International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that more than half of IT spending will be cloud-based in some form. This number could grow to 60-70 percent of all communication services, technology, and software by 2020.
Moving services from on-premise to the cloud has changed the way organizations do business and communicate. There is much more flexibility because employees are not bound by a location.
In this digital era, employees rely on smartphones and tablets. Using the cloud for communication gives them the freedom to work while saving the company money from on-site equipment and maintenance.
More and more businesses are switching to the cloud. In the long run, it will save you time and money. Check out these 10 benefits of cloud business solutions for your organization!
1. Save Money
One of the biggest benefits of cloud solutions of any type is the savings. In reducing the amount of equipment needed on-premise, you can say goodbye to expensive maintenance programs and costly repairs. In moving your communications solutions to the cloud, you can also save significant monthly recurring expenses through the conversion of legacy TDM circuits and analog lines to centralized IP based trunking.
2. Enhanced Features
Generally, you get more features on the cloud than with traditional on-premise solutions. As updates become available, the centralized core systems are automatically updated allowing you quicker access to the latest and greatest technology and security enhancements. As your needs grow, if you want to add additional features such as AI, multi-channel, chat or video functionality to your solution it is easily added in a cloud based model.
Other high-end features include Virtual Assistant to update messages for the entire company or push calls to different departments. Sophisticated call reporting technologies can also provide valuable insight into your business allowing you to better service your customers and continuously adapt your call flows to make your business more efficient. For example, a customer service rep can say, “I see you called the other day”, and access the notes from the last correspondence to make the experience more personalized.
3. Integrated Communication Systems
Cloud communications solutions are designed to provide a unified end user experience, which includes a single orchestration point for all collaboration applications. Cloud service providers offer various programs tailored to the end customer that can tie applications for multiple vendors together in a unified solution. You can integrate teleconferencing, CRM tools, collaboration, instant messaging, and more.
Employees can have access to all of these programs outside of the office for even more consistency and productivity.
4. Flexibility
You will have a lot more flexibility with a cloud phone system. Cloud solutions give your business deployment flexibility including options for pure cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud.
Cloud solutions also give your business the flexibility to scale services up or down as needed, allowing you to only pay for what you need when you need it. You’re not as tied to phone systems in the cloud as you are with in-house phone systems.
5. Consistency
A cloud communication solution gives companies with multiple locations the ability to collaborate on a centralized platform. This makes office set up much easier and efficient with a consistent experience for customers. Users will have the same high-quality phone service and the same features, allowing for centralized administration across all locations.
6. Be Mobile
Cloud technology empowers employees to work from anywhere and from any device. Traditionally, it can be hard to access work voicemails or phone calls if you aren’t in the office. Employees often find it to be an invasion or privacy to return business calls with their personal cell phone number and it further costs the Employer the loss of the interaction. With the cloud, you have instant access to handle calls and collaborate just like in the workplace.
Cloud solutions support BYOD, allowing Employees to use their personal devices when communicating for work. For the remote worker, they can be connected anytime and from anywhere reducing the need to be physically in the office.
7. Improved Security
When partnering with the right vendor, Cloud solutions should strengthen your organizations security. When selecting the right vendor, it is important to ensure that services are monitored carefully with strict security standards.
Your information should be safer and more secure than on-site. Cloud vendors should be able to show you their documented data center physical security policies, information retention policies, encryption standards, and network security architecture.
8. Disaster Recovery
You never want to lose your business phone system. It is the life blood of your organization and should be available 24/7. Every call could be something important and lead to new business.
With a cloud solution, if you experience a local outage your messages, call history information, trunking, and hunt groups are still up and running. Even if your building goes dark, your customers can still access an auto attendant and you can connect from an alternate location or from your smartphone. Your customers deserve a reliable phone system to contact your business at all times.
9. Less IT Tie-ups
Your IT department has several areas they manage – a phone system does not need to be one of them. The vendor will manage your cloud phone system off-site, freeing up your IT staff.
The cloud service provider will also monitor your phone system and be your point of contact if you have any issues. There’s no need to pull someone off an important project for an update or fix. The vendor will manage it all for you.
10. Quicker Updates
You can update phone services much quicker over the cloud. You will not have to tie up your IT resources with cumbersome phone updates when they should address other issues. Your implementation time is decreased, so you can get to work.
Studies have found that 77 percent of cloud users felt that the cloud gave them a competitive advantage. If your company handles client accounts or sales, having the right phone system for calls and customer relations can make a huge difference. You need a reliable service.
Explore the Benefits of Cloud Business Solutions
Having cloud infrastructures can help streamline your business operations by cutting expenses, ensuring easier maintenance, giving remote access, and more. This is why cloud infrastructures are becoming more and more popular. Cloud phone systems are more reliable, so you won’t miss important customer calls.
Review your current phone system and see if it makes sense to run them over the cloud. Your phones can be accessed anywhere the Internet is available, so you can continue to do business after a disaster or let your employees work remotely. You won’t have to worry about updating phones manually and you can customize the phone program to your business needs.
Looking for a Cloud Solutions Provider for Communications?
Now that you know the benefits of cloud business solutions, check out Beacon Telecom for cloud phone services. Contact us any time of day for pricing, services, and other unified communications to help your business run effectively and smoothly.
