The “cloud” is all the rage. Sometimes, there is excessive praise for the cloud when it comes to benefits from communications technology. But there are clear benefits to the cloud, and organizations – including smaller businesses – need to look at them in order to take advantage of the latest trends in cloud telephony.
In a recent article, ten benefits of cloud telephony were explained.
The first benefit relates to cost. Cloud telephony lets smaller businesses reduce and even cut out costs that are necessary to install and maintain an older, traditional phone system. There is no “installation”, no PBX (News - Alert) box and no onsite visits for maintenance – with the cloud.
The second benefit also relates to costs –savings in the long term. Businesses need only pay for the online server processing, storage and bandwidth they need.
A third benefit relates to costs, too. Upgrades are free. There is no need for new hardware.
It is also easier with the cloud. When adding users, enabling features and or changing lines – there is no need to call the large phone company – just use a Web interface.
Cloud telephony also provides flexibility and scalability.
With the cloud, the phone system is managed off-site. It is managed by experts and businesses don’t have to worry about it.
Cloud telephony also includes features that improve productivity. These include: voicemail-to-email and call forwarding to a cellphone.
Cloud telephony meets the needs of today’s businesses. It can be used any place and around the clock.
Because there are no servers on site when using the cloud, customers remain in touch. If a disaster closes an office, the phone system with the cloud follows the new employees wherever they set up shop.
And there are even “hybrid solutions” that combine cloud and premise-based VOIP. They provide a server setup which is streamlined with the benefits of the cloud.
Ed Silverstein is a TMCnet contributor. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by Juliana Kenny