Business communications may have changed drastically over the past few decades, but a phone system is still an essential cornerstone for any business. In fact, modern companies need reliable, top of the line phone systems in order to stay competitive and deliver the type of service today’s customers expect.
A cloud based phone system can give your small business all the advantages and features of big business communication without the hefty infrastructure and maintenance investment — all at a much lower cost than traditional landline phone systems.
What is it?
Traditional phone systems rely on telephone lines, commonly called landlines, to route and connect calls. However, cloud based phone systems handle calls using your company’s internet connection, with a system called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
Because the service is internet based rather than hardware dependent, VoIP systems are able to offer advanced features that were previously only available for companies able to afford PBX hardware. This means VoIP can give your small company affordable access to features like call queues, automated attendants, ‘softphone’ applications for computers and cell phones, and computer system integration that can, for example, send voicemails directly to email inboxes.
VoIP systems are available as in-house infrastructure, or as hosted cloud solutions. Small businesses are likely to benefit more from cloud VoIP systems, for a number of reasons.
The benefits of cloud phone systems for small businesses
Cost is a major factor in nearly every small business decision. The use of a cloud VoIP phone system can provide significant cost savings, while still giving your company all the features of big business phones. According to tech startup news outlet Tech.co, using VoIP saves small businesses up to 40 percent on local calls, with reductions of up to 90 percent for international calls. Installing VoIP systems can also save up to 90 percent of startup costs for a small business.
Cloud based VoIP systems can save you even more. With cloud services, there is no need to invest in specialized equipment outside of the IP phones themselves, and no additional server load. Rather than installing and maintaining an in-house server, cloud VoIP delivers hosted phone system services in the cloud. With a hosted system, there’s no need to hire additional in-house IT staff or worry about equipment malfunctions, as the service provider handles all hardware and software maintenance.
In addition, cloud systems offer greater network reliability and uptime than both traditional landline systems and self-hosted VoIP systems. Because cloud networks are hosted in multiple locations with multiple servers, this greater redundancy results in low service downtime and very few disruptions.
Increased flexibility with the cloud
For many of today’s small businesses, work isn’t confined to the office. Using a cloud phone system allows you and your employees to stay connected to your business phone network, even when you’re not at your desk.
With a cloud VoIP system, you can make and receive calls for your business anywhere with an internet connection. IP phones can be connected at work or at home, and cloud phone systems provide “softphone” software that can be used to turn a laptop or smartphone into a business phone connected to your system, with access to all of the same features.
One of the main advantages to this geographic flexibility within a cloud system is the ability to connect all of your offices, locations, and employees to a single system with a single administrator. This makes managing your phone systems an easy, streamlined process.
Best cloud systems for small businesses
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