Business cloud phone systems: What are they and how they help your business.

1. What is a cloud phone system for business?

Business phones have changed significantly in the last few decades. They used to provide voicemail, multiple lines, and automatic call distributor (ACD) menus.

Today’s technology innovations enable companies to move to sophisticated, cloud-based communication systems that provide greater functionality, productivity, and reliability.

Unlike traditional phones, a cloud phone system uses the internet to make and receive calls. A cloud-phone provider manages the service remotely. This reduces costs for on-premises equipment and maintenance. Updates occur automatically, resulting in enhanced system performance.

Also, you can deploy your new cloud service and be up and running within an hour—with minimal network interruptions and zero down-time.

Plus, the internet-based business phone services enable greater call flexibility, allowing employees to work on their mobile devices from home or remote offices, airports, customer sites, etc.

Additionally, UCaaS capabilities allow businesses to integrate their phones with other operating systems and business applications. For example, CRM data and customer insights can be integrated into your call center data so call center agents can serve customers faster. The end-of-day reports allow teams to analyze call-center performance for greater optimization over time.

Small business phone system or Enterprise communication systems? The difference between buying a business VoIP phone system and an enterprise UCaaS and/or call center phone solution, is based upon the feature set your small business really requires.

Small businesses with straightforward communication needs (such as a virtual receptionist, mobile applications and customizable call flow and even call forwarding and transfer capabilities) tend to choose an economical subscription-based, plug-in-style business office virtual phone system.

Other small, mid-sized, and enterprise businesses may choose an enterprise UCaaS solution to meet specialized communications needs, including:

• Video and audio conferencing
• Instant messaging for desktop and mobile devices
• Cloud voice and business application integration
• Customized call flows and integrations for call centers

2. When to transition to a cloud phone system.

For decades, business phone setup and management stayed the same. Businesses had to:

• Purchase the hardware
• Pay the phone company for the service
• Manage the on-premises system in-house (or hire a contractor)
• Allow for service disruptions during hardware and system upgrades
• Work around phone outages due to natural disasters

Now, users connect their business phones (including softphones, traditional desk phones and mobile devices) to the same internet connection and pay a monthly service fee. The provider manages the system remotely and system updates occur automatically, preventing maintenance interruptions.

Additionally, redundant, distributed data centers (that run the system’s software) guarantee disaster-recovery failover in the event of natural occurrences, such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

The Need to Modernize

Cloud-based phone systems are considered the most agile and reliable global business communications solutions.

However, for many businesses, parting from their traditional phone system can be challenging.

Whether you need to convince the executive team that a UCaaS system will improve productivity or reassure HR that cloud phones will simplify their communication, the following will help you get everyone on board.

The Easy Four-Step Process for Transitioning to a New Communication Platform.

Cloud-based phone systems are considered the most agile and reliable global business communications solutions.

However, for many businesses, parting from their traditional phone system can be challenging.

Whether you need to convince the executive team that a UCaaS system will improve productivity or reassure HR that cloud phones will simplify their communication, the following will help you get everyone on board.

The Easy Four-Step Process for Transitioning to a New Business Phone

Cloud-based phone systems are considered the most agile and reliable global business communications solutions.

However, for many businesses, parting from their traditional phone system can be challenging.

Whether you need to convince the executive team that a UCaaS system will improve productivity or reassure HR that cloud phones will simplify their communication, the following will help you get everyone on board.

STEP 2

Rehearsing: The secret to a successful turnover

Whether giving a presentation or planning an important event, rehearsals ensure that everything goes to plan.

Without rehearsals, the “actors” feel anxious, unprepared, and unsure if they can pull off their performance.

The same goes for getting your new cloud system up and running. If there is no practice session, ensuring ample bandwidth, secure connections, and comprehensive staff training, the switch to the new phone system will leave you merely hoping that everything goes smoothly.

However, with your cloud communications customer support consultant there to set up and test your new unified communication system, you alleviate concerns such as:

• Will the receptionist feel (and sound) confident using the new phone?
• Will your sales rep access his business voicemail, without delay, while traveling?
• Will the IT engineer execute a flawless video call at the investors’ meeting?

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Switching to cloud-based phones is more than the number of seats and types of phones. It’s about getting a robust communication system your employees and customers will love.

3. What to expect from your VoIP/cloud phone system provider’s customer support.

One of the more stressful parts about switching to a cloud-based phone system is hoping that everything goes to plan—that users are happy, and the change is invisible to customers.

When deploying full-featured UCaaS and/or call center cloud solutions, you’ll have the support of a dedicated Success Hero. Not only will your Success Hero ensure everything launches without a hitch, but they’ll help you customize the system to fit your specific needs.

In fact, your cloud phone provider should ensure that:

• Staff transition to the new system with confidence
• Colleague feedback about the phones is positive
• Business teams—from your sales reps to C-suite—experience greater productivity
• Call center managers and agents are delighted with their ability to gather real-time business insights for improved performance.

When it comes to choosing a new UCaaS platform, “white-glove” customer support makes all the difference. Whether you need help with a billing question or an urgent system-related issue, you’ll get immediate, personalized assistance from your qualified consultant.

4. Why business communications need room to grow.

Ultimately, you want a phone system that will adapt as your business grows. Whether you need to add some additional seats or an entire new office to your cloud communications platform, updating your system to support your evolving business should be quick and easy.

For example, a single office with a small footprint may need a sophisticated suite of features (such as CRM integration and video calls).

Alternatively, another business in a three-story space may require hundreds of UCaaS seats plus a portion with call-center capabilities.

That’s where enterprise phone customization comes in.

Business A

Max is CIO of a social analytics company. By the time he starts looking into an enterprise phone system, he’s in a tight spot. Due to rapid business growth, his startup has outgrown its existing phone system.

