The cloud has radically changed businesses. Whether it is cloud-based applications or new storage options, the cloud has probably affected your company. This also applies to Business Phone Systems. However, many business owners still feel more comfortable remaining with their traditional Business Phone Systems. In many cases though, this is due to a misunderstanding of the technology and a concern over how the implementation process will go. Here is what you should know if you are thinking of making the switch to a Hosted Business Phone System.
What Is a Hosted Business Phone System?
A Hosted Business Phone System is a system that works from a data center or in the cloud. This is opposed to traditional systems that work from the physical infrastructure in your place of business. Hosted systems use the internet to make calls. This makes them more flexible and offers more functionality than a traditional system. Your business will typically pay a monthly fee to your provider to access the system. Your provider also maintains and updates the system. To use it, you simply have to plug in a desk phone.
What Are the Benefits?
As mentioned above, Hosted Business Phone Systems offer more flexibility and functionality than traditional systems. With Hosted Business Phone Systems, you can also use web applications to access softphones or improve the customer experience. Additionally, Hosted systems are much easier to scale because they don’t have infrastructure. They are also much less expensive to maintain; as mentioned earlier, your provider handles all of the maintenance.
How to Switch
If all of this sounds great, and you are interested in making the switch, here is what you should do beforehand:
- Determine your business’s needs regarding phone system features
- Test network readiness
- Make a list of your business’s current users and phone numbers
- Allocate a budget
- Find a reliable provider
Taking these steps will ensure that your migration to a Hosted Business Phone System is a success.
If you have any questions regarding Business Phone Systems, please contact Advanced Communication Systems today at 800-750-3624. Please feel free to also follow us on Twitter.
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