Effective telephony is essential for many business models, with traditional solutions including complex, wired phone lines.
However, in recent years, there’s been a shift towards cloud-based services, with cloud telephony (or cloud calling) becoming increasingly commonplace among businesses. In this article, we’ve explored all things cloud telephony, including what it is, how it works and the different types, and the business benefits of cloud calling.
What is cloud calling?
Cloud telephony is a virtual communication solution that can be used to replace traditional on-premises phone systems. Instead of relying on physical hardware, businesses using cloud calling can manage phone calls and voicemails over the internet, with standout features including:
- Virtual phone numbers: With cloud telephony, you can obtain a ‘local’ phone number for just about any location in the world, which allows you to operate in multiple regions, target specific markets, and handle international calls.
- Call routing: Incoming calls can easily and automatically be redirected to relevant offices, departments, employees, and devices, to ensure effective and efficient communication. There’s no longer a need for a central office for routing, as everything takes place over the internet.
- Voicemail: Voicemails can be accessed over an internet connection, from just about anywhere through a web portal.
- Call recording: With cloud telephony, easily record and store calls for record keeping, quality assurance, compliance, or internal training processes. This also streamlines call analytics, as you can build a bank of telephone data within your virtual environment.
How does cloud telephony work?
In contrast to traditional telephony, which relies on (often complex) on-premises hardware, cloud calling is situated within a virtual environment. This means all of your inbound and outbound calls take place over a wireless internet connection, via digital (rather than analogue) transmission.
The different types of cloud telephony services
There are multiple types of cloud calling solutions for you to consider, including but not limited to:
- VoIP: VoIP, or ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ is likely what you’re envisioning when thinking of cloud telephony technology. It’s the fundamental component that lets you communicate over the internet. To simplify VoIP, it’s effectively a digital phone line hosted on a virtual network.
- Mobile VoIP: Mobile VoIP is a specific type of VoIP technology that’s designed for mobile phone use and can be accessed over a mobile data connection (rather than relying on a traditional internet connection). This can make mobile VoIP more convenient if you’re on the go.
- Softphones: The term softphones refers to applications that allow you to make or receive calls over your digital devices, including computer or mobile via an application like Microsoft Teams. It’s a dedicated, virtual phone hosted on your device, with functionality including call forwarding, voicemail, and integration with other virtual tools.
- Cloud PBX: PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a useful resource for managing internal calls and comms within a business. However, traditionally, PBX has required physical hardware to maintain a connection. In recent years, though, cloud technology has allowed businesses to more easily manage internal calling over an internet connection – with streamlined recording and analytics.
If you’re interested in learning more about cloud calling, and how your business can benefit from virtual solutions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced cloud consultants, who’ll be happy to provide bespoke advice centred around your goals.
What are the benefits of cloud telephony?
So, why choose cloud telephony? Well, as with other virtual services, cloud calling comes with a string of advantages, from flexibility and scalability. The key cloud telephony benefits include:
- Cost effectiveness: Moving away from physical hardware means you’ll no longer need to invest in (and maintain) expensive on-premises equipment. Your provider will host the platform, and you’ll just pay for the service you need.
- Flexibility: Opting for a virtual solution means employees and customers can easily communicate over an internet connection from anywhere in the world, facilitating flexible remote working.
- Business continuity: In the event of disaster, you’ll still be able to use telephony services as long as you have a secure internet connection.
- Scalability: Working within the cloud makes scaling simpler – you’re able to easily add and remove resources as required, meaning you’re never under or overprovisioning.
- Security: Reliable cloud service providers offer robust security measures, in line with industry regulations, to protect internal data and sensitive information, and allow you to communicate with confidence.
What to consider when choosing cloud telephony services
If you’re set on cloud telephony for your business, there are a series of key considerations you should have at the front of your decision-making, including:
Functionality
When choosing a cloud telephony service, make sure the provider offers core features such as call forwarding, conferencing, and recording, as well as voicemails. These are relatively common functions of cloud telephony, and essential for everyday business use.
Cost and pricing
It might go without saying, but it’s well-worth choosing a cloud calling solution that comes with a flexible pricing model that offers long term value. Similarly, choose a provider that can scale with your business; otherwise, you might find yourself locked into a contract that can’t keep up with your growth (or paying for resource you don’t need).
Integration
When choosing any cloud telephony service, it’s essential to ensure it can be effectively and efficiently integrated alongside your other computing systems. Before committing to a solution, assess the complexity (and possibility) of the integration process versus an alternative provider.
Security
Data protection and security compliance should be a top consideration when choosing between cloud telephony services. Ensure your chosen service provider has best-in-class, accredited security measures in place that meet your industry’s regulatory requirements.
How to move from traditional telephony to the cloud
Interested in transitioning away from traditional telephony and into cloud native solutions? You’re in the ideal place to learn more! Our team of cloud experts have experience across businesses of all industries, sizes, and infrastructure, to offer bespoke advice that elevates your system and introduces new, tailored processes.
Simply get in touch today to see how you can adopt virtual services like cloud telephony or explore even more insight over on our cloud blog – including an introduction to our cloud consultants and how they can help.
