The workplace is changing, and with it workplace communications. Increasingly, employers are looking for flexible methods of communication that truly meet the needs of their employees.

To facilitate this, businesses are starting to consider SIP trunking as a viable option. This is where the internet replaces the traditional telephone& trunk, so that employees of a business can communicate..

In North America, 45% of businesses are already using SIP trunking with an increase to 67% predicted by 2017, according to Infonetics stats. Interest is also growing on this side of the pond, as UK businesses are under pressure to lower costs in their enterprise communications.

But with more and more businesses turning to hot desking and flexible working to encourage productivity in their office, it is worth considering how SIP trunking best serves the changing needs of the workplace.

> See also: 10 years to go: what the end of ISDN means for your business

It certainly can save money in the long-term, but what day-to-day benefits does it bring? Here are some key reasons why SIP trunking is a smart telecommunication strategy:

Fast track to effective UC

Unified communications (UC) can be easily managed through SIP trunking, ensuring that employees have fast access to a variety of features, from instant messaging to video conferencing to desktop sharing.

Enhanced collaboration

UC and SIP trunking together make collaboration easy. When directories are integrated, employees no longer need to waste time hunting for numbers – and UC ensures that voice, data and email are all in the same place for easy access.

Sharing is also made seamless, and the numbers of steps taken in a task can be reduced, sometimes even to a single click, which prevents wasted time and fosters a productive culture.

No more grinding to a halt

By deploying multiple SIP trunks, it is possible to plan effectively for emergencies, minimising downtime by switching the communication system to another location.

Borders are no longer a barrier

SIP trunking is an integration marvel, working effectively with local public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) to ensure a clean connection wherever in the world your colleagues are.

This is great news for regional and international offices, which can be more efficiently kept in the loop with HQ. It is so easy to add SIP trunks to the same network that there’s no excuse for any of your contacts to be left in the dark.

Speedy calls are a reality

Four-digit dial ins are a godsend for the fast-paced business workplace, as you are no longer reliant on all members of your disparate call remembering a long, complex number. Furthermore, SIP trunking allows for a seamless connection with mobile devices, ensuring effective communications from mobile, tablet or laptop.

This allows employees to use the device they feel most comfortable with as well as communicating flexibly from their preferred location.

> See also: Why companies are making the switch to VoIP

Robust reporting

With communications conducted over the internet, it is possible to choose the reporting style that best suits the business and makes use of underused resources. This can be advantageous particularly in contact centres, where managers can use agent dashboards to monitor the activity of callers and quickly react to any changes that might need to be changed.

It is clear from the above that SIP trunking can make a massive impact on the productivity of a workforce. Costs remain an incredibly important factor in technology choices, but it is time for businesses to start considering their future and investing in the right kind of communication strategy that will benefit their business in the long term.

Sourced from Adrian Hipkiss, VP and MD for EMEA, ShoreTel