How Coronavirus Reshaped the VoIP Industry

Voice over Internet Protocol gives businesses a single platform for rich voice, video, and data services. By carrying calls as small data packets over an existing network, VoIP solutions make better use of bandwidth and cut both maintenance and running costs — there’s only one network to look after instead of two. On top of plain calling, operators can layer modern features like instant messaging, video voicemail, real-time translation, and video conferencing. When the pandemic forced the world indoors, that flexibility suddenly mattered a great deal. Here’s how COVID-19 reshaped the VoIP industry — for better and for worse.

• Remote work went mainstream. VoIP lets you work from anywhere with an internet connection, so it’s no surprise the shift to home working sent demand soaring. With nothing more than a laptop, tablet, or phone, staff could keep operating remotely almost exactly as they had in the office — which, for many companies, was the difference between pausing and carrying on.
• Healthcare leaned on it. With patients advised not to visit surgeries in person, consultations moved to phone and video — both long-standing strengths of VoIP. Years of steady gains in audio and video quality meant the technology was ready when it was needed most.
• Schools and universities kept teaching. As campuses closed, VoIP video calling kept lessons running. Students and teachers in isolation used it to stay connected, and educators found new ways to adapt remote learning week by week.
• It proved its worth in a crisis. Beyond patients, pupils, and office workers, VoIP kept training sessions and meetings going regardless of where people were. As guidance changed by the hour, companies had to think on their feet — and when a workplace had to close at short notice, VoIP made it possible to record custom voicemail with IVR and reroute calls through custom routes in minutes.