Getting a new VoIP solution this year, but unsure of where to start? In this article, we’ve compared two of the giants on the UK telecoms market, it’s time to explore RingCentral vs Mitel.
VoIP solutions, short for Voice over Internet Protocol, have positively impacted many businesses with their advanced and affordable technology in recent years. Thanks to this, many companies have been able to ditch the traditional phone systems and costly leased lines in favour of VoIPs.
And it’s not hard to see why companies are migrating. VoIP providers, such as Skype, have proven to be significantly better than traditional phone and telecoms systems. And some of the benefits companies are enjoying consists of increased productivity, high functionality and flexibility, convenience, options for file sharing and video conferences, and lesser call costs. In short, these companies enjoy huge savings and they perform better.
What this popularity has set forth, however, is the increase in the number of VoIP system providers on the market. This is a good sign as it means the industry is doing well, but it can also mean that choosing the right provider is more challenging than before. How can you combat this?
What to look for in a VoIP Solution
It’s 2019, and the best thing you can be is an informed and educated software buyer. Before you decide on a specific solution or provider, it’s absolutely imperative that you are aware of the needs and requirements of your organisation. To get you started, we recommend that you consider the following aspects.
Affordability
Generally, you’ll find that VoIP solutions are cheaper than traditional phone systems and leased lines. In fact, one of the obvious benefits is that it will almost certainly lower your monthly call costs.
However, you should never let the price of an item be your only guiding light. Affordability is of course important, but you must still choose the most practical option for you – In other words, the VoIP solution that offers multiple features and functions at a good, affordable rate.
Reliability
Have you decided on a reliable VoIP provider? Or just settled for the first one you stumbled across? With a reliable provider, you’ll get to benefit from all the call features you originally fell in love with – instant file sharing, high-quality video conferencing, and fast customer service. Why would you settle for anything less?
Rich in features
The right VoIP solution will do more than just connect you to another person. Why not benefit from instant messaging, call waiting and recording, video conferencing, and voicemail-to-email features. All of these features have the potential to make work easier for your employees. And even when your employees are out of office, they will still be able to connect and communicate with colleagues and clients. However, always remember to ensure top security with mobile device management.
Scalability
A good VoIP system is highly scalable. This means that it should be relatively easy to add more users to your system. Most VoIP services are easy to optimize, so adding extra work stations or changing and expanding offices shouldn’t be a problem for you.
The above-mentioned are the most important things to consider when choosing your next software vendor. However, as most VoIP solutions are equipped with these features, it can be hard to identify which is the best option for your business.
Luckily for you, our telecoms experts have compared RingCentral vs Mitel, two of the leading VoIP providers in the UK.
Essential Features of RingCentral
RingCentral has been in the VoIP industry since 2003, and today it’s one of the leading providers in the UK. It’s known for its cloud-based solutions, and currently cater to some of the world’s most well-known brands, such as Twitter and BMW. But don’t be fooled by the impressive client list – RingCentral also offer their services to SMBs all over the world.
So, which features does RingCentral VoIP Solution bring to the table?
Firstly, it’s interface is known for being user-friendly and intuitive, a great benefit for companies with limited IT resources and tech knowledge available. Additionally, users are assisted by a specialist, one who can determine what type of set up and installation process is needed for your business. Secondly, you’ll find that this VoIP provider features several great business integrations, such as
- Microsoft
- Dropbox
As such, collaboration is easy for RingCentral users – even when working from their mobile devices.
RingCentral is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
If you choose RingCentral, you can also benefit from ring groups, increased mobility and flexibility, text messaging, and automated attendants. At the centre of RingCentral is a softphone – which is basically just a type of software that simulates being an actual telephone, allowing you to make and receive voice calls over the internet. In short, a softphone is necessary for using VoIP technology.
RingCentral is often described as an all-in-one communications centre for modern businesses.
