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Shifting to VoIP: Is Your Business Ready?
Not so long ago, Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) was something that only big establishments could consider. However, with greater demand for instant and more cost-efficient communication solutions, more and more small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are integrating this technology into their systems.
With VoIP’s growing popularity in the business industry of Singapore, there’s no wonder why most companies who haven’t integrated this technology yet are itching to get their hands on this exceptional tech advancement. If you’re a business owner who is looking into the possibility of shifting from conventional communication method to voice-over IP, it would be of great help to know whether your business is ready for this major shift.
1. How helpful is this to the productivity?
Find out the degree of productivity that your company would get with the introduction of voice-over IP, and evaluate whether the increase is worth the investment. Ask yourself whether it will improve the throughput of your help-desk team. Will your staff be able to entertain more phone calls? Will there be more return on calls and more sales? Weigh the answer to these questions and see whether the predicted productivity would compensate the upgrade.
2. Can the company afford it?
Shifting to a more unified communication system can be costly as it entails major overhaul of the company’s communication backbone. Therefore, the question here is: Can your business afford the upgrade? To find out, take time to make long-term cost estimation. If you don’t have enough funds for a onetime installation, you can still implement the plan one step at a time to evenly spread the cost and make it easier for your company to support the voice-over IP integration.
3. Is the network infrastructure ready?
The Local Area Network (LAN) is the network infrastructure inside the office. Find out whether you have all the laptops, PCs, and mobile devices connected to this network. Knowing the number of users is highly important because the more number of connections there are, the higher the bandwidth you’ll need. Take note that before getting a cloud VoIP phone system provider in Singapore you will need to upgrade the network infrastructure if you have plans of expanding or adding more employees. If there’s no plans yet of expansion, then it would be best to delay the upgrade until you’ve planned to increase network users.
4. Can the Internet speed support good quality calls?
Internet speed plays a major role in achieving good quality calls using the VoIP system. DSL connections are not very reliable and won’t be able to support too many users. However, if you have high upload connection, then you can use voice-over IP seamlessly. It’s imperative to secure a high-speed Internet connection not just for smooth communication lines, but for remote users to connect to the communications system as well. With better Internet speed, it makes communication lines more efficient and calls are smoother and clearer.
5. Are there remote users?
Remote users sometimes cause unforeseen problems with the internal network. As we’ve mentioned, if you have slow Internet connection, remote users might experience audio quality issues on calls made through the Internet. Increasing the Internet bandwidth or decreasing the bandwidth for each call can help fix the low-audio quality, though it’s typically easier to lessen the bandwidth than to increase it. This is done by replacing the default codec of remote users with a low bandwidth codec.
6. Does my office have the right power source?
When shifting to VoIP, you will need an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to maintain a 24/7 communication line at the office. There are a number of UPS suppliers in the country that provide unique power back-up to businesses, big or small, at affordable prices. With a UPS, if you’re power supply fails, you will still be able to use some open lines to, at least, call for support.
Knowing whether your business is ready for VoIP Singapore is more important than injecting the new system to your existing infrastructure right away. Although efficient communication backbone is advantageous, there are instances that the readiness of the company outweighs the benefits of voice-over IP. Before pushing through with this upgrade, find out first how will your company be able to adjust with the new system.
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5 Habits That You Should Ditch Within the Year
Certain habits have the tendency to weigh us down, from constantly worrying about the things that are out of our control to checking our emails and social media accounts every now and then. Nonetheless, it’s never too late to approach the remaining months of 2015 with a new mind set. You can start it by simply breaking the following habits.
- Being a slave to technology
About 58 million social media users check on their social media accounts every time they get a chance to do so. Although it’s important to check your email every now and then, as well as keeping up with your friends, constantly treating each free moment as an Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter check-in opportunity only eats up the valuable time that you could’ve spent doing something more worthwhile. If you’re feeling the urge to connect with your family and friends? Pick up your phone and call them.
- Saying “Yes” to everyone and everything
It’s tempting to be the person that everyone can count on, especially when they’re in a pinch. A person who will always be there regardless of the situation. Still, this habit has to stop. Figure out the reason why you’re always accommodating the favours that are asked from you. Do you always say ‘yes’ out of the fear of appearing rude? Learn to say no when the favour they’re asking are too uncomfortable for you. A gentle excuse like, “Sorry, now is not really a good time for me,” will surely make them understand, as well as a simple, and straightforward, “No, I can’t”.
- Cyber stalking
This is one the temptations that is as hard to resist as eating a whole batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. However, stalking your ex on Facebook won’t put a smile on your face. Other than being unconducive, this habit might even trigger depression. So stop cyber stalking your ex, or someone you hate, as this isn’t worth spending your time and effort on.
- Skimping on sleep
Later in life, you’ll realize that quality sleep is one of the most valuable commodities. You’ll eventually regret texting your best friend, or surfing the Internet an hour before going to bed. Other factors like drinking caffeinated drinks, or exercising later in the day can also contribute in messing up your sleeping time. So start cutting down your problematic bedtime habits, and enjoy the benefits of a good night’s sleep.
