Small Business Guide: Cloud vs. Traditional VoIP Communication Systems
This article guides small businesses in choosing between traditional and cloud-based VoIP systems. It highlights the features, benefits, and considerations for selecting the ideal communication solution to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and support growth.
Small Business Communication: Choosing Between Cloud and Standard VoIP Solutions
Many new entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that traditional business VoIP and cloud-based VoIP systems are identical. However, their main similarity is reducing call costs. Traditional virtual systems primarily handle automated call answering and recording, suitable for basic needs. In contrast, cloud VoIP offers a comprehensive, professional-grade connection, enhancing business communication.
Selecting a cloud VoIP system for small businesses involves considering several critical factors described below.
Key considerations include:
Designed for accessibility across businesses of all sizes, cloud features ensure easy use for every user.
An integrated Unified Communications (UC) system boosts employee productivity by combining multiple functions into a compact platform.
Cloud phones offer features such as call forwarding, voicemail transcription, hold options, contact synchronization, and conference calling, making communication seamless.
Standard features like auto attendants record general messages for callers, while automated IVRs direct calls efficiently to appropriate staff members.
The softphone option allows employees to transfer calls to their smartphones, ensuring connectivity outside the office and increasing productivity.
Since external hardware setup is unnecessary, ongoing management costs are minimized, saving time and resources.
Organizations can add unlimited extensions, accommodating growth without significant additional expenses.
