can gain access to HD streaming and video conferencing through your VoIP package.

Integration and security cannot be overlooked

Businesses place a high premium on IT security. Reputable suppliers of VoIP services use strong encryption techniques to protect private communications. A unified communication environment is also made possible by VoIP’s smooth integration with current business tools, such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software.

Although WhatsApp also features call- and end-to-end encryption, a VoIP provider can often compound various security services to enhance the protection of information and communications. SEACOM offers several cyber security services that can improve clients’ security posture across multiple channels.

Our communications solutions are customised to fit your company's requirements, guaranteeing dependable, feature-rich, and unambiguous communication for your staff and customers. Over and above reliable and clear VoIP communications, SEACOM offers the following:

• Professional consultations - After carefully examining your communication requirements, our team of ICT experts will suggest the best communication options for your company.
• Smooth implementation - We take care of every step of the implementation process, causing the least amount of interference with your regular business activities.
• Ongoing support - If you have any technical enquiries or problems, our committed support team is here to help you around the clock.

Although WhatsApp is a practical communication tool for companies, cloud-based VoIP services offer extensive features, greater dependability, and excellent call quality. This means that VoIP is still highly relevant to modern business. For more information about our communication services or to get a quote, email us at digitalservices@seacom.com or leave us a message.

SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.

SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.

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