What is a Cloud Phone System and VoIP Service?
Cloud-based phone systems and VoIP services can be deployed by modern businesses to help leverage business growth and success.
VoIP means “voice over internet protocol” and refers to the technology that is accessible by some PBX telephone systems. These systems can be hosted in the cloud and mean they may not require having a fixed location. This means businesses can reduce the cost of telecoms equipment associated with telephone systems and maintenance.
VoIP cloud systems still offer all the features of traditional telephone systems such as conference calling, call logs and voicemail, but they also provide more flexibility as calls can be managed from a computer or mobile.
Most businesses require flexible communication that fits in with how their employees work and operate, meaning that a cloud system like VoIP is often the preferred solution.
From our experience of helping businesses with their telecoms, the most important thing with getting the most out of a VoIP cloud system is having a consistent and reliable internet connection. The type of connectivity and broadband, as well as location, will impact this. To get a better understanding of whether a VoIP cloud phone system would benefit your business, talk to our friendly staff today.
Benefits and Advantages of VoIP Services?
- Cost
Businesses always want to look at ways to save money, and VoIP systems can be a simple way to do this. For some businesses, particularly those making international/long distance calling, VoIP systems are certainly a way to reduce costs.
They also don’t need the same level of maintenance and physical hardware as more traditional phone systems so the initial outlay can be reduced.
When considering the cost of telecoms, it’s always best to consult an expert, that can make recommendations based on your individual business needs. This means that they can help you make decisions that will provide the most cost-effective solution. The cheapest option may have hidden charges or charges your business is likely to incur. To ensure you get the best deal, it’s always worth speaking to someone first.
- Integration
The ability to integrate mobile and desktop devices means your employees can seamlessly communicate internally and externally wherever they are (obviously depending on the connectivity that is available). People don’t need to be tied to one location and call forwarding can mean that employees never miss important calls or news.
With mobile devices being so prominently used, having business phone systems that reflect the way your employees naturally communicate will create efficiencies and productivity.
The systems can also be very flexible and you can pick and choose what functions each employee might need. The ability to link it to advanced software also means this data can be stored and managed much easier than with traditional means of business communication.
VoIP cloud systems allow employees to turn their current location into a functional workspace. They can access everything they need and communicate effectively with whoever they need to, making such solutions ideal for remote workers, working from home, flexible working etc.
- Video, Image and Files
Due to the integration of VoIP systems on mobile devices, they lend themselves to video calling much easier. With an increasing trend of remote teams and flexible working patterns in employment, this ability to use video calling can help maintain good internal communication with all staff members.
This also enables employees to link their phone communication with other useful actions such as screen-sharing or sending files. This demonstrates the progressive and changing landscape of communication systems that help people communicate more effectively.
- New Features/Software Updates
VoIP and cloud phone systems are more reliant of software than hardware so it is much easier to upgrade your features and capabilities. Frequent software updates also mean the features of VoIP systems are also improving.
This also means it is much easier to find specific solutions tailored to your individual needs. All businesses don’t require the same features and functions from their phone systems, so cloud systems make it easier to have one that does exactly what your business needs it to.
- Uptime and Maintenance
Having a fixed line brings its advantages, however, it also brings with it responsibilities and management around the maintenance and uptime of the systems. Downtime can cause issues for any business so having the hardware located onsite means you need to ensure you have the support and security in place. Cloud hosted phone systems uses hardware located offsite with servers in different locations, often resulting in minimal disruption to your service should any troubles arise.
Getting Started with VoIP Services
If you’re looking to get started with any type of cloud phone system or VoIP service, make sure you chat to our expert team about the best features and solutions out there. We can help showcase how best your specific business can leverage telecoms and suggest bespoke recommendations based on your business goals.
Similarly, if you’re currently using a VoIP system and want to check that you’re getting a good deal and the most out of it, feel free to get in contact and we’ll offer any help we can.
We can also help identify the best hardware, from mobile phones to desktop phones to help manage the whole process for you. We can also help ensure your cloud phone system is integrated into a wider telecoms business strategy, as part of the in-life management of contracts that we offer.
