The ways in which VoIP can benefit the modern telephony user have been well documented, as well as the fact that these benefits are far greater for businesses. Indeed, because this is so well known, the VoIP market is growing stronger at a consistent rate. For residential users, the situation is simple, as any basic VoIP package provides everything necessary to make IP telephone calls at a very low price. For businesses, though, the situation is a bit more complex.
Just as VoIP initially changed the game for business communications, hosted VoIP — or hosted PBX (News - Alert) — has once again paved the way to greater cost savings, functionality and ease of use. But let’s get more specific.
According to data gathered by VoIPMechanic.com, there are four primary reasons why businesses are switching to hosted VoIP, starting with the primary benefit cited in favor of VoIP: cost savings. Since hosted VoIP eliminates the need to install, setup, maintain and repair an on-site PBX, initial cost is reduced while monthly savings are increased.
Image via Shutterstock
Cost savings aside, eliminating a physical PBX in favor of a hosted one also helps save on manpower. Indeed, precious IT resources aren’t needed to maintain expensive PBX equipment any longer with hosted VoIP, which can help further save costs while freeing up IT staff for other integral tasks. Meanwhile, companies can be assured that their PBX system will always run well, as hosted VoIP providers have dedicated IT departments for this very purpose.
So, we know that swapping out a physical PBX for a hosted one can save both money and IT resources, but there’s one more obvious element many overlook: space. Most businesses with an in-house PBX actually end up dedicating an entire room to their system, since most are built with sensitive equipment that requires tight control of temperature, dust and other conditions.
Finally, many businesses simply find that hosted VoIP offers a level of flexibility that can’t be matched by traditional PBX-based systems. We already know that a physical PBX is cumbersome, costly and temperamental — three traits that don’t fit well with the modern, mobile business world. As such, hosted VoIP is the logical progression for any company that saw value in traditional VoIP.
Edited by Blaise McNamee