Traditionally, business phone systems connect to traditional networks that are based on hardware. Using cloud phones, however, allows you to run voice communication through an internet connection. This minimizes charges for long-distance calls and eliminates separate landline costs. It also frees up your office administrators and IT teams to focus on other more value-added tasks.
No Maintenance Costs
An Ooma system requires no maintenance or upfront costs as it does not require telecommunications infrastructure at your office. Instead, cloud systems are hosted by external vendors on remote servers and accessed over the Internet. These cloud-based virtual hosted PBX solutions offer advanced features that allow businesses to cut costs on multiple fronts. For example, integrated AI facilities offered by some providers can convert speech-to-text and perform sentiment analysis.
Additionally, cloud communications create a more flexible and responsive workforce by connecting remote workers and sites into one network. This allows sales and support managers to take control of daily management tasks without costly IT interventions. This creates significant savings for the business. It also helps nurture autonomy and enhances team productivity through features like call whispering.
Reduced Hardware Costs
Businesses often invest in costly hardware for their telephone systems. They may also need to purchase software and IT resources to maintain the system. The good news is that a cloud-based phone solution typically requires less upfront investment and maintenance fees. In addition, companies can use the flexibility of a cloud phone service to add computing capacity quickly and efficiently. This allows them to scale up short-term during events or production spikes, then shut it down again when no longer needed.
Furthermore, cloud-based services can offer fail-over capabilities to reduce the risk of data interruptions. This helps to protect the business from mass outages and reduce operational and financial loss. Ensuring the phone system provider you choose has these capabilities is essential.
Scalability
With a cloud-based phone system, businesses can enjoy increased adaptability without investing in hardware updates or complicated requests. For example, business owners can quickly expand their call center’s number of lines by simply acquiring more user licenses. Besides, a cloud phone system allows businesses to save costs on bandwidth. It comes with an inbuilt feature that prioritizes voice traffic over web browsing to avoid a call quality drop in the event of bandwidth shortage. A cloud-based phone system also allows remote and mobile employees to work efficiently on the go. They can access phone lines and other communication features with mobile apps on their desktop computers or smartphones. They can even edit their call routing and listen to voicemail.
Enhanced Security
With cloud phones, you can connect with your modern workforce and keep business moving, regardless of location. The system is hosted on a server and uses advanced security measures, including encryption, to protect your data. Many top providers also host servers in multiple locations. This is known as geographic redundancy and helps ensure minimal service disruptions in an emergency. Many cloud phone systems feature unified communication solutions that connect all forms of communication, like calls, email, instant messaging, video conferences, and faxing. This enhances productivity, reduces time spent on administration, and allows supervisors to access call data for training easily. They also help with customer satisfaction by making it easier to reach employees when customers need assistance. Some even include international calling in their packages and provide features like auto attendant/virtual receptionists and ring groups to route calls efficiently.
Convenience
Unlike traditional phone systems that require on-premises infrastructure, cloud phones run entirely through the Internet. This makes them a convenient and secure option for businesses. Cloud phones provide several features to help you cut costs and boost productivity. These include unified communication solutions that bring all communications forms under one umbrella, like calls, voicemails, instant messages, video conferences, and more. They also offer mobile apps that allow employees to work from anywhere at any time, making it easier for them to collaborate with co-workers and clients. Many cloud phone systems also offer emergency calling features that automatically pass call information to the nearest PSAP when a call is made. This can help you avoid costly fines for not adhering to E911 regulations.
