A cloud PBX (or phone booth) is a virtual phone system that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. This virtual PBX allows users to make phone calls from any device, on any network, for free. This freedom is appealing to corporate executives who frequently move between countries and want to keep in touch with colleagues, and to mobile professionals who travel a lot for work. A cloud PBX is also beneficial to people who want to have a presence on social media, as it gives them the freedom to be accessible from wherever they want.
Although the idea behind a cloud PBX is appealing, actually using one requires a bit of planning.
Why Should You Get A Cloud PBX?
Having your own virtual phone system in the cloud has several advantages.
First, since the platform is in the cloud, you can access it from any device. This means that even if you are mobile and on the move, you can access your PBX from anywhere. This is in contrast to regular phone systems, which frequently require you to connect to them via a physical phone line. Even when you are connected to a physical phone line, you still need to be within reach of a landline to use it. Cloud PBXs allow for flexibility in terms of location. This is important if you are a frequent traveler or work remotely for part of the year.
Second, cloud PBXs are highly secured. The security model of a cloud PBX gives users the confidence to use the system knowing that their calls will be kept private. This is appealing to professionals who need to keep their sensitive calls confidential. Additionally, calls are not stored on central servers, so even if a server goes down or there’s an attack, user’s calls won’t be at risk of being leaked.
Virtual PBXs also provide many business benefits. As discussed by Bitdefender in a recent report, businesses can reduce their phone costs by up to 80% while increasing their productivity. Overall, businesses can realize great savings and increased productivity from the use of a virtual PBX.
How To Choose A Cloud PBX
Before you invest in a cloud PBX, make sure that you consider the various aspects that contribute to the solution’s overall quality. Below, we will discuss seven of the most important things to consider when choosing a cloud PBX.
Features
The first and most important thing to consider before buying any product is the feature set of the product. In the case of a cloud PBX, the feature set is particularly important, since, as discussed previously, the product is basically a black box. This means that even if you are not technically skilled, you will still need to understand the basics of how the product works in order to use it effectively. Make sure to read the user guide, which will be very helpful.
Performance
Performance is another important factor to consider when choosing a cloud PBX. Just because the product is in the cloud doesn’t mean that it will perform perfectly 24/7/365. In fact, as with any other software or system, there are bound to be times when it doesn’t work as expected. When this happens, you have a few options. First, you can try contacting the support team and see if they can help. Second, you can try using a different product or service provider. Or third, you can simply wait for the system to perform again. In any case, don’t expect miracles when it comes to performance. Just because the system is in the cloud doesn’t mean that it will function at the level of a traditional, on-premise PBX.
Usability
Another important factor to consider when choosing a cloud PBX is how easy it is to use. Ideally, you want a product that is simple to understand and use intuitively. As a rule of thumb, the simpler the better. This is especially important if you are not a technical person, as there are a variety of complicated settings and configurations that can make even simple tasks difficult. For example, if you are using a hosted PBX and you want to change your password, you will need to contact the support team and request a new password. Or if you want to change the greeting that your calls receive, you will need to contact customer support and ask them to help. All of these are things that could be easily done via the phone itself, but since you are not using your physical phone to make calls, you will need someone to help you. This kind of user experience is not what you want when choosing a cloud PBX.
Scalability
One of the main considerations when choosing a cloud PBX is how scalable it is. Do you want a product that can rapidly expand to meet your needs? Or are you looking for a solution that will meet your needs for now and you will upgrade later? Scalability is a key factor to consider when choosing a business product or service, since you cannot predict how your needs may change in the future. If you are considering a hosted PBX, make sure to look for a provider that can quickly and easily increase or decrease the number of servers as needed. This will all depend on your business’s demand and how quickly you can absorb the additional costs that come with scaling up.
Reliability
Another important factor to consider when choosing a cloud PBX is how reliable it is. You obviously don’t want to purchase a product that doesn’t work as expected, so it’s important to find one that has a good track record. If possible, it would be best to look for a product that is backed by reputable company with a proven track record. These are all important considerations that can help you choose a cloud PBX that will serve you well for many years to come.
Customizability
Another important factor to consider when choosing a cloud PBX is how customized it is. Some products don’t provide as much versatility as you may need, so it’s important to find one that is as customizable as possible. Do you want to add in your own features or change the way the product works? One of the best-known cloud PBXs is Twilio – you can read more about them here. With Twilio, you can easily add in your own features such as auto attendant, message verification, and more. Additionally, you can change the way the product works entirely by using APIs to integrate with other software or systems. For example, if you’re using Google Apps, you can take advantage of its Phone functions to make and receive calls via the internet. Whatever your needs, there’s a cloud PBX that can help you meet them.
Security
Last but not least, we want to discuss security. Buying a product that is secured by default is always a good idea, since you can rest assured that the provider took the security of your data seriously. Do you want to keep your calls private even if you are on the move? Even when traveling, you don’t want your calls to be intercepted by foreign governments or hackers. One of the best-known cloud PBXs when it comes to security is DigiCell, which is a secure platform designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. If your priority is security, then DigiCell is an excellent choice. Additionally, calls to and from France, Italy, and Spain may also be encrypted.
Final Takeaway
In the end, we want to reiterate one of the key points discussed earlier in this article. A cloud PBX is a convenient way to make and receive phone calls, but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect solution for every situation. Do you want to reduce your phone bill? Use Skype to make free calls to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Want to use the internet to make calls? Try Google Voice.
At the end of the day, no matter what you want out of a virtual phone system, there’s probably a cloud PBX that can help you out. Evaluate all the factors discussed above to come up with a good fit for your specific needs. Then, you can sit back and relax while enjoying the freedom that a cloud phone system provides.