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Is your business in search of new business communication? Is your current method of communication outdated? Are phone issues holding back your team from their full potential? Cloud PBX may be perfect for your small business. This cost-effective cloud-hosted business phone technology offers a wide selection of valuable features and consistent service. Let’s not forget to mention it’s proven to be a valuable investment in terms of business continuity and resilience!
The infrastructure that runs traditional landline phone systems is being phased out, and telecommunication companies have stopped investing in upgrading it. At the same time, computers have become more powerful and economical, which has helped VoIP providers make massive strides in quality, reliability, and functionality. This combination of factors has prompted VoIP for small businesses in record numbers.
As more companies set out to look for ways to include a PBX phone system as one of their new digital channels, it’s essential to keep in mind that businesses everywhere can benefit from this inclusion. Efficient and timely communication is the lifeblood of your operations. If clients and colleagues find it hard to reach you, you will ultimately lose revenue and lower your productivity.
To help you handle incoming communication seamlessly, here is a look at the PBX phone system and which businesses can benefit from it. In these modern days, many companies are now using cloud services to make their business successful.
What is a Cloud PBX phone?
A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is an organization’s phone system specialized for switching calls among users on local lines. The system also enables these users to share several external telephone lines. The primary purpose of the PBX system is to cut costs. If all the lines a firm needs to use originated from the phone service provider’s local exchange, the cost would be prohibitive. The service provider runs a trunk line connected to a switching facility on your premises as a workaround. From there, lines serving various extensions can be set up.
While a PBX system uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) just like Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), it’s easy to confuse the two. The difference comes in through the logistics and how you operate and use them.
Type of Cloud Services
Traditional PBX
Traditional PBX uses regular telephone lines to originate and collect phone calls.
Back when most businesses were in office, this was one of the go-to solutions to keep all of the individuals in the office connected. A traditional PBX phone system relies heavily on physical hardware and is usually costly to set up and maintain over time. Typically, you need to pay for each phone line you add if you want to be able to make external calls. If you don’t have an IT team, you’d need to call someone every time there’s an issue with your phone system to repair it. Not only that, but if one thing goes wrong, it could cause an entire phone line outage and cause unwanted delays in productivity.
Hosted PBX
A hosted PBX system relies on VoIP for small businesses, just like an IP PBX one. The difference is that the former is operated off-site by a third-party provider.
All you do is pay a monthly subscription fee to receive a PBX service’s full benefits and none of the maintenance headaches. Hosted PBX systems tend to be cheaper due to no related upfront costs. As a result, many small businesses rely on this service. Even established businesses that can afford an IP PBX system opt for hosted PBX to pass on the maintenance obligations.
Virtual PBX
A virtual PBX is similar to the hosted PBX system, with the difference being that it’s cloud-based. A virtual PBX system will handle internal calls through the internet in most instances. Therefore, if you are an organization that doesn’t make many external calls, a virtual PBX can serve you well. Companies that don’t use many phone features outside of the essential services like voicemail and hold music will also find this system compelling.
No Equipment to Maintain
The distinguishing characteristic between a cloud-based phone system and an on-premises VoIP system has to do with where the hardware is stored. This equipment includes a cloud PBX server and a switch that prioritizes traffic to maintain your QoS (quality of service). Companies that choose a cloud-based phone system don’t have to purchase or maintain any of this equipment, which can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
