The modern business world is marked by the need for connectivity. Customers and staff are always online, and they expect you to be as well. There are a few ways of keeping up with this demand, and internet-connected business phone systems are one of the most useful solutions.
The right business phone system can transform the way you operate. By making it possible to stay connected while working remotely, your phone system can increase revenue, improve customer relationships and ensure staff have the tools they need.
In this article we’re going to learn more about how business phone systems work and why a dedicated solution is the best option for your company.
How Do Modern Business Phone Systems Work?
Gone are the days of corporations having large, complex systems made up of physical phone cables. These days, most businesses use internet-connected phones that can make and receive calls over ethernet. These phones use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to send messages, voice and video data over the internet, reducing the need for physical phone hardware.
There are a few different types of business phone systems on the market, but SIP Trunking and Hosted Cloud PBX are the two most popular. These systems both allow you to connect your business phones to the internet, and they typically come with additional features such as video chat, call diagnostics, call queueing and more.
The system you choose depends on:
- The size of your business and the number of phones you need to connect
- Whether you require voice calls or additional features such as messaging and video chat
- Your existing phone infrastructure
- The stability of your internet connection
- Whether you are operating across multiple locations
- The complexity of phone trees and routing
Both Cloud PBX and SIP Trunking can service most business’ needs, but the cost varies depending on your requirements.
SIP Trunking vs Business PBX
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking and Business Private Branch Exchange (PBX) are the two most common types of business phone systems. Both allow your business to make and receive calls over the internet, but they work in very different ways.
SIP Trunking is used to connect your existing phone infrastructure to the internet. SIP Trunking effectively allows businesses to upgrade legacy phone systems for internet connectivity and the versatility of VoIP technology. This type of phone system is best suited to corporations with a large amount of existing infrastructure that would be costly or impractical to upgrade all at once.
Cloud PBX systems generally work in the same way as SIP Trunking, but call routing is handled by a cloud-based server that is hosted by the PBX provider. This means call routing happens offsite, with voice, message and video calls being directed to individual handsets within your business. Cloud PBX is suitable for businesses of every size, and it’s the best way to stay connected with your customers and reduce your hardware expenses.
The Benefits of Cloud-Based Business Phone Systems
Choosing a cloud PBX is the ideal solution for most modern businesses. These systems can be scaled to suit companies with 2 or more employees, and they offer several key benefits:
- Reduced overheads – The biggest benefit of a cloud-based PBX is that it reduces your overall expenses. There’s no need to spend money building and maintaining complex phone systems – the nitty gritty is handled by remote servers for a single monthly fee.
The overall cost of hosted PBX services is often much lower than traditional SIP-PBX or SIP Trunking systems. This is because the service provider can offer phone systems at large scale, which reduces their costs, allowing them to lower their prices without affecting service quality and reliability.
- Low hardware requirements – Hosted PBX systems have very low hardware requirements. In most cases, a PBX is compatible with any IP-enabled handset, mobile phone, tablet, computer or laptop. That makes it easy to keep your staff connected with each other and with customers, so you’ll never miss a critical call.
- Scalability – With a hosted PBX phone system, you typically pay by the number of users. That means you can scale the service up and down at the press of a button. There’s no need to buy additional dedicated hardware – your provider can simply expand your coverage as your business evolves.
- Versatility – Remote work looks like it’s here to stay, and that presents a few problems for keeping staff connected to customers, suppliers and each other. With hosted PBX, there’s no need to use dedicated desktop handsets. Calls can be routed directly to any internet-connected device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
Your PBX provider likely offers a softphone, which is a computer application that allows laptops, tablets and desktop computers to connect to your phone system. Staff can make and receive calls (including messages and video conferencing) from laptops that they can take anywhere in the world!
- Portability – If your staff work offsite frequently, hosted PBX systems and softphones are the best way to stay connected. As long as your staff can connect to the internet, they can be available to make and receive calls.
