Traveling could be a passion for some but with business its an incurred cost. Yes there are businesses where traveling is a must and cannot be avoided, more so in the case of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). As they have limited budgets, traveling is an additional cost which can shoot up expenses.
Technology has helped SMEs to reduce down cost of travel while connecting them with prospective customers globally. There are many online tools available which help you do web conferences, video calls, global meetings and all this while sitting in the comfort of your own office/ home/ establishment.
Skype it!
One of the most trusted and free tools online is Skype. Skype lets you make free calls using VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. If you are calling another Skype user anywhere across the world, its free and hence for SMEs, one of the biggest advantages of using Skype is to connect with customers globally while investing only in an internet connection and time.
And not just this! Skype also lets you do free Video calls globally using the internet. You can simply arrange a multiple mode call with your customers globally and quickly shift onto a video mode which will help you see the other person LIVE.
What are the various features?
Technology has helped SMEs to reduce down cost of travel while connecting them with prospective customers globally. There are many online tools available which help you do web conferences, video calls, global meetings and all this while sitting in the comfort of your own office/ home/ establishment.
Skype it!
One of the most trusted and free tools online is Skype. Skype lets you make free calls using VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. If you are calling another Skype user anywhere across the world, its free and hence for SMEs, one of the biggest advantages of using Skype is to connect with customers globally while investing only in an internet connection and time.
And not just this! Skype also lets you do free Video calls globally using the internet. You can simply arrange a multiple mode call with your customers globally and quickly shift onto a video mode which will help you see the other person LIVE.
What are the various features?
Other than just being able to make global calls to other Skype users for free, Skype also lets you call on land-line phones and mobiles at a very low cost. There is available conference calling which lets you connect with multiple people globally at the same time and collaborate. Like a normal chat tool, you can send IMs (Instant Messages) to people who will be contacted instantly if they are online, otherwise they will get the message once they log into Skype.
One of the major features of Skype is screen sharing, which allows business users to do product demos. Eg: software professionals who want to display the functioning and working of their software product can do it easily with global customers by sharing their LIVE screen with everyone.
Sending files (of a certain size limit) to another Skype user is also a quick function available with Skype. You can send the most widely used and commonly known file types (.doc, .pdf, .mp3, .jpg, .ppt, .xls, .wmv, .avi) to any other Skype user all across the world. A broadband connection is all that you need for this setup to work.
Skype for Small Businesses
Skype is a fantastic solution for small businesses globally. Other than making calls at low rates (which is a basic feature of Skype), using instant messaging and being able to share large files for free, small businesses can instantly collaborate with customers, partners, vendors, suppliers globally. Also as a small business while you cannot afford to have a free global number to be called upon, you can use Skype as your 24/7 phone, where any customer can call you anytime globally, while saving on costs.
Is Skype available only for windows?
While Skype has evolved it is now available across platforms:
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- iPhone
- Symbian
- Android
Sounds good, but can Skype be used with the normal phone that I have at my office?
Skype Connect is the answer!!
Skype Connect provides connectivity between your business and the Skype community. By adding Skype Connect to your existing SIP-enabled PBX, your business can save on communication costs with little or no additional upgrades required.
To get Skype Connect, click here!
How can I be on the move with Skype?
You can get Skype on your mobile and take it with you wherever you go, while still doing free Skype to Skype calls. You can do it in these three ways:
- Download Skype on your smart phone and start using just the way you use it on your computer (some features may be a little less)
- Buy a Smart Phone with in-built Skype
- Call from any phone by using the Skype Call to Go Number (for this you need to buy Skype Credit)
How does it help SMEs?
Skype is a great communication tool for SMEs. It greatly helps emerging businesses in taking their business global while still keeping the travel and communication costs low.
There are many such tools available online which can help Start-ups and Small and Emerging businesses leverage the power of the internet to take their business to the next level. To know more, drop in a comment to this post and our team of experts at the IndiaMART Knowledge Services will be happy to help!
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