UK businesses overspend on traditional VoIP systems. Modern unified communications platforms like CallSwitch deliver better functionality at lower cost.
Traditional VoIP systems (SIP trunks, PBXs, on-premise hardware) cost £40,000–£80,000 annually for 100 users and lack integration with modern collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams. Cloud-native unified communications platforms deliver identical functionality for £14,400–£18,000 annually—saving 60–80% while providing superior call quality, seamless Teams integration, and instant scalability.
Traditional VoIP was built on decades-old architecture that separates voice from messaging and requires expensive infrastructure or vendor lock-in contracts.
High Costs:
Limited Functionality:
Inconsistent Call Quality:
Fragmented Support:
To understand modern alternatives, try our VoIP Cost Savings Calculator—it shows exactly how much you're overspending on outdated systems.
Staff experience dropped calls, lag, echo—but no one knows why.
Root causes go undiagnosed because multiple vendors are involved. When IT calls the VoIP vendor, they blame the network. When IT calls the network vendor, they blame the phone system. Customers never get resolution.
Staff use five different tools for one job:
This tool-switching wastes 1–2 hours per person per week. Modern platforms consolidate everything into one interface.
Switching systems requires:
Many organisations stay with outdated systems to avoid this hassle—even though modern systems would save £25,000+ annually.
When calls fail, it's unclear who to contact:
Is it the phone system? The network? The internet connection? Different vendors create finger-pointing rather than solutions. Managed IT services are essential for troubleshooting across multiple vendors.
Cloud-native platforms combine voice, video, messaging, and collaboration in one integrated system—built on modern architecture.
Unified Interface:
Native Microsoft Teams Integration:
Superior Call Quality:
Cost Efficiency:
Instant Scalability:
Built-in Security & Compliance:
Per-User Cost:
Call Quality:
Teams Integration:
Setup Timeline:
Scalability:
Per-User Cost:
Call Quality:
Teams Integration:
Setup Timeline:
Scalability:
Audit current system:
Identify requirements:
Define success metrics:
Deploy to pilot group:
Gather feedback:
Port phone numbers:
Deploy to all users:
Retire old system:
Monitor and improve:
Problem: New system deployed without testing call quality, Teams integration, or failover procedures.
Result: When issues occur during cutover, entire organisation is affected.
Prevention: Conduct thorough pilot testing across all use cases before full deployment.
Problem: Users aren't trained on new system, features, or procedures.
Result: Support escalations spike; user adoption suffers.
Prevention: Comprehensive training before cutover, plus accessible documentation and help desk support.
Problem: Some phone numbers don't port cleanly; callers reach wrong departments.
Result: Customer calls fail; reputation damage.
Prevention: Pre-migration audit of all numbers; verification testing before final cutover.
Problem: If new system fails during migration, no backup exists.
Result: Organisation has no phone service during critical transition.
Prevention: Ensure failover procedures tested; keep old system active as safety net for 24–48 hours.
Problem: New system requires more bandwidth than old system; call quality degrades.
Result: Migration viewed as failure despite good platform choice.
Prevention: Assess bandwidth requirements; upgrade connectivity if needed. Pair with reliable business broadband.
Over 5 years: £125,600 saved.
Cost Metrics:
Quality Metrics:
Adoption Metrics:
Productivity Metrics:
Leadership Question: Are we still overspending on outdated VoIP infrastructure that constrains productivity and innovation?
Migration costs are minimal: phone porting (included with most providers), user training (internal resource), configuration (provider-assisted), and testing (few days). Total: typically under £5,000 for 100-user organisation. Cost is recouped in 2–3 months through savings.
No. Phone number porting transfers existing numbers to your new platform. This typically completes within 2–4 hours. Confirm porting eligibility with your provider before committing.
Modern platforms integrate with most business applications (CRM, ERP, helpdesk). Work with your provider to map existing integrations and test during pilot phase. Most integrations transfer cleanly; some may need reconfiguration.
Yes. Keep old system active for 24–48 hours during cutover as safety net. This allows rollback if critical issues emerge. Most providers support parallel running for this reason.
End-to-end implementation: 3–4 weeks from assessment to full deployment. Pilot phase: 1 week. Cutover: 1–2 days. Post-implementation optimisation: 1–2 weeks. Rush deployments possible in 10–14 days if needed.
Traditional VoIP systems are expensive, complex, and outdated. Modern platforms deliver superior functionality at lower cost—improving productivity, enabling collaboration, and freeing budget for strategic initiatives.
Key Business Impact:
UK organisations should ask: Are we overspending on outdated VoIP? Could we migrate to a modern platform? What would the cost savings and productivity gains be?
Get Your Free VoIP Assessment from AMVIA's communication experts. Call 0333 733 8050—no voicemail, just direct access to specialists who understand your migration challenges and can model realistic savings for your organisation.
Monthly expert-curated updates empower you to protect your business with actionable cybersecurity insights, the latest threat data, and proven defences—trusted by UK IT leaders for reliability and clarity.
