What is a Virtual Phone Number and How Do You Get One?

A global presence enables businesses to diversify operations, penetrate new markets, and increase revenues. Traditional phone systems often fail to support seamless expansion, burdening businesses with logistical hurdles and high implementation costs. Virtual numbers, on the other hand, provide a flexible and scalable cloud-based communication solution suitable for the growing business needs of global enterprises.

What are Virtual Numbers?

A virtual number is a standard phone number not associated with a specific physical device or location. When a user dials a virtual number, they are calling a phone number managed by a virtual phone system which routes the call to the intended recipient. You can direct voice calls or text messages to any phone or workflow with virtual numbers. 

Virtual numbers enable businesses to transcend geographical barriers and expand their reach. Businesses can establish a global presence by offering local phone numbers to users in different regions, even if they don’t have physical offices there. 

How Do Virtual Phone Numbers Work?

Virtual numbers rely on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology that converts analog voice and text into data packets. Unlike traditional phone lines, calls are routed over an internet connection with minimal or no traditional hardware. This means you can use virtual numbers on any device, such as a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection. 

Virtual telephone numbers are managed through cloud-based systems that route the call according to user-defined rules. You can configure a call to be forwarded to a desired phone number, sent to voicemail, or routed to a call center based on the caller’s location, IVR menu selections, or time of day.

Benefits of Virtual Phone Numbers for Businesses

Here are the top benefits of virtual numbers –

Connect from Anywhere

One of the primary advantages of virtual numbers is their device independence. Inbound calls can be received on any internet-connected device, offering unparalleled flexibility. 

With virtual numbers, employees can remain connected regardless of their location. For instance, a US-based e-commerce store looking to expand its customer base can seamlessly forward calls from other regions to a remote team with multilingual capabilities. Similarly, professionals can stay connected on their mobile devices even when on the move. 

Cost-Effective

Traditional telephony systems often require investment in expensive hardware and infrastructure. Moreover, getting additional landlines can take time and effort. However, with a virtual number provider, businesses can bypass these expenses as the provider manages and maintains the system.  

Moreover, the flexibility to allow employees to work from anywhere offers significant cost savings. Businesses can downsize physical office spaces, and employees can use their preferred devices for work, resulting in additional savings on technology costs. 

Scalability

With virtual numbers, getting additional numbers to keep up with your growing business needs is effortless. Cloud numbers can be provisioned and activated almost instantly. Moreover, you need not wait for infrastructure installation or lengthy setup processes. You can easily configure virtual numbers and assign them as per your needs. 

For instance, if you need additional cloud based numbers because you are expanding your support team, or launching new products, you can quickly add virtual numbers to your system. 

By 2025, 32.6 million Americans are estimated to be working remotely. Virtual numbers offer a scalable solution for managing distributed teams if your business chooses to adopt remote work or open new branches. 

Foster Customer Trust

Virtual numbers allow businesses to build familiarity and instill trust. They reflect a global outlook and highlight your commitment to cater to diverse customer bases. 

Moreover, customers in different regions can reach your business without incurring international charges. This enhances their overall experience and satisfaction. 

Monitor Performance

You can track metrics and measure the performance of your marketing and sales campaigns easily with virtual numbers. For instance, say you are running multiple marketing campaigns to promote a product. By assigning different virtual numbers to each campaign, you can effectively assess the campaign driving the most engagement.  

How To Get a Virtual Phone Number

With Kaleyra, you can get access to mobile, toll-free, and local phone numbers in over 190 countries for voice and text messaging. Streamline your business operations with direct inward dialing (DID), efficiently routing incoming calls directly to your agents’ mobile devices. 

Seamlessly integrate messaging and voice calling functionalities into your applications with virtual numbers using our powerful REST APIs. With a remarkable uptime of 99.99%, you can rely on our platform for uninterrupted communication services. 

Connect with our experts today to learn more.