How Business Phone Systems Work
The modern business world is marked by the need for connectivity. Customers and staff are always online, and they expect you to be as well. There are a few ways of keeping up with this demand, and internet-connected business phone systems are one of the most useful solutions.
The right business phone system can transform the way you operate. By making it possible to stay connected while working remotely, your phone system can increase revenue, improve customer relationships and ensure staff have the tools they need.
In this article we’re going to learn more about how business phone systems work and why a dedicated solution is the best option for your company.
How Do Modern Business Phone Systems Work?
Gone are the days of corporations having large, complex systems made up of physical phone cables. These days, most businesses use internet-connected phones that can make and receive calls over ethernet. These phones use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to send messages, voice and video data over the internet, reducing the need for physical phone hardware.
There are a few different types of business phone systems on the market, but SIP Trunking and Hosted Cloud PBX are the two most popular. These systems both allow you to connect your business phones to the internet, and they typically come with additional features such as video chat, call diagnostics, call queueing and more.
The system you choose depends on:
- The size of your business and the number of phones you need to connect
- Whether you require voice calls or additional features such as messaging and video chat
- Your existing phone infrastructure
- The stability of your internet connection
- Whether you are operating across multiple locations
- The complexity of phone trees and routing
Both Cloud PBX and SIP Trunking can service most business’ needs, but the cost varies depending on your requirements.
SIP Trunking vs Business PBX
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking and Business Private Branch Exchange (PBX) are the two most common types of business phone systems. Both allow your business to make and receive calls over the internet, but they work in very different ways.
SIP Trunking is used to connect your existing phone infrastructure to the internet. SIP Trunking effectively allows businesses to upgrade legacy phone systems for internet connectivity and the versatility of VoIP technology. This type of phone system is best suited to corporations with a large amount of existing infrastructure that would be costly or impractical to upgrade all at once.
Cloud PBX systems generally work in the same way as SIP Trunking, but call routing is handled by a cloud-based server that is hosted by the PBX provider. This means call routing happens offsite, with voice, message and video calls being directed to individual handsets within your business. Cloud PBX is suitable for businesses of every size, and it’s the best way to stay connected with your customers and reduce your hardware expenses.
The Benefits of Cloud-Based Business Phone Systems
Choosing a cloud PBX is the ideal solution for most modern businesses. These systems can be scaled to suit companies with 2 or more employees, and they offer several key benefits:
- Reduced overheads – The biggest benefit of a cloud-based PBX is that it reduces your overall expenses. There’s no need to spend money building and maintaining complex phone systems – the nitty gritty is handled by remote servers for a single monthly fee.
The overall cost of hosted PBX services is often much lower than traditional SIP-PBX or SIP Trunking systems. This is because the service provider can offer phone systems at large scale, which reduces their costs, allowing them to lower their prices without affecting service quality and reliability.
- Low hardware requirements – Hosted PBX systems have very low hardware requirements. In most cases, a PBX is compatible with any IP-enabled handset, mobile phone, tablet, computer or laptop. That makes it easy to keep your staff connected with each other and with customers, so you’ll never miss a critical call.
- Scalability – With a hosted PBX phone system, you typically pay by the number of users. That means you can scale the service up and down at the press of a button. There’s no need to buy additional dedicated hardware – your provider can simply expand your coverage as your business evolves.
- Versatility – Remote work looks like it’s here to stay, and that presents a few problems for keeping staff connected to customers, suppliers and each other. With hosted PBX, there’s no need to use dedicated desktop handsets. Calls can be routed directly to any internet-connected device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
Your PBX provider likely offers a softphone, which is a computer application that allows laptops, tablets and desktop computers to connect to your phone system. Staff can make and receive calls (including messages and video conferencing) from laptops that they can take anywhere in the world!
- Portability – If your staff work offsite frequently, hosted PBX systems and softphones are the best way to stay connected. As long as your staff can connect to the internet, they can be available to make and receive calls.
