With the influx of new technologies and ways of working, enterprises are looking for ways to transform how they operate. One area businesses are looking to disrupt are communications, starting with voice communications.
In 2022, more and more businesses are moving their telephony systems to the cloud. Cloud telephony provides all the benefits of an in-house phone system, but without the massive cost and complexities of running a traditional phone network.
Why Move To The Cloud For Voice?
The cloud has changed the game for businesses large and small. It has made businesses more agile and less vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Furthermore, the cloud has made it possible to scale up or down as needed, providing businesses with the flexibility to grow or contract as needed.
With the right software solutions and network architecture, businesses can enjoy the benefits of the cloud without the complexity of managing and maintaining a physical server.
The Advantages Of Cloud Hosted Phone Systems
Here are just some of the advantages of moving to the cloud for voice:
- Reduced Costs: Instead of paying for pricey telecommunications services, business can now enjoy the benefits of cloud telephony for free or at low cost. Cloud providers like Tekmira enable businesses to get started quickly and then maintain minimal costs. This reduces strain on businesses’ budget.
- Increased Flexibility: With the right solutions, businesses can increase their agility by being able to scale up or down their services as needed. If one area of the business sees growth while another area experiences a downturn, the flexibility provided by the cloud allows the business to adjust. For example, if a retail business experiences an uptick in holiday shopping but faces stagnant sales during the rest of the year, they can reduce their advertising and marketing investments during the low season and avoid layoffs, or they can choose to redeploy their employees to get extra help during the holiday season.
- Improved Security: With all the breaches happening in 2022, security is on the minds of everyone. The cloud provides a more secure environment for business data as it is stored on remote servers that are isolated from physical locations. Furthermore, as businesses migrate to the cloud, they are able to take advantage of multiple security paradigms, such as multi-layered security protocols and advanced threat protection, to secure their communications.
- Scalability: Enterprises can scale up or down their phone systems as needed, allowing them to meet the demands of their customers as well as remain flexible with their budget. As their needs change, so does their connectivity, and they can ensure that they are always up-to-date by simply making a few clicks.
- Increased Productivity: With the right tools, productivity can increase as businesses are no longer tethered to their desks. Remote workers can now collaborate more easily as they are no longer restricted by their locations. Furthermore, businesses can set up meetings via video calls, connecting with customers and colleagues while being mobile.
- Improved Accessibility: In today’s world, accessibility is a major plus. Whether you have a disability, chronic illness, or just prefer to work remotely, being able to access information and collaborate with others is easier than ever before.
How To Move To The Cloud For Voice
There are several steps you can take to move to the cloud for voice.
Choose Your Telecom Provider
The first step is to choose your telecommunications provider. This is largely a matter of convenience since you can use the same phone number for both your landline and your VoIP service, but it’s still important to find a provider that offers the best combination of price and quality for your needs. The most important thing to consider when choosing a telecom provider is coverage. If you live in a rural area or in a region where service is highly expensive, you might want to consider a hosted VoIP service that offers global coverage. This way, you will always have a working phone line even when you are abroad. When choosing your telecom provider, make sure to look at their support for VoIP as well as their general phone coverage, as the two aren’t always compatible. Another important factor to consider is location. If you are looking to host a VoIP phone system in a country where data or phone connectivity is more expensive, you might want to consider a data center in another country. Most telecom providers offer some form of data center, which is where your VoIP calls will be handled, so it’s important to research the locations that offer the best services for your needs.
Set Up VoIP Phone Systems In Your Business
After you have chosen your telecom provider, the next step is to set up your VoIP phone systems in your business. To do this, you will need a SIP Trunking provider. SIP Trunking provides businesses with the ability to set up their own private network, which they can use to make and receive calls, as well as send and receive messages. Most SIP Trunking providers will also offer dedicated IP addresses, which are necessary for ensuring secure communications over the network.
Depending on the size of your organization, you might want to consider looking into a hosted VoIP solution, where all the equipment is handled by the service provider. However, for those looking to build a brand new phone system, a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) approach is also a viable option. Using off-the-shelf components and widely available tools, you can set up a VoIP phone system in your own home to meet your needs. The great thing about a VoIP phone system is that it doesn’t require specialized training to use. Simply install the software and you’re good to go.
Manage Your Phone Accounts
Once you have set up your VoIP phone systems in your business, the next step is to manage your phone accounts. Just like with your email, you will need to have a specific phone number for each device or account you have. To keep things simple, you can use an app like MyPhone to manage all your phone numbers and communicate with your colleagues. You can also set up various groups within the application, so when you receive a call or message, you can decide whether you want to accept the call or message based on who you are speaking with.
Secure Your Communications
With any business, security is an important consideration. Just as with your email, you will want to ensure that your phone calls are secure as they travel across the network. To do this, you will need to use a SIP Trunking provider that supports the H.323 protocol, which provides a layer of encryption as well as the ability to digitally sign all your communications, including SIP messages, so you can ensure the authenticity of your communications. You can also use end-to-end encryption to further secure your communications.
As you can see, moving to the cloud for voice is a viable option for businesses that want to take advantage of the flexibility and benefits offered by the platform. With just a few simple steps, you can bring your existing phone system into the cloud, ensuring you always have a working phone number and never miss a call, whether you are in Manila, Manila; or Barcelona, Madrid; or anywhere else in the world for that matter!