In the last few months, they’ve hired more call-center staff and expanded their client accounts across multiple states. Also, they are about to move into new headquarters and will open a second office on the opposite coast.

By adding a hosted PBX or UCaaS system along with an integrated cloud call center, Max can add lines and customize call flows easily as the business expands.

Plus, he’ll no longer need to worry about disruptive (and costly) PBX-system equipment maintenance, patching and upgrades. Also, he’ll have a team of Success Heroes at his disposal, providing continuous system monitoring and personalized support.

Business B

Cynthia is CIO of a large logistics company. With offices in the U.S. and around the globe, she needs a communications system that offers more than just phones.

Her biggest challenge is finding a way to streamline all of the business communications into one solution. Currently, the company’s voice calls, video calls, messaging, and call center are running as separate systems.

The isolated platforms reduce employees’ productivity and accuracy. Additionally, Cynthia doesn’t have the ability to automate workflows and integrate supply-chain activities.

Without real-time cloud-based phone capabilities, the company’s ability to speed up processes, service customers faster, improve employee and customer satisfaction levels, and gain competitive advantages are limited.

By making the switch to a cloud communication system, Cynthia can customize her communications to integrate with their exisitng SaaS systems, such as their Salesforce CRM and Slack collaboration tools.

5. Why modern workers need more than an old fashioned desk phone.

When you move to a modern UCaaS system, you expand employees’ communication options and provide capabilities that go way beyond just a desk phone.

Mobile

Employees are used to the flexibility and freedom of personal smartphones and tablets. Providing staff with mobile apps for their full business communications system allows them to work from anywhere on any device.

Standout features include:

• Phone Number Privacy: Use your business phone number on personal cell phones. For example, if your sales rep is calling a client from her mobile device, she’ll be able to maintain the corporate identity with a business phone number. Additionally, her phone number will remain private.
• Call Metrics Recording: By using the corporate business number from a personal device, your business communications system tracks each users’ time spent on calls (Including activity on both desktop and mobile devices). Management can then measure call data via real-time dashboards.
• Simultaneous Ringing: Employees who work from their desks and beyond the office can receive calls wherever they are. For instance, for the warehouse manager who shifts between his office, the warehouse floor, and loading dock, both his desktop and mobile phone will ring so he can answer from wherever he is.

Messaging

Just as mobile devices have become a popular business communication tool, so has instant messaging. Texting applications enhance traditional phone and email communication, allowing staff to send and receive messages quickly.

By providing employees with enterprise-class instant messaging on their mobile phones, they can chat with colleagues and customers while preserving their business identity.

Call Center

Your call center platform is so much more than agents answering phones. A cloud-based call center can be integrated into your other business applications to improve customer insights, speed, accuracy, and customer satisfaction

For example, if call-center staff can see a customer’s purchase and call history in real-time, they can provide informed, efficient assistance. And at a time when customer service is closely tied to brand success, having a comprehensive call center is critical to staying competitive.

6. Why video conferencing is no longer just “nice to have.”

There was a time when video conferencing was an impressive addition to a business communication platform. Expensive video equipment was typically reserved for large corporations’ boardrooms and came with hefty usage rates.

As cloud-based video technology emerged, video conferencing became readily available to businesses of different types and sizes.

Over time, image quality sharpened, connections became more reliable, and applications were easier to use. Eventually, as video chat for smartphones came into full bloom, businesses started connecting “face-to-face” with employees, clients, and customers.

Also, as business activities reached around the globe, and staff started to work remotely, real-time video conferencing became even more valuable.

The advantages of offering seamless video conferencing.

Today, high quality video conferencing and chats are an integral—if not expected—part of business communication.

7. How companies are saving money while boosting their communications capabilities.

“U.S. Retail is a franchisee of Pet Supplies Plus with 41 stores across 6 states. We are moving up to about 200 Ooma lines. We need to be able to take calls from customers, vendors, partners, suppliers and wanted everyone on one platform even when geographically diverse. The value of Ooma is the cost savings, and also time as well; no managing multiple carriers and providers.”
– Chuck Stutes, VP Communications, U.S. Retail

“I switched from AT&T and I couldn’t be happier. AT&T support is just the worst. I had my Ooma system up and running the first day. I’m also saving a ton on my monthly phone bill. Thanks, Ooma people!”
– Grant from Canine Dimensions

“We tried both Spectrum and Vonage Business before switching to Ooma. Ooma’s rates for telephone, toll, and fax line are over 50% less than the competitors.”
– Johnny Lay from Coppermax Eyewear

“We are saving so much money when we switched to Ooma from Bell. Better customer service and push through to my cell phone when I’m not at my desk. Easy to port our phone number over too!”
– Alisa from Rockland Academy

“Used ATT. Saved 32% with Ooma. Better service. Easier to make changes and nicer CSR’s.”
– John from Lead Valets

“Ooma brings lower costs (both in up-front investment and on a month-to-month basis), and greater flexibility, with the ability to take their office phone wherever they go.”
– Andy Jacobson, Attorney / Founder, Bay Oak Law

“Many times we are working outside of the office, so it’s very important that we are able to get back to a caller as quickly as possible. Before, we got static on the calls, but with Ooma, the price is much lower, it offered more features, and the calls are always clear.”
– Mike Scherer, Co-Owner, Cruz Properties

Traction on Demand scales quickly with Ooma Enterprise open API

Bay Oak Law stays mobile and manages calls with Ooma business phone app.

8. Switching to cloud phone systems

Well done, you’ve reached the end! Whether you’re simply exploring cloud-based phone systems or are ready to switch to a UCaaS or cloud call center system, the information in this guide will help you navigate the cloud communications process.

Ultimately, the more you understand about cloud phone systems early in your research, the easier it will be to make a well-informed decision.