But what are the requirements for using RingCentral’s VoIP solution? Well, your company only needs the most basic of IT equipment – an internet connection (fibre optic, DSL or cable) and a steady bandwidth.
Essentially, what makes RingCentral so attractive to its users is its online portal, which is where the entire system is managed by competent administrators. Your employees will also have access to the portal, meaning that it will be easy to manage their settings. As for the reliability factor, you are guaranteed 99% uptime. According to certain sources, it has one of the best uptime records among all cloud-based VoIP systems.
Lastly, RingCentral takes your financial capabilities into consideration. This means that they have four different payment plans, ranging from $29.99 per user/per month to $59.99 per user/per month. Additionally, you might be lucky enough to receive a generous discount if you choose to pay annually.
Essential Features of Mitel
Mitel is another giant on the VoIP market, and it currently offers two hosting options for its users – on-premise or the cloud. However, it’s different from other providers with dual hosting as it offers a third option: a combination of on-premise and cloud-based hosting. This is why it’s one of the most popular choices amongst UK business, and perhaps especially in the call centre industry. However, if you choose to opt for the combined hosting solution, you must coordinate with a verified reseller.
Compared to RingCentral, Mitel’s on-premise VoIP can often be considered as a bit complex. This means that the solution will need the attention of a trained installer during the setup process.
When it comes to VoIP features, Mitel is considered to be just as flexible as RingCentral. It integrates with Microsoft Outlook, and you can also access auto attendant features. You can benefit from
- Call blocking
- Voicemail-to-email functionality
- Dialing by name
- Online fax
- Instant messaging
- Audio conferencing
- Desktop sharing
- Video chat
A feature which is unique to Mitel is the Find Me, Follow Me function, which allows users to forward calls according to a route they created. In other words, whether you’re at home or working from a nearby café, you can be sure that your important calls will be routed your way.
This VoIP system seamlessly integrates essential tools for Customer Relationship Management, such as NetSuite, Desk.com, and Salesforce. Mitel is also capable of virtual integration with whatever CRM your company has implemented. And, just as RingCentral, Mitel’s VoIP system is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
As briefly mentioned, Mitel’s VoIP solution is known for being especially ideal for call centres. This is due to it sporting tools like universal queuing, customer identification, caller location, customer call-backs, web chat integration, automatic speech recognition, call recording, and enterprise resource matching. Additionally, its dashboard shows real-time performance updates.
When it comes to reliability, Mitel guarantees an uptime of over 99%. In fact, users are given credit if the uptime goes down to lower than 99.99%. Mitel is also ahead of the game when it comes to service and reliability, as it has data centres located in strategic places worldwide. If reliability and location matters to you and your organisation, then Mitel is definitely a strong contender.
But how are their pricing plans? Mitel has options that vary according to the hosting solution your businesses chooses. For on-premise hosting, there is a one-time fee. With cloud-based hosting solutions there are several payment plans, with rates ranging from $30 per user/per month to a maximum of $55 per user/per month. However, it comes with added flexibility: if you want a mix of the features found in different payment plans, Mitel gives you the freedom to pay only for the features you want.
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Selecting Your VoIP Provider in 2019
Both RingCentral and Mitel offer reliable and efficient VoIP solutions. In terms of features, they’re basically head-to-head. The same thing goes for their ease of use and installation. However, they both have their limitations, too.
For RingCentral, the biggest setback is poor customer service – something which has been at the centre of plenty of customer reviews over the pats few years. Despite this, RingCentral has a high BBB rating, which is a strong proof of the high quality of their VoIP solution.
In comparison, Mitel appears to be struggling with the difficult setup process for on-premise hosting. As businesses are required to work with a reseller, rather than a Mitel representative, it often leads to chaos and confusing. However, as long as you’re aware of this before you set out, it will be easier for you to coordinate efforts.
In the end, the choice between these two VoIP solutions is yours to make. But be sure to pick the one that best satisfies the VoIP needs of your business.