Apps are everywhere today. They’re on your smartphone and tablet. They’re transitioning to laptops and desktops, too. Apps put powerful functionality at your fingertips and come in a range of types, from CRMs to invoicing. The problem for many businesses is that their apps don’t integrate particularly well with each other. This is especially true when it comes to communication platforms, like VoIP.
Without integration and communication, it’s too easy for data to be left in silos, forgotten and useless. Business users find themselves hopping from app to app, copying data from here and trying to paste it in there. It’s a huge hassle and wastes an inordinate amount of time and money.
There’s a better way – platforms that communicate and integrate with the apps you already use. Imagine being able to integrate call logs from your VoIP platform right into your CRM or track phone call and voicemail touchpoints through your customer service software. Those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to app integration.
Before we get too far into the discussion of business app integrations and your VoIP platform, let’s talk apps for a moment. According to Berkshire Hathaway’s Businesswire, the average business uses 254 apps and most departments have between 40 and 60 apps. According to Cin7, the average worker switches between apps 3,600 times per day but 80% of organizations feel that they’re not able to make full use of most of these tools.
That’s a lot of wasted time and money. It also means a great deal of frustration for workers, managers, and decision-makers. Integration between apps allows information to flow smoothly, reduces the need to switch between apps manually, and helps eliminate costly human error (the most common problem businesses face).
Once upon a time, businesses relied on landlines. That remained true for many years, even as the digital revolution accelerated for consumers. Today, that’s no longer the case. Landlines are still used, but digital communications tools have largely taken their place. Why have so many businesses switched to VoIP?
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons. However, the need to access data to surface important insights is usually one of the most pressing reasons to move to VoIP from a landline. Of course, without app integrations, that data might be largely inaccessible, which defeats the purpose of changing communications platforms in the first place.
The big question for your business, of course, is what apps and integrations are available. Do you currently have a CRM and other tools in place and need a phone system that works with them? Perhaps you’re looking to expand and upgrade, and you want to make sure that the apps will be there in the future when you need them. These are all things that you can consider as you look at the integrations available from today’s best VoIP providers.
You’ll have a lot of different options here, but you should make sure that your VoIP service (and the rest of your tech) can integrate seamlessly, including things like:
Think about all the apps and tools that you use in a day. Look at the way that you could enhance your business if all that was integrated with your communications. How do you want that to work with or alongside your VoIP provider? Perhaps you want to consider a service that replaces some of the other apps and gives you a dynamic, all-in-one solution. That’s an option, too. It’s all about taking the time to find what works for you.
Now, read on to learn about the best VoIP providers when it comes to app integrations and find the service that offers what you need.
RingCentra lis one of the best-known VoIP platforms today. It’s also one of the better choices if you want app integration so that your data doesn’t get left behind. You get access to powerful communication tools, including voice and video, and over 300 integrations across different business-focused apps.
Depending on your needs, you can customize RingCentral in several ways. You get access to messaging, phone, fax, and SMS. There are options for webinars and online events, too. Additionally, RingCentral boasts an open ecosystem, which encourages app developers to build with this platform in mind. For businessowners and decision-makers interested in bleeding-edge technology, RingCentral has also made the shift to AI-first across all connected devices.
Key highlights include:
GoToConnect is one of our favorites for all-inclusive features and integrations. This dynamic VoIP provider offers plenty of budget-friendly solutions, but where they specialize is in the upgraded plans that include tons of integrations, customized features, and scaled solutions to fit the needs of your company specifically. You can even add advanced analytics and other premium features if you want.
Plus, when you upgrade, you’re only spending a few dollars more each month for a lot more out of your VoIP provider, and you’ll always enjoy unlimited calling and messaging, including SMS and MMS messages. This platform is great for larger companies, too, with room for up to 250 participants in a meeting.
Key features include:
Ooma has quickly become one of the most popular tools for VoIP solutions on the market today. There are a couple of different options here, but when you choose the Ooma subscription, that’s where you’ll find maximum app compatibility. There are Ooma devices that you can buy and use as VoIP services, but they won’t integrate as easily as the cloud-based platform.
Ooma includes unlimited calling and texting on premium plans, and it also integrates with smart devices to help you keep everything connected. If you’re using an Amazon Echo in your home office, for example, you can connect it to your Ooma service and ensure that you never miss a call. The highest plan from this provider is more affordable than even some basic VoIP plans from other providers, too.
Check out highlights like:
Nextiva is one of the best VoIP brands available today. It offers plenty of app integrations and connectivity, and most importantly it includes an impressive 30 days to try it out before you decide. Nextiva offers plans with all kinds of features, including automated greetings, AI-based call routing, and customizable options galore.
You can get easy access to calling and texting and upgrade to an unlimited plan for just a few dollars more each month. You can also create automated greetings, access the platform from any mobile or desktop platform, and more. Unlimited Internet faxing comes standard, and you’ll find that this platform scales to your needs quite easily.
Consider highlights like:
Grasshopper is one of the leading platforms for VoIP for those who want something different. The service includes plenty of plans with scalability and customized integrations for all kinds of apps and tools. The platform was designed to work with your existing business, so getting started is never an issue. There’s a free trial so that you can check it out before you decide, and you can ensure that you’ll be able to access calls from anywhere with iOS and Android apps.
One of the best features is the 24/7 support from US-based reps that is ready and waiting whenever you need it. Plus, plans have a low starting price and you’ll be able to enjoy all the standard features of a VoIP provider and more, while keeping your business communications moving forward.
Check out highlights like:
Intermedia Unite promises unified communications and that includes integrating with the apps that your team already uses daily. You can say goodbye to siloed information and your teams can look forward to switching between apps far less often. Some of the highlights of this VoIP platform include mobile app access, desktop apps, team chat, business SMS, built-in faxing, voicemail capabilities, and screen sharing.
You’ll also find video conferencing, file backup and collaboration, customer touchpoint tracking, and a ton of other must-have features. When it comes to integrations, you’ll discover a lot to love here, too. Intermedia Unite’s “App Marketplace” is chock-full of integrations ranging from productivity tools to customer support and customer experience applications, so you can rest assured that your team will be able to do more while wasting less time.
Key features include:
8x8 is quickly becoming a favorite when it comes to VoIP solutions. It has a lot of affordable packages and even the biggest plans won’t break the bank. Where it comes in for this list, though, is the fact that you can customize the features and integrations that you need and can even upgrade to an all-in-one platform to make things even easier.
8x8 integrates with plenty of tools and tech that you already use. Plus, it boasts impressive uptime and a full 30-day trial for anyone who wants to get a feel for what the provider offers. Annual payments will earn a discount on subscription rates, too.
Check out key features:
Employees, managers, and small business owners waste an incredible amount of time, energy, and money swapping between apps. Not only is that wasteful, but it’s prone to error. And erroneous data can do more than gum up your marketing campaigns – it can damage your reputation in some instances.
App integration allows data to flow from one app to another, seamlessly and easily. It’s about freeing your team from that onerous routine so they can do what they do best while also ensuring you have easy, ongoing access to clean, accurate information. The right VoIP phone provider can help with that.
Speaking of help ensuring that your team can focus on the most important tasks, what about answering those phone calls and handling lead intake? Those are time-consuming tasks but they’re crucial to growth and success. Why not let Smith.ai’s team of virtual receptionists take care of it for you? We can provide 24/7 answering, appointment setting, payment processing, lead screening and intake, and more.
Interested in how we can help? Schedule a consultation to discuss what we can do for your business. You can also find us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 709-2947.