- Procrastinating
Derailing your efforts at home and at work are quite easy if you’re a chronic procrastinator. You’ve been used to procrastinating as it has already become a part of your life. Luckily, this habit can be reversed with the help of some small changes. Fight your procrastinator tendencies by coming up with a to-do list, or setting a timer as you complete your tasks at work. Just choose a method that works best for you and stick with that method.
Making 2015 a happier and healthier for you is actually easy. Start it by ditching the aforementioned habits and see how good this year will be for you.
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6 Summer Styling Risks That Are Definitely Worth Taking
Summer is definitely the season for fashion risk-taking. Put on something extraordinary by testing out some of these fabulous fashion trends, which will surely make your summer a lot hotter than before.
- Mix-and-Match Your Prints
There’s no need for you to be a fashion guru just to get that eclectic cool getup even at home. Mix and match your prints, but ensure that the patterns you’re pairing off have at least one colour in common, and have different print sizes. For instance, pants that have tiny prints is best paired with a top that have large-scale prints. Easy as that.
- Rock A One-Piece Swimwear
Singapore celebrities and models have sported this trend for a couple of years already, but have you thought of donning that racy one-piece yet? If not, then it’s time that you step out of your comfort zone and find a figure-flattering swimsuit. Once you already have one, rock it into a pool party and watch how each head turn your way.
- Show Some Skin, In A Different Way
Instead of busting out your skimpy mini dresses, try going with a maxi dress with a bare back, or a super deep V-neck. Both are equally as sexy as your short hemlines, but in a surprisingly chic way.
- Stack On Accessories
Most women avoid this style for the fear that they’ll look silly, but trust us, you won’t. Don’t hesitate to stack various bangles together, rock assorted necklaces, or put on a ring on each finger. However, just pick one area of your body that you’d to accessorized, and keep the rest fairly subtle. Just be creative and confident with your look, and see how good it will turn out.
- Pair Up High Heels With Sheer Socks
Forget the thick socks and pantyhose this summer. Amp your work ensemble and wow your colleagues by slipping on a pair of sheer socks along with your chosen high heels. Stay safe with neutral shades, or be adventurous with bold colours. This trend would work best with solid coloured platform pumps.
- Invest In Short Suits
These cute pieces definitely made a buzz in the runway, and with the summer season lying just around the corner, it’s already time to invest and rock this chic short suits. This look is just perfect as an office ensemble, for night outs, and even for formal events.
Summer is definitely the season to show off some tanned skin and wear colourful outfits. So, get out of your comfort zone and explore these styling tips to make your summer more fashionable.
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A Guide to Breathing Properly
We do not pay attention to breathing because the body is determinedly doing it for us. We do not need to be reminded to breathe. However, we should know that our regular breathing pattern can affect our body and its functions.
If breathing is done right, it can benefit our health and wellness. If it is done wrong, it can mess our sleep, heart, mood, digestion and muscles. We have to know that there are ways to breathe properly. Here’s how:
- Conscious Breathing: We need to be aware of how we breathe. If possible, we need to track our breathing during different day parts. We can for instance use our alarms and check our breathing every time it goes off. We will notice if the breathing is rhythmic, relaxed and through the nose.
- Body Conscious: If we are tensed and anxious, notice that our breathing is affected. If we are calm and relaxed, our breathing is rhythmical.
- Breathe Through the Nose: We do not notice it but sometimes, we do not breathe through the nose. To do this, we need to close the mouth and the tongue should be located up the palate. This act will ensure that we breathe in and out of our nose.
- Straight Posture: When we stand straight, we give the diaphragm enough space to do its work.
We do not know it but most Singaporeans are over-breathing, holding our breath or shallow breathing. In some ways, it needs to be improved and the ways mentioned above can make a difference at the end of the day. If we want to know more, we can consult experts here in Singapore.
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Sleep Requirements for Different Groups
Sleep is part of our everyday life. Without it, we can’t function properly. Putting this in mind, the quantity and the quality of our sleep is therefore important to our overall wellness and health. If you’re wondering how much sleep you should get, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in the United States has the answers.
The NSF procured the help of many scientists in the fields of paediatrics, psychiatry and obstetrics and gynaecology who spent more than 2 years to come up with this study. Singaporeans can benefit from this study as well. The NSF released a chart that shows the recommended sleep for optimal health for each age bracket. These are:
- New-borns (0-3 months): The range of sleep for new-borns is from 14 to 17 hours every day.
- Infants (4-11 months): The range of sleep for infants is from 12 to 15 hours every day.
- Toddlers (1-2 years): The range of sleep for toddlers is from 11 to 14 hours every day.
- Pre-schoolers (3-5 years): The range of sleep for pre-schoolers is from 10 to 13 hours every day.
- School age children (6-13 years): The range of sleep for school children is from 9 to 11 hours every day.
- Teenagers (14-17 years): The range of sleep for teenagers is from 8 to 10 hours every day.
- Younger adults (18-25 years): The range of sleep for younger adults is from 7 to 9 hours every day.
- Adults (26-64 years): The range of sleep for adults is from 7 to 9 hours every day.
- Older adults (65+ years): The range of sleep for older adults is from 7 to 8 hours every day.
The new study of NSF will surely help all Singaporeans in terms of quality of sleep.
