Hosted voice, also known as cloud-based or hosted PBX (private branch exchange) systems, is a modern way for businesses to manage and organize their telecommunications. Hosted voice systems, both PSTN and VoIP based, allow businesses to move their phone system to the cloud, which provides a number of benefits over traditional on-premises PBX systems.
Businesses can move their existing PSTN PBX phone system to the cloud or take the opportunity to install a Hosted VoIP system. The reason they may want to move to VoIP is because of a move to a Unified Communications System “UCS”.
Many businesses over the years, and especially over the last two years have seen their communications needs grow. They need to support workers working from home and remotely, they need to communicate with local and remote suppliers and customers, and they need to move some business operations to an e-commerce platform. Information and network security is a major concern. In the present business climate, it often needs to be done urgently.
Over time, this has led to the implementation of different communications platforms to meet specific business requirements. Each has its own hardware and software, and its own billing and support. The multiplicity of systems is expensive in support resources and financial costs.
IT has realised that now is the time for rationalisation to a common platform, the UCS, supporting voice and video, messaging and other communications methods in an integrated and scalable platform. At the heart will be Hosted VoIP.
Measureable Benefits
One major benefit of hosted voice systems is scalability. On a PSTN based PBX, businesses can easily add or remove lines as needed, without having to invest in expensive on-premises hardware. Hosted PSTN and VoIP voice systems also allow businesses to have access to advanced features, such as call routing and voicemail, without the need for additional hardware or software.
Another benefit of hosted voice systems is mobility. With hosted voice systems, employees can make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection, which allows for greater flexibility and productivity. This is especially useful for businesses with employees who work from home, remotely, or frequently travel as road warriors.
Hosted voice systems also provide cost savings for businesses. With hosted voice, there is no need to invest in expensive on-premises hardware, and there are no ongoing maintenance costs. Additionally, businesses only pay for the resources and features they need, which can lead to significant cost savings over time. Another benefit is that hosted systems are paid for out of operational income, avoiding the drain on capital expenditure that in-house systems attract.
Hosted systems can be implemented quickly. Using a hosted platform avoids the need for lengthy procurement and implementation cycles, and the managed service supplier can provide the warm body resources needed for implementation.
Finally, the major cost benefit is that with VoIP, long-distance and international calls are routed over the Internet, thereby avoiding their toll charges.
In addition to these benefits, hosted VoIP also allows for easy integration with other business technology, such as CRM systems and call centres. This allows for greater efficiency and streamlines communication.
Intangible Benefits
In addition to the cost and operational benefits described above, businesses will also benefit from improvements in internal efficiencies and improvements in their external business image. For example, on large sites, VoIP systems support transferring fixed handsets onto smart devices that are always available when connected to the corporate network. No more hiding.
The use of smart features such as call forwarding, group pickup and automated voice responses can improve internal efficiencies and customer responses. Using remote call forwarding can make an organisation seem much larger than it is. British Airways centralised all its call centres in India. Worldwide, anyone calling a local BA support number was automatically forwarded to the central call centre. Other smaller companies have used this concept to appear to be a nationwide organisation.
Overall, hosted VoIP is a modern and cost-effective way for businesses to manage and organize their telecommunications. Its scalability, mobility, and integration capabilities make it an ideal solution for businesses looking to modernize their technology and improve efficiency.
It’s important to note that while there are many advantages to hosted VoIP, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each company should evaluate their own needs and see if hosted VoIP is the best fit for them. Additionally, a reliable internet connection must function properly for hosted voice.
In conclusion, Hosted VoIP is a modern way to manage and organize telecommunications for businesses. It allows for scalability, mobility, cost savings, and easy integration with other business technologies. It’s worth considering for businesses looking to modernize their technology and improve efficiency, but it’s important to evaluate if it’s the best fit for the company and work is needed to ensure a reliable internet connection is available.