Making the move to Voice over IP (VoIP) has proven benefits for businesses, but not all organizations know whether they need an on-premises or hosted VoIP solution. Business VoIP providers can help direct the decision-making process, but clearly understanding internal needs is a good first step.
A recent TechGlobeX article stressed the importance of reliable infrastructure to ensure proper operation. In selecting the right infrastructure, businesses really have two choices: hosted VoIP and on-premises VoIP. There is no one-size-fits-all, as communications are just too important within the business. Instead, decision makers need to examine the ins and outs of both and select the one that makes the most sense within their environment.
Keeping VoIP On-Premises
One of the primary perks to keeping anything on-site is the control the business can maintain. When VoIP is deployed in-house, the business has control over how it works and what can be done with it. The system may be used just for voice communications and will deliver exceptional value for a multi-location organization with collaborating employees.
The downside to the on-premises system is that the business bears the responsibility when a fix is needed. If anything goes wrong, it has to be fixed as soon as possible to keep communications in place. This comes with a bit of inconvenience and perhaps even an expensive price tag (News - Alert), depending on the needed fix.
Opting for Hosted VoIP
Responsibility for the infrastructure often plays a role in shifting to hosted VoIP. Most small businesses can’t afford the maintenance of the on-premises system and will instead turn to the “per user per month” billing structure of the hosted VoIP service offered by business VoIP providers.
By using a system that is based in the cloud, the provider is the one responsible for taking care of all the technical details and ensuring uptime and that the system is updated. This also means less stress for the business, allowing employees to focus on core competencies and not whether or not the phone system will work that day.
Ultimately, the resources and expertise the business already has on hand will play an important role in making the final decision. These things are easily identified in a needs assessment that can then be used to drive the decision moving forward. Only after the assessment is complete is it time to bring in business VoIP providers to evaluate their offerings.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey