A new cloud phone system can be a wise investment for any business that needs effective calling capabilities. However, before choosing a supplier to work with, research credentials and accolades. These solutions are typically pay-as-you-go and eliminate upfront costs for hardware and software. They also offer a range of features that can help streamline processes and improve customer service, including auto-attendant and virtual voicemails.
Cost-Effectiveness
With cloud-based phone systems, companies only pay for what they use. They don’t have to invest in expensive hardware equipment and hire professionals for maintenance. Understanding more about cloud phone – Ooma is essential. With advanced features such as visual voicemail (where agents receive their personalized messages) and customer callback capabilities, cloud-based phone system costs are much lower than traditional on-premises telephone systems. Moreover, adding lines and increasing usage during peak seasons or events is easy and affordable since they don’t require additional hardware or in-house contractors. Plus, with 40% of workers working remotely, cloud systems enable mobile and remote employees to access their business phone line via an app on their smartphone or computer—whether in the office, at a coffee shop, or at home. This boosts productivity and morale and saves on costly office space. Data is also stored securely in a data center, which takes the pressure off the IT teams at each location. This saves time and money and eliminates the need for security upgrades.
Scalability
A vital benefit of a cloud-based business phone system is that it is more scalable than on-premise systems. This is especially important for the financial industry, which often experiences fluctuating call volumes. Additionally, a cloud-based system is more resilient in an Internet outage or other disasters. Many cloud providers offer affordable pricing for local, toll-free, and international calls. This reduces the upfront investment for a new system and makes it easy to add capabilities as you grow. Moreover, most cloud-based business phone systems provide a customizable dashboard with advanced features like auto-attendants, call settings, voice and video conferencing, and ring groups. These features improve productivity and enhance collaboration across the organization.
Additionally, they help companies cut IT costs that can be redirected to other projects. You only need a reliable internet connection to use these unified communication tools. This allows your company to stay competitive without spending on hardware and hiring a team of IT professionals to maintain it.
Reliability
A business using a cloud-based phone system eliminates the need for expensive on-site hardware and upfront software costs. In addition, a cloud phone system allows employees to access all information and data from anywhere, even if they’re not physically in the office. VoIP systems break voice data into packets that travel over the Internet rather than traditional telephone networks. They then reassemble the packets to deliver precise and crisp voice communication. Cloud-based systems also have backup servers in different geographic locations to ensure that calls are always routed to the closest emergency call center. Modern VoIP solutions offer many advanced unified communications features that enhance productivity. They can include an interactive voice response (IVR) system that automatically greets callers and uses touch keys to direct callers to the appropriate department quickly. Additionally, most cloud systems provide customer callback capabilities that allow customers to schedule a time for an agent to return their call.
Convenience
A cloud phone system eliminates the upfront hardware costs and ongoing maintenance of an on-premises solution. You can efficiently scale up or down the number of extensions and sites as your business needs change. And since these solutions are hosted in multiple, geographically diverse data centers, they’re also a great disaster recovery option. Cloud-based systems often include powerful features that can help you improve customer service and employee productivity. For example, advanced features like call monitoring and round-robin routing can automate how calls are handled so that each agent gets an equal amount of inbound traffic. Many cloud solutions integrate with other popular business tools, such as CRM and email applications. This helps streamline communication by storing all customer information in one place for easy access. Look for a provider that offers round-the-clock live support, as well. This can save your IT team time and free them up to focus on other priorities.
