Think missing calls during your peak hours is no big deal? Think again. Whether you’re a retailer, a restaurant, or a takeaway, every missed call means missed sales. And possibly a frustrated customer.

Like most businesses, you probably don’t have the budget to pay someone to stand around answering the phone, especially when you’re at your busiest. That’s why you need a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system.

Let’s take a closer look at what this type of phone system is and the top 5 VoIP features your business needs to be successful.

What is VoIP?

VoIP is a technology that enables voice calls to be made over an internet connection instead of traditional telephone lines. This allows businesses to communicate more flexibly, often at lower costs, and with enhanced features that integrate with other business systems.

Today, VoIP is not only helpful, but it will become a requirement by 2027. That’s the deadline the UK government has set for replacing aging copper-based phone infrastructure with fiber-optic broadband lines that are faster and easier to maintain.

Top 5 VoIP Features for Restaurants and Retailers

• Integration with EPOS: Wouldn’t it be great to see a customer’s entire order history when they call? VoIP makes this possible when it’s integrated with your EPOS! Incoming calls can automatically display customer profiles on your EPOS, enabling staff to see a customer’s order history and process payments right on the spot. Integrations like these speed up order-taking and improve customer service by putting helpful information right at your staff’s fingertips.

• Call Queuing: When rush hour hits, pubs and restaurants often get a surge of reservations and takeaway orders. Call queuing organizes incoming calls into a waiting line, allowing your business to respond to customers in order and reducing the likelihood of lost calls.

• Multi-location Support: Essential for franchises and chain businesses, this feature streamlines communication across all locations. Using this feature, you can easily transfer calls between locations, route calls between locations and balance their call load, and quickly add new lines when you need them. What’s more, you can manage each location’s lines in one central place.

• Mobile App Access: For business owners and managers always on the move, mobile VoIP apps provide the flexibility to handle calls remotely. Restaurant and pub managers can respond to supplier calls, takeaway owners can track orders while out of the kitchen, and retail staff can assist customers even when away from the counter.

• Voicemail-to-email: In fast-paced environments like restaurants and takeaways, missing a call can mean missing a customer. This feature converts voicemails into emails, allowing staff to quickly check messages even during busy shifts. For retailers, it helps store managers keep track of missed inquiries, ensuring no potential sales slip through the cracks.

While 2027 seems far away, now’s the best time to upgrade old phone systems to VoIP. If you need help figuring out which system is right for your business, we can help! In addition to providing top EPOS systems, we also can integrate and configure VoIP systems to help your business run even more efficiently!