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Have you replaced your phone system in the last 10 years? If not, you may run into a few surprises when you start the task this time around. Not only do you have more choices, you also have more complexity in the solutions available. It can be overwhelming to think about implementing the hosted softswitch, for instance, yet the challenges associated with your current PBX (News - Alert) could force your hand.

Of course, there are the benefits, such as reduced spending, improved communications, integrated platforms and extended mobility that enable all staff members to work smarter and not harder. But is it worth the time and expense to make such a major change, or should you stay the course and simply upgrade the PBX? The answer to this question may lie in what you have to do to keep the PBX running and how they will or won’t change with an updated platform.

User behavior and desire also have to be taken into account when examining your phone system, as well as current company growth plans. Are your users looking for the latest and greatest or do they simply want to be able to communicate in the same methods to which they are accustomed? Do you want to be able to easily add new users or call your communications provider each time something in the system needs to be changed?

Even with the promises offered with Voice over IP (VoIP) and the hosted softswitch, it’s still a culture shift for a company that has traditionally used an in-house PBX. When partnering with the right vendor, however, it is possible to change the backend infrastructure without changing the user experience. This is the ultimate goal with hosted softswitch solutions, while adding the benefit of taking a significant element off of the plate of the one managing the corporate phone system.

Making such a switch does require due diligence in the process and demonstrating to upper management that it’s the right way to go. For instance, cost calculations have to be completed, showing that one solution is more cost effective than the other. For some, this assessment is done by calculating the cost of the PBX over an assumed length of ownership. The challenge with this approach, however, is that not all future information is known and these costs can’t really be controlled. With the hosted softswitch, the cost is calculated per seat, pure and simple.

While every situation is different, there are clear benefits to considering the hosted softswitch. The key is to understand needs, user behaviors, cost over time and what you need in a vendor partner. By clearing assessing each step, you’ll understand why it’s important to consider the hosted softswitch and the benefits it can provide for the long-term.