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5 great reasons to switch to a cloud phone system
Effortless to install, easy to maintain, and inexpensive to run, cloud based phone systems are the perfect solution for small and growing businesses. And if you’re looking for ways to make cost-savings and improve productivity, then switching to cloud based telephony is a no-brainer.
The benefits of working in the cloud
When the pandemic struck and remote working kicked in on a massive scale, businesses quickly became reliant on technology that could facilitate business functions and communication between co-workers and customers, wherever they may be based.
Flashforward two years and while many offices have opened up once again, it remains a vastly different working landscape, with flexibility and hybrid working patterns here to stay. A competitive job market is also making the need to offer such flexibility, even more important for businesses looking to secure new talent.
All of which means that having the right technology in place – with IT systems that are cost-effective and can facilitate remote working, while scaling with a growing team – are vital.
Many companies are already familiar with working in the cloud and the many benefits this can bring and transitioning to a cloud phone system is the next logical step.
How does a cloud phone system work?
The beauty of cloud based telephony is that from a user’s perspective it works just like an ordinary landline phone. You’ll be able to make and receive calls in exactly the same way; the key difference lies in the technology that sits behind how that call is transferred and connected.
Here’s a quick explanation….
In cloud based telephony, calls are managed through your internet connection using an off-site VoIP service provider. This is different to a traditional telephone system which will use something called a PBX, connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This requires manual installation on site by a qualified telephone engineer.
How is cloud telephony different from traditional PBX?
Cloud based telephony is very different from traditional PBX telephony. Because all calls are managed in an off-site data cloud, you don’t need to connect your system to the PSTN and there is no need for costly installations at your office, or on-going system maintenance.
With a cloud phone system, all that is required is a stable Wifi or broadband connection and a VoIP service provider.
Best of all, you can take or make calls from the same telephone number, from absolutely anywhere you’re connected to the internet – so there’s no requirement to be at your desk when the phone rings, as with a traditional telephone system.
What are the benefits of cloud based telephony?
When it comes to the benefits of cloud based telephony there’s no contest. Cloud telephony is superior to a traditional landline PBX system in every way. Some of the biggest benefits of switching your traditional landline phone to a cloud telephony system include:
1.Cost savings
Without the need for expensive hardware and on site cabling, cloud telephony is much more economical than a traditional phone network.
Everything that’s required to get your system up and running takes place off site, so there’s no expensive line connection, installation, or on-going maintenance fees to pay.
The operating costs of a cloud telephony system are also much lower. Everything will be condensed into one fixed monthly payment, and you won’t get charged any extra, even if you call overseas or dial premium rate numbers.
2.Increased productivity
At Dragon IS, clients who have moved their existing PBX telephony onto a cloud solution are reporting up to a 30% increase in employee productivity.
With the freedom to make and receive calls from anywhere there is an internet connection, businesses using cloud telephony are reaping the benefits of being able to stay connected to clients and customers, without the inconvenience of being confined to a desk. And with no calls ever being missed and the business’ reputation at risk.
3.Quick to install
Cloud telephony systems don’t require any on site infrastructure or a connection to the PSTN. WiFi and a VoIP provider is all that’s needed to get your system off the ground and begin making calls.
For that reason, setting up a cloud telephony system is much smoother, easier, and faster.
Depending on the size of the business, installation could be completed in anywhere from a few moments, to a matter of days.
Your cloud telephone provider will take care of all the system set-up and once online your entire phone network can be managed from just a single dashboard.
4.Easy to upscale
When it comes to upscaling your business, cloud based telephony also delivers. New users can be added in just a matter of clicks, so it really couldn’t be simpler to grow your phone capability as and when you need it.
PBX systems on the other hand are very difficult to upscale easily. As well as the cost of adding new handsets, each device also requires an engineer to manually install the system on site, which comes at an additional cost and can be disruptive to your business.
5.100% flexible
Today, businesses need to be more agile and responsive than ever. Most employees now expect to be able to work from home some (if not most) of the time, so attracting and retaining top talent rests on your ability to support fully remote or hybrid-working.
Cloud telephony empowers you to take or make calls from anywhere you have internet, enabling your business to boost its performance, connectivity, and efficiency, while equipping your workforce with the tools to do their job 100% remotely.