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QoS, or Quality of Service, as it’s known is a factor you need to consider when running your small business. You likely already know why VOIP is superior to a conventional phone line.

A huge number of businesses have already made the switch from traditional phone lines. It should come as no surprise because businesses who do make the change can reduce the cost of international calls by 90%.

So, what do you need to know about QoS?

What is QoS?

We argue that one of the top small business tech mistakes is not having VOIP as part of their setup. A system with a high QoS level is invaluable.

So, what exactly is QoS?

It refers to the performance of a system. Cheaper systems will have a lower QoS level, with less functionality. Even a small business should consider picking up VOIP. Don’t be part of the 24% of businesses that still use a plain old telephone service.

How is QoS Calculated?

There are several factors that go into calculating the performance of one of these communications systems.

Some of them include: ease of use, bandwidth, and the efficiency of transmission.

It also considers the negative side of your system. For example, it measures how often error rates occur and how much downtime a system has on average.

High QoS packages should reduce congestion and packet loss, as well as improving latency.

Why is this a Thing?

QoS isn’t relevant for a classic phone system. The companies in question have their own networks and don’t have to rely on any third-party. Of course, there are still quality issues to consider, but it’s unnecessary to compare between providers.

VOIP providers are different because they often don’t own a network. It primarily uses your Internet connection, which most providers don’t have control over.

Therefore, you must ask questions about the QoS rating of a provider. Thankfully, there are third-party providers who have already done the job of comparing the major providers for you.

How is QoS Used Practically?

There’s so much more to QoS than a simple number that you can compare. Let’s look at some common use cases.

The first major use case for QoS is voice streaming. This is the basic function of any such system, as is a crystal-clear video stream.

However, different sectors also have use cases. For example, the manufacturing sector may be using the same network for gaining real-time status updates from machinery. Delays can cause mistakes that cost a company thousands of dollars.

It’s just another reason why you shouldn’t underestimate the value of QoS.

Last Word – Choosing the Right VOIP System

How do you choose the right system for your small business?

QoS is important, as is functionality. Understand your criteria for choosing a hosted VOIP system and what you need to do to ask a provider.

Choosing the right VOIP system will give you clear communication, reduced costs, and become a major asset for your business.

Have you thought about making the change yet?