Softphone
With the modern workforce becoming increasingly mobile and global, softphones are starting to replace traditional business phone systems because a softphone allows users to make phone calls without an actual, physical telephone.
What is a Softphone?
A softphone is a software that makes it possible to start a call from a computer or a device that is connected to the internet. You’ll find that softphones often go hand in hand with VoIP. This is because a softphone is commonly powered by VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol.
How Do Softphones Work
When a company purchases a VoIP provider, they get a softphone to make calls over the internet. These calls can be made from a computer or on a device like a mobile phone that is connected to the internet. All the basic functionalities of a hard phone are available on this device, with the ability to start and end a call with the click of a button. When placing a call on a softphone, there are typically more capabilities than just dialing. It’s these additional features that make softphones popular.
Why Are Softphones Useful
Softphones are incredibly useful for companies. They allow employees to take calls on several internet-connected devices, freeing them from being tied down to a desk phone at work. With the rise of remote workforces, having a softphone is critical for employees to stay connected no matter where they happen to work.
Why Companies Choose Softphones
There are many reasons why a company would provide softphones for their employees. Here are the top reasons, to name a few:
- Mobility: One of the biggest benefits of a softphone is mobility. Remote workforces are continuing to grow. With employees no longer tied to a traditional desk phone, they can now make calls from their computer or mobile devices. The flexibility of softphones makes it easy to stay connected with colleagues on the go and drives efficient collaboration.
- Less Maintenance: Although desk phones are still a part of today’s office equipment, softphones are much more cost-effective. Softphones don’t require the usual maintenance that comes with desk phones. When a VoIP account is created, the softphone is immediately ready to use. Setting up a softphone takes a matter of seconds, drastically more efficient than the time it takes to properly set up a desk phone.
- Integrated Workflows: Softphones come with the standard actions you’d find on a desk phone like call forwarding, voicemail, and call waiting. However, with a softphone, employees are able to do much more with integrations. For example, they can integrate their CRM so that every time a call happens, it’s automatically logged into the CRM. These integrated workflows help drive efficiency and accurate reporting.
- Real-Time and Post-Call Transcriptions: Softphones can help employees have more productive conversations with real-time and post-call transcriptions. When a call comes in, a real-time transcription can be shown during the call. This ensures questions are answered and nothing slips through the cracks. After the call has ended, some softphone providers will send out a post-call transcription. These transcripts often come with search capabilities so employees can find specific talking points from the call if needed. Transcriptions provide a detailed record of business conversations for future reference.