Today’s quickly transforming digital landscape is paving the way for more advanced phone systems. Businesses are demanding better systems to meet their needs. As a result, traditional landlines and analog phone systems are no longer a viable option. A hosted PBX phone system is quickly becoming a popular choice for growing businesses.
Simple landlines are difficult to scale. For instance, when adding a new user you typically have to add to your hardware and make extensive changes to your software. Hence, making it more costly and less efficient for your business. Typically analog phone systems have high startup costs due to the onsite hardware and software. Moreover, analog phone solutions require specialized onsite technical personnel. Hence, creating an added expense and draining your bottom line.
In fact, your phone system could be costing you much more than you actually need to pay.
PBX phone systems were first introduced in the late 1990s. Today, they are continuously developing and changing. The business phone industry has migrated from the traditional switchboards and hardwired landlines. As a result, they have shifted to more efficient phone systems using Voice Over Internet(VoIP) and they operate in the cloud.
The benefits of hosted PBX phone systems have attracted businesses like yours. Many are switching over from traditional landlines or other phone services as a result. Firstly, a hosted PBX phone system can greatly help support your business functions and internal communication. Secondly, hosted PBX systems save money and time. Furthermore, hosted PBX phone systems come with a host of advantages that can enhance current business practices and activity.
An Introduction to Hosted PBX Phone System
PBX, which stands for Private Branch Exchange, simply put is a business phone network. It is a great solution for small to medium-sized businesses. A hosted PBX phone system works within your organization to route calls between users. Also, it manages volumes of incoming calls. Imagine doing all that while maintaining a professional image and quality standards. Hosted PBX phone systems are sophisticated and ideal solutions. They scale with your business while saving you money.
Hosted PBX phone systems are maintained and operated through a cloud network. Therefore, there are no infrastructure, equipment, or installation in your office. Hosted PBX providers manage, maintain, and operate your phone system entirely. Hence, reducing the need for any in-house technical expertise or employees.
Since these systems do not require hardwired landlines like traditional phone systems, it also makes an easy phone system to move with. Additionally, it provides a suite of advanced features to support your growing business activity.
Many of these features are discussed below. You would be surprised at how these features can help sustain and grow your business.
How Does Hosted PBX Phone Service Work?
Hosted PBX phone systems are hosted in servers located in offsite data centers. Businesses are provided with their very own user portal or user platform. This platform lets you add and remove features and manage your service. Thus, keeping you completely in control of your phone service. For example, changes are easy to make and often immediate once you update your user portal.
Hosted PBX phone systems operate entirely over a broadband or internet connection. Hence, it is important to have a high-speed connection that meets the minimum requirements. Call a hosted PBX provider to find out about any specific requirements. You can also test your broadband/internet connection speeds through your internet provider or other free services online.
Based on several factors and requirements, a hosted PBX phone system can be configured to suit your business needs.
Important Questions To Consider:
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- Does your business need external lines? Internal extensions?
- Do you need to provide customer service to the public?
- Are you or your employees always on the go? Do you travel a lot and need to answer calls while you travel?
- Do you need to integrate call reports to keep track of calls made/received?
- What features can help enhance your business? For instance, do you need Call Recording, Voicemail to Text, or maybe a Conference Call Bridge?
- Do you need to put customers on hold or reroute to other departments?
- How are calls answered? For example, can you answer calls via a computer or from a desk phone?
- Are you planning on expanding or growing your business? How soon and how fast? What are a few additional features you might need in the future?
All these questions and considerations play an integral role in deciding what type of phone service will best support your business. In addition, it helps determine the various features you require now and in the near future. Based on this, you can select the hosted PBX provider that is best for your business needs.
Remember, different hosted PBX phone service providers offer different solutions at different price points. Always speak to service providers to gain a better understanding before selecting one.
Will a hosted PBX phone system work with my current set-up?
An important consideration to use a hosted PBX phone service is the flexibility of integrating into your current business. Hosted PBX phone systems can work in addition to or completely replace your current phone setup.
Route calls directly to a computer and answered with a headpiece that has a microphone. Choose to answer calls directly on your mobile phone or sent directly to voicemail. Or, answer calls directly through a smartphone app. These apps have the ability to display caller ID, transfer to voicemail, or route to a different number. And, if you choose to keep your existing landline, you can also route calls directly to that number.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways a hosted PBX phone service can work with or integrate with your current business set up. Most businesses switch to hosted PBX services because of its convenience and flexibility.
