The benefits of voice chat API

Voice chat is a method of online, internet-based communication utilizing the Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), allowing users to communicate via voice (basically, a phone call) over the internet to virtually anywhere in the world for free aside from the internet connectivity costs.

Voice chat is used by various businesses and individuals for a wide variety of purposes. For example, enterprises that have multiple locations in different countries can significantly benefit from having a functional voice chat: employees can simply sign in to the voice chat app and connect with other employees located halfway across the world instantly, saving both the company and the employee a great deal of money and time. 

What is voice chat API

API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a programming code that acts as a bridge—an interface—between two or more software applications, or between software and hardware device. The API defines rules and policies, a structure of interaction, enabling these multiple applications to communicate with each other, allowing users to use both applications as one entity. 

A voice chat API, in turn, is an API that bridges a voice chat-enabled application with an existing application. Alternatively, businesses can also add the voice chat API to a blank application/software to essentially create a custom-tailored application that is totally theirs. 

For example, businesses can combine an existing application that has the brand’s logo, brand colors, and other branding elements with voice chat functionalities provided by video calling API by Iotum. 

The freedom in customization isn’t only limited to branding purposes, but you can also add custom functionalities to better cater to your organization’s and/or audience’s needs, as well as to meet certain requirements or regulations. This is why using voice chat API can be a cost-effective and accessible method for businesses to get a custom-tailored application. 

The benefits of voice chat API

If a business wants to have an app with voice chat capabilities, basically there are three different options: 

1. Using third-party off-the-shelf solutions

There are various off-the-shelf voice applications like Discord, Overtone, Skype, and others that you can use right away. A lot of these solutions are totally free and very easy to use right away and are pretty reliable although to use all their functionalities, there might be a steep learning curve involved. 

This approach is typically the most affordable with the least amount of turnaround time (you can use the solution right away). However, you’ll also get the least freedom in customizing the app according to your needs. 

2. Building your solution from scratch

Another viable, albeit expensive option, is to build your own custom voice chat application from scratch. 

This is the option that will provide the most freedom and versatility: you can use your own logo and other branding elements and you can add any features and functions as you see fit (provided you have the resources), but it can also be the most expensive and difficult approach to execute. 

Hiring a software developer or outsourcing the development to a third-party vendor can be expensive, and not to mention the time required to build and test the app before it can be deployed can be quite significant. 

3. Integrating voice chat API

Integrating a voice chat API essentially allows you to get the best of both worlds: you can get the customizability of building your application from scratch but avoids the hassle of developing, hosting, and managing your own software solution.

Use cases of voice APIs in businesses

1. Improved monitoring and analytics in voice communications

By integrating APIs of advanced voice and video conferencing solutions like Iotum, enterprises can easily record and monitor the call using AI-based analytics for improved insight and visibility. 

2. Have more control over calls

With voice APIs, businesses can have more control over calls. For example, when a customer wants to call a particular department, the call can be immediately transferred to the particular department and we can also loop call flows when required. This can provide a more seamless experience for customers, which in turn, can help improve sales. 

3. Improving internal productivity

Businesses can leverage API to integrate in-app voice calls with existing CRM or other software solutions to improve internal communications, which in turn can help improve the team’s productivity by promoting transparency and accountability in communications. 

4. Protection of data privacy

Integrating APIs of secure applications can assure privacy over customers’ data, as well as the business’s sensitive and valuable information. Data security is now the key behind any successful enterprise, and a secure voice chat API is designed in such a way that it can provide more data security to protect information integrity. 

5. Automation to voice responses

Voice chat API can be implemented to provide automated voice response when customers need immediate clarification when they feel better to interact with a human spokesperson but it’s not always possible. Interactive voice response with the help of AI can allow customers to access pre-recorded information straight away, and we can also use this function for a wider variety of purposes including conducting surveys, performing direct promotions, and more. 

Conclusion

The integration of voice chat APIs can allow businesses to have a custom-tailored voice chat application without needing to build their own solution from scratch. Thus, the business can get the benefits of a fully customized application while eliminating the hassle of the lengthy development process and the difficulty of hosting and managing your own application.