How and what is the virtual fax still used for?

In the late eighties the fax revolutionized the communication of the most prestigious companies worldwide. Four decades have passed and it is still a functional tool for some businesses and individuals. Technology has evolved and today we have the opportunity to use the virtual fax.

It seems that nowadays there are too many ways to communicate to have to resort to this technology. However, fax can be much more useful than many imagine. That is why there are services that allow you to adapt this office device to today’s systems.

First of all: What is a fax machine?

It could be said that the fax machine is the starting point of all communication we have today. This device integrated the modem, the printer and a scanner, allowing images to be sent via a traditional telephone line connection. In fact, the transmissions are made to a special number.

Today, part of what the smartphone does is basically this, but in a much more advanced way and from digital systems. Of course, the development of the internet and various software has allowed greater possibilities in terms of communication and sending documents. However, it is understood that the fax was the beginning of this concept.

This does not mean that the fax has lost all its relevance. In fact, many people of interest to companies still use this type of technology. Undoubtedly, having the ability to at least be able to receive and send information with this device has its benefits, especially for companies.

Virtual fax: What is it all about?

Precisely, nowadays there are ways to communicate with fax machines without having to buy one and plug it into the office. This is what the virtual fax is all about, which is nothing more than a module that allows documentation to be sent to this type of device. Likewise, companies can receive notifications or documents sent via fax, thanks to this system.

The virtual fax is a system that can be used basically on any device. It only requires a computer, a tablet or a cell phone with an internet connection to use it. Nor is it required to buy any equipment, or perform any kind of installation.

It is a simple, expeditious system that is not very expensive either. In other words, its great usefulness and low cost means that it is better to have it than not, especially at a business level. Nowadays, it has become a service and many companies hire it for several reasons.

A fax to email

Few people know this, but some email applications are configured to allow sending and receiving faxes. In fact, Gmail which is one of the largest email companies has this option. This is because, in the early days of the Internet, many companies used both means of communication.

Over time, these systems were relegated to the background due to the new Internet tools. And although the custom of sending or receiving faxes by e-mail became somewhat obsolete, many companies kept their fax machines in their offices for unforeseen circumstances. In fact, many people still use it today more than you might think.

Basically, e-mail is the medium that allows you to send and receive faxes. Of course, it’s not as simple as just sending an email and having it appear on a fax sheet. This is where the virtual PBX comes in and companies like Neotel offer this service in a complementary way.

How is virtual fax used?

As in the past, in order to send faxes, it is essential to have a specialized telephone number for this type of device. In this way, the person sending the fax indicates where the information will go. Providing this number and the telephone line is an essential part of offering a virtual fax service.

Once the company has its line and phone number assigned, it can receive messages sent from a real fax machine. Having this capability is what is sought after at the enterprise level, because it opens the door to more business and allows for more complete and integrated communication.

Likewise, from this moment on, the company that pays for the virtual fax service can send faxes. To do so, it will simply use the business email, which is adapted to establish this type of communication. Basically, the process is similar to the one used to send e-mails, except that, instead of entering an e-mail address, the fax number to which the documentation is to be sent is added. The process is very simple.

Why use a virtual fax service?

The ability to be able to send and receive faxes is an important and inexpensive provision. A current maxim in the business world is to achieve the widest possible connectivity and communication capacity. Precisely, the virtual fax is another way to be able to negotiate with people who still use this device.

In fact, there are countries where having a virtual fax is much more than just a forecast. Two examples of this are Spain and the United States, where many companies are reluctant to dispense with this device altogether. According to some figures from companies producing fax machines, more than 380,000 such devices were sold in Spanish territory in 2019. By 2020, this number amounted to 430,000 copies sold.

In other words, in countries such as Spain, the production and marketing of the fax is still going on. Companies continue to buy these products and use them as a means of sending communications and documentation. Having the ability to negotiate and communicate with people using this type of technology is the objective pursued by companies when contracting this service.

How useful is the virtual fax?

Of course, not all companies should be obliged to buy a device of this type. To tell the truth, the virtual fax has the mission of being able to guarantee connectivity to those who do not want to invest in these devices that certainly are somewhat discontinued.

The fax is still used for sending and receiving sales and purchase documents, invoices and other sensitive data. In fact, many companies see this device as a secure and expeditious way to establish communication. For example, many supply chain firms still work this way and not with e-mail. This is still the case even worldwide.

Having the virtual fax allows you to integrate different technologies. This is certainly the usefulness of this module, and it allows the company’s commercial range to be expanded. It sounds simple, but every sale counts.

Why is virtual fax so necessary in Spain?

Many companies in Spain continue to send and receive documents by fax. Some businesses and jobs work exclusively this way. Suppliers are one type of company that still operates this way. However, there are many others that work with this device.

For example, in Spain many of the public institutions still work with burofax. It should be noted that the sending of this type of document with legal weight in Spanish territory began with the sending of faxes. Therefore, many law firms and public institutions still have faxes in their facilities.

Likewise, many clinics and hospitals are used to working with traditional faxes. This is because this device is often very effective as a means of sending examinations and diagnoses. The best thing is that it does not require the Internet for its operation, which makes it a fail-safe communication system.

Fax never fails

Beyond the three examples of companies that use fax, many companies of all types still have this device. This is because its sending system is practically infallible. In fact, in a scenario where the Internet fails across the board, fax machines would be the best alternative for sending and receiving notification. This is because these devices only rely on telephone lines for sending.

It is precisely for this reason that many companies still buy and even use fax machines. Then, it is important to note that there are still many businessmen and entrepreneurs who use their fax machines as a priority. For example, there are elderly private individuals who have not wanted to migrate to new technologies and remain with the reliable.

That is why any company that intends to have validity in the market should hire the virtual fax service. This will allow you to negotiate, send and receive documents with a wider range of people, without excluding them due to the technology they use. The next question is: How do I get the virtual fax? If you hire our virtual PBX for SMEs you will be able to count on this integrating tool.

At Neotel we have the virtual fax service at low prices.

Many communication companies sell the virtual fax service as their main service at very high prices. At Neotel, virtual fax is a complement to our call center software. For this reason, we offer the service for a monthly fee of 8 € per month.

The virtual fax is an add-on to our advanced virtual PBX for SMEs. This is a program that will be very useful to manage the commercial communication of your business. Your customers will never feel better served and your company will project responsibility and reliability.