Business phone systems play a crucial part in everyday business activities. Effective communication technology is essential to carry out daily business-related calls and conferences smoothly and efficiently.
Regardless of business size, industry, or location, you need to choose the best business phone system for your business communication needs. This is where cloud phone systems come into play, as having a robust and reliable phone system is integral to the success of your business.
A cloud-based phone system provides businesses with a flexible solution that is capable of adapting to fit its needs. Couple that with a feature rich user experience and you have a system that will help employees work more efficiently and keep them happy, leading to a more productive and harmonious work environment.
As cloud-based phone systems gain in popularity, many questions begin to arise as a result of scepticism and unfamiliarity. For instance, a question we hear often is “what will happen to my calls if the internet goes down”, or “isn’t call quality worse on a cloud-based phone system”? These questions, however, have slowly turned into myths, causing more confusion and creating more apprehension.
We understand that many of you simply do not have the time to research more on this subject and “bust the myths”, so to speak, about cloud phone systems. So, to relieve some of that burden and stress, we present our research on the subject by debunking the six most common myths about cloud-based phone systems for your business.
Myth #1
“A Cloud Based Phone System Puts Quality in the Backseat”
Moving to a cloud-based phone system does not mean you have to compromise on the quality of your calls. More and more internet service providers (ISPs) are delivering speeds close to 1 Gbps at affordable prices. This translates to higher bandwidth for businesses which allows more data to be passed to and from your IP phones. More data means higher quality phone calls.
In addition, if you partner with a cloud business phone system provider that is also an expert in networking, they will be able to help you properly setup your network infrastructure with VLANs (virtual local area networks) which segregates voice traffic in your network. By segregating voice traffic from other traffic on the network, you will be able to prioritize it ultimately deliver the best voice quality possible.
Myth #2
“Managing Your Cloud Based Phone System is Out of Your Control”
Whether you’re an IT system administrator, or an office manager in charge of your company’s phone system, you need to have full control over the phone system to ensure everything and everyone is operating smoothly and efficiently.
However, if you are worried about losing control of your phone system as it moves to the cloud, the reality is that you will have more control rather than less. The truth is that all on-premises business phone systems, or PBX systems, require an expert to program even the simplest settings like an extension name. This requires both time and money to accomplish a task that should have cost nothing and only taken about 10 minutes of day.
With a quality cloud-based phone system, you will be provided with an intuitive, web-based browser interface that allows you to easily manage, modify and monitor your phone system all from your computer. This will save time, money and put all the control squarely in your hands.
Myth #3
“Migrating to a Cloud Based Phone System is Chaotic and Overwhelming”
Even well before considering moving to a cloud phone solution, users’ biggest concerns are problems with migration and associated downtime.
Having a step-by-step approach documented well in advance helps with a smooth transition from an on-premise PBX to a cloud-based business phone system. It also allows users to get accustomed to the new phone system.
When considering which cloud phone provider to sign with, always look for a provider that will provide a white glove onboarding process to alleviate the stress placed on you and your staff, but also to ensure that problems are avoided and downtime is eliminated. An experienced and well-staffed provider will make the process as painless as possible.
Myth #4
“Security of a Cloud Based Phone System Can Be Easily Compromised”
Cloud phone service providers, at least the good ones, are well aware of the ongoing security challenges facing the industry today, which is why it is important to implement stringent security policies to help protect your network data and infrastructure. With the use of best-in-class firewalls and proper network configuration, cloud phone service providers are better equipped to thwart attacks on their systems. In contrast, traditional phone systems can be easily breached just by simply tapping the copper wires on the phone lines and recording conversations.
In addition to network security, VoIP phone service providers must also secure their systems physically by restricting access to equipment and protecting against natural disasters and power outages. You need a provider that has equipment installed in multiple datacenters, to allow uninterrupted service in case one or more locations become non-operational. Employing these general guidelines will make it more difficult to compromise the security of a cloud-based phone system.
Myth #5
“I Won’t Be Able to Make or Take Calls If I Lose My Internet Connection”
At first glance, you might think that this is a valid point to make, after all, everyone knows that a cloud-based phone system relies on the internet to send and receive voice data. If you’re using a traditional phone system and there’s a power or line outage, if a caller calls your business, they would only hear a busy signal and would not even have the opportunity to leave a voicemail message. This is because a traditional phone system is not aware of the outage, it only lives in its own bubble. As far as its concerned, no calls are coming in, so therefore, no phones need to ring.
However, the beauty in having a cloud phone system is that it can be configured to handle calls differently when it senses a network outage. For example, you can program it to ring user’s mobile apps or cell phones or forward it to a third-party answering service. If none of these are viable options for your business, then you can, at the least, ensure that calls are sent to a voicemail inbox so callers can leave a message.
You can also take it one step further by installing a secondary internet connection with a different ISP. This can be a DSL, Cable, Fiber or even Cellular connection; so long as its different from your primary connection. An experienced cloud phone provider should present you with all the options available while guiding you to make the most informed decision about what’s best for your business’ needs.
Summary
When it comes to cloud-based phone systems, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. Deciding on the right business phone system for your business can be daunting. At XENNECT, we provide all our customers with the best service, the best options, the best customer support – all at the right price.
Our veteran engineers and VoIP phone specialists will guide through each step to ensure your phone system will meet the needs of your business – with scalability built in. The best part? You won’t have to lift a finger.
By choosing an industry leader in hosted phone service, you will have peace of mind that all your concerns will be laid to rest and your business will operate smoothly and efficiently.
Let us help you get started with a fully customized, easy to use, “work from home” friendly phone system that will take business communications to the next level.