The landscape of business telephony has been rapidly transformed by the rise of cloud phone systems in recent years. Some firms are still clinging on to their legacy office phone systems, making calls using traditional phone lines without realising they’re missing out on the benefits of cloud-based phone systems. So let’s run through some of the advantages of businesses like yours making the switch.
Firstly… what is a cloud phone system?
A cloud-based phone system allows you to make calls over the internet, rather than using a traditional analogue landline to make a connection. All of the technical parts of the cloud phone system are hosted offsite in secure data centres, so all you need are easy-to-use handsets that are connected to the internet. They use VoIP technology, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, to make the calls and their array of benefits include…
1 Major cost savings
Many SMEs that make the switch to cloud telephone systems find they can significantly reduce the cost of local, national and mobile phone calls as well as significant reductions to overseas calls too. No matter what your usage patterns and call volumes, it’s almost guaranteed that a VoIP business phone system using SiP phone lines will cost you less per month than using conventional landlines. Many cloud telephone systems using SiP lines now include unlimited minutes packages, meaning that calls to UK landlines and UK mobiles are completely free. What’s even better is that you don’t also need to buy expensive hardware that needs complicated installation and regular maintenance.
2 Location freedom
One of the handiest features of a VoIP system is that it’s not tied to one location. Modern business phone systems mean you and your team can be based anywhere that has a good internet connection. Just plug in your handset and go! This means that you can work from home more effectively and, if required, become a full-time remote employee. Colleagues can contact each other on their extensions with the same ease as if they were in the office, and your office number will be presented when they call out, no matter where they are. This flexibility can be a game-changer.
3 Scalability
Cloud telephone systems can be swiftly configured to suit your organisation’s changing requirements. You can start off as a small business and as your needs grow you simply add more phones to your system. In most cases, it’s as simple as buying extra phones and plugging them into the internet. This scalability makes them the perfect fit for small businesses looking to expand.
4 Reliability
As the components of your cloud based phone system are not all in the same location, most providers have low service downtime and few disruptions. For instance, if a service provider has servers in multiple locations, one will act as a backup if an extraordinary event knocks the other offline.
With a cloud based VoIP provider, you’re not responsible for equipment maintenance and testing or hours of IT work to keep it all up and running. That’s all dealt with offsite by the provider. In general, all you need for a reliable service with excellent call quality is a stable internet connection and working IP phones.
5 Easy configuration
If there is one common theme among the benefits of using a VoIP phone system, it’s the idea of simplicity In the past with old-fashioned desk phone systems, organisations would need their own IT specialists to configure, maintain and manage them. But now, changing call flows, reassigning and renaming extensions and introducing new lines can be done with a few clicks by any appropriate member of the team.
6 Extra features
Cloud systems offer so much more than voice communication. This isn’t just a basic phone service, with many companies striving to provide a unified communications package with features such as team messaging, call forwarding, call recording, auto attendant and voicemail-to-email transcribing. Some new systems are integrating some of the latest easy to use collaboration tools such as screen sharing, file sharing, document editing, video conferencing and more.
If you would like to learn more, Time Communications would be happy to talk you through the options available to you. Contact Time Communications’ expert team on 0113 2059640, you can request a callback on our home page, email at [email protected] or message us here.
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