Faxing may seem like a thing of the past, but in reality, some business processes still require physical fax transmissions. Because of this, we are seeing some businesses holding tight to their landlines in fear that they would lose the ability to send and receive faxes if they move to the cloud.
Faxing over an IP network is not only possible, it is a viable and reliable alternative to legacy faxing procedures. This blog post provides an overview of the current faxing landscape and the options businesses have so that they can enter the “modern” world of faxing.
We aren’t going to sugarcoat it, faxing in today’s day and age is not always easy. It should be, given the progress we have made in digital communication and collaboration tools; however, more often than not individuals will find themselves trying to send faxes multiple times, praying it has gone through. Faxing has become a headache because digital transmissions, such as a transmission via a VoIP connection, sends communications (e.g. voice, media, text) in a series of tiny data packets. A lost data packet on a VoIP call may go unnoticed, but when it comes to faxing, a lost packet is a lost fax. Each data packet is a piece of the puzzle, and without all the pieces, the transmission gives up and the fax cannot be completed.
Luckily, there is T-38. Simply put, T-38 is a protocol, or set of rules, that enables faxes to be sent over a computer data network. Without the protocol, the fax data cannot be transmitted over a VoIP network. T.38 often gets a bad reputation because if implemented incorrectly, the fax will be unsuccessful; however, when T.38 is set up correctly, the interaction is seamless, resulting in a secure and successful fax.
It is important to note that the best way to ensure successful faxing over modern networks is to select a communication service provider that is fluent in T-38. So, for businesses hesitant to move their communications to the cloud, selecting the right cloud telecom partner is the first step.
Since the provider works as the middleman to translate and transport the fax correctly and in a timely manner, it is crucial to partner with a comms provider that is deeply engrained in the technology. Below are three essential elements businesses should seek in their providers to ensure the T-38 protocol the provider offers will improve the reliability of faxing and continuity of necessary business processes.
- Quality T-38 routes. To ensure successful faxing, the routing options need to be carrier grade and highly trusted. By only offering quality routes, Flowroute can minimize fax failures and ensure timely delivery of data.
- Network reliability. Network connection is also a fundamental requirement for delivering faxes. The Flowroute network is optimized for modern data networks and is supported by highly trained telecom engineers.
- Normalized signaling. Offering a standardized signal to detect and mend incompatibilities between a fax sender and receive in real-time is essential. The immediate ability to “catch and repair” issues will help ensure all packets get through as intended.
Flowroute has deep T-38 expertise. We understand the protocol and how it should be implemented to accurately and securely transmit documents. We also have an award-winning support team that has supported more than 150 SIP providers in the last 10 years. Our team is also fully trained in all aspects of our network, PBX, call center technologies and of course, T-38 and how to implement it successfully.
Modern faxing is out there but requires the guidance of a modern telco carrier.
For more information about Flowroute’s T-38 support, visit https://flowroute.wpengine.com/faxing/.
