In recent months disruption to transport, in particular air travel, has caused distress to many businesses fighting to maintain business continuity.

However, many small to medium sized businesses are now reaping the benefits of staying at home, preferring to meet with overseas clients via VoIP calls and IP-based video conferences rather than jumping on a plane.

As well as benefiting 2010’s strict budgets, this no-fly strategy is also more effective in terms of time efficiency and employee contentment.

A survey undertaken by Skype earlier this year investigated how SMEs manage their long-distance business opportunities. It revealed that one in four UK SMEs talk to customers and colleagues that are abroad every day.

50% of those surveyed felt that they had previously wasted time and money travelling to meetings that could have been undertaken via virtual means.

The most popular alternatives for business travel are instant messaging (40%) followed closely by VoIP (39%) and audio conferences at (34%). Interestingly, IP-based video conferences received 28% of the votes with many companies citing that this cost effective solution is practical and allows them to use equipment that they already have in their offices.

It seems for now that many SMEs have their feet firmly on the ground when it comes to cost-effectively chasing overseas prospects.

With advances in business broadband, business mobiles and business email, it was thought by many that business telecommunications had come of age – and then came VoIP. VoIP is a telephone system which uses the internet to make telephone calls.

The recession has posed many challenges for businesses; making redundancies and cost cutting at every operational level, it is clear that for many businesses, saving money has been given the same level of importance as making it.

Therefore, businesses are looking at their existing business telecommunications systems and coming to the conclusion that, not only are their business broadband, business mobiles and business telephony systems too expensive, but they are also not helping their business work smarter. Consequently, many corporations have woken up to the new innovation of VoIP technology, but how does it work?

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ and in a nutshell, what it does is carry telephone conversations across the internet, in much the same way as emails and data are transferred online.

Many companies are looking to change their current business telecommunications system to a VoIP system as it allows them to bypass expensive phone companies and make business calls much cheaper than if they were to use a conventional business telephone system.

There are numerous benefits to VoIP, which many early adopting businesses are enjoying.

It’s still relatively fertile territory – but you’ll find more information about VoIP on our Total-Ltd website.