Hosted PBX versus Traditional PBX
A traditional analog PBX phone system is hosted onsite, in your office. Therefore, it is hardwired into a server stored in a secured box or room in your physical location. It has to be managed and maintained by someone in the office or a third-party contractor. Calls are also often answered by a receptionist or someone who is thereby the phone.
With traditional PBX systems, the additional expense of equipment and hardware still exists. And, you have to consider any changes, additions, and costs to the infrastructure needed for a traditional PBX system. Also, factor in the cost to hire a technical/IT employee just to manage your phone systems.
A hosted PBX system, on the other hand, sends and stores call data via IP (internet protocol) lines via the internet. Since there are no physical equipment and infrastructure requirements, this is an excellent solution for businesses that are in the growth stage. The cloud-based system lets you scale whenever you need it. Hence making it a more robust, flexible phone system for small businesses as they expand.
Virtual businesses and organizations that operate remotely are also great candidates for hosted PBX phone services. These phone systems bridge communication among remote employees and virtual offices. Therefore, your virtual business can enjoy the same professional phone system even though you do not have a physical location.
Hosted PBX Phone Service Features
Hosted PBX systems bring along many advanced call features that support and enhance your business. With traditional phone lines, features are often limited and cost more with each user you add. Hosted PBX phone system providers typically offer a list of features as a package. Additional features are often available at a minimal fee.
Your new phone system has a myriad of great features to support your growing business. Here are several of the most popular features for small businesses.
- Automated Call Attendant/Greeting
- Caller ID
- Call Forwarding/Transfer
- Direct Inward Dialing (DID)
- Music on Hold
- Conference Bridge
- Conference Management
- Click to Call/Web Dial
- Call Screening
- Do Not Disturb
- Call Recording
- Virtual Extensions
- Call Pickup
- Call Queues
- Emergency (911) dialing
- Voicemail
- Voicemail to Text/Email
- CRM Integration
- Mobile Application
- Call Logs
Benefits of Hosted PBX Phone Systems
All these amazing features create a seamless business process. They aim at automating your business’ communication efforts. Along with cost-savings and simple management benefits, there are many more benefits. Hosted PBX phone systems are packaged with a ton of advantages. These benefits support your current business needs and expansion anytime you are ready.
Take a look at what businesses like yours are already experiencing with hosted PBX phone systems.
Mobility and Flexibility
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- Receive and make calls anywhere, anytime
- Support remote employees from any geographical location
- Route calls to any number, change your settings when needed
- Answer and call easily – from your mobile phone, laptop, tablet, computer, or any smart device
Save Money and Increase Revenue
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- Provide better customer service – automate answering incoming calls and routing
- Attend to multiple customers at once – route, hold, forward, and track calls
- Minimal start-up, infrastructure, and equipment costs
- Low cost for international calls
- No in-house technical expertise required
- Variety of features with your package
Streamline Business and Enhance Productivity
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- Stay on top of business – track, maintain and retrieve detailed call logs
- Follow up on progress and key clients – CRM integration
- Generate important reports to monitor call usage and activity
- Record calls for playback and reference
- Never miss a call – monitor, and retrieve call logs, forwarding, and routing for instance
- Manage employees and departments efficiently
Build a Great Company Reputation and Image
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- Customize greeting and voicemail messages
- Local numbers in your area of business
- Portray a professional image – add an automated call attendant and call routing to the right personnel
- Scale your service – grows with your business without downtime or interruptions
Streamline Your Business Communications
A hosted PBX phone service is a great solution for small to medium-size businesses. It provides a service that will grow and expand as you grow. Hosted PBX phone systems offer a variety of value-added features, Moreover, these features integrate seamlessly with your hosted PBX phone system. In addition, your hosted PBX service is professionally managed and maintained. Therefore, requiring no technical know-how or hardware in your office.
Save time and money for your business. Keep a professional public image. Manage and streamline internal processes. Increase productivity as a result. Hosted PBX phone services are the wave of the future for businesses with a growth mentality and an exciting future!
