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Category: Business Voice/UC

  • 6 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs Cloud Communications Solutions

    Modernizing your small business phone system with cloud communications solutions can provide numerous benefits for your business: saving money, improving collaboration, streamlining your operations, improving call quality, and more.

    As a small business owner, you’re always looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition and keep your team productive, all while keeping costs under control. One area that’s often overlooked, but is critical to your success, is your communication system. On-premises phone systems can be very limiting, especially given the rapid adoption of remote and hybrid work models. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 6 reasons why you should consider making the switch from on-prem to cloud communications solutions.

    1. Save Money:
      Cloud communications solutions eliminate the need for expensive hardware and maintenance costs, allowing you to save money on setup and maintenance.
    2. Flexibility:
      Cloud communications solutions offer the flexibility and scalability needed to keep up with the changing needs of your business. You can easily scale up or down as your business needs change, without having to invest in new hardware or software.
    3. Collaboration:
      With cloud communications solutions, your team can communicate and collaborate in real time, no matter where they are located. You can also access your communication tools from any device, whether it’s a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
    4. Streamlined Operations:
      Cloud-based IVR (Interactive Voice Response) can automate your inbound call-handling process, allowing your team to focus on more complex tasks. This can help you streamline your operations while improving your customers’ experience.
    5. Remote Collaboration:
      Cloud-based video conference solutions can provide high-quality video and audio, as well as screen sharing and other collaboration tools. This can help your team stay connected and collaborate effectively, no matter where they are located.
    6. Better Call Quality:
      Cloud-based VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) solutions provide high-quality call quality, even in areas with poor network coverage. This can help you stay connected with your customers and provide better service.

    Modernizing your small business phone system with cloud communications solutions can provide numerous benefits for your business. Whether you’re looking to save money, improve collaboration, streamline your operations, or improve call quality, there’s a cloud-based solution that can help. So, if you’re still using an on-premises phone system, it’s time to consider making the switch to the cloud!

  • 4 Clever Ways to Reduce Costs with Unified Communications

    4 Clever Ways to Reduce Costs with Unified Communications

     

    Because of the cost of unified communications (UC) and the opportunity for financial savings that it brings, using UC is a smart decision for most organizations. The reality is that switching to a cloud communications system and adopting UC costs less than using a traditional telephony system.

    According to Jose Pastor, former senior vice president of product management at RingCentral, organizations can save tens of thousands of dollars with unified communications.

    If you’re thinking of investing in unified communications, you’ll probably save a lot of money, especially in the long term.

    But before you invest, you should do your research and perform a cost-benefit analysis for your business. That’s the only way you can assess the value that it can bring to your organization.

    You also want to know what strategies you can use to minimize your costs so you can maximize your benefits.

    Let’s look at the ways your business can save with UC so you have the information you need to perform a unified communications cost-benefit analysis and make an informed purchasing decision.

    The Case for Unified Communications

    Businesses of all sizes are implementing unified communications, most of which are either using the cloud or are planning on moving to the cloud soon. The global market for UC is expected to exceed $234 billion in 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20 percent over the next few years.

    Why the massive growth?

    UC is a necessary communications tool for hybrid work, which is becoming the norm post-pandemic. It also offers tools that empower businesses to enhance the customer experience.

    But one of the biggest drivers of adoption is the ability to save money.

    4 Ways to Save Money with Unified Communications

    With a cloud-based unified communications solution, you can minimize your IT and operating costs, simplify your technology stack, and save on your phone bill.

    Here are the ways you can reduce costs when you invest in unified communications and clever ways to optimize those savings.

    1. Lower Upfront Costs

    With unified communications, you can use a cloud phone system, which means voice data transmits over the internet rather than phone lines. Instead of paying for all the hardware and maintenance costs of a traditional PBX phone system, you can get started with a mobile app downloaded onto your devices and a subscription licensing fee.

    How to reduce your costs: Don’t purchase cloud phones for all your users. Pre-configured desktop phones are useful because they offer the same features as modern business phones. But, with UC, you already have a lot of functionality within your software.

    Decide which employees need a desk phone – everyone else can enjoy all the features and security benefits of your unified communications solution through the app. They can place calls, host or join a video conference, share files, and more from their laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

    2. Fewer Communications Apps

    Because you have voice, video conferencing, chat messaging, and file sharing all rolled up into one platform, you aren’t paying multiple vendors. This can lead to significant cost savings. One study found that using a single vendor results in a 56 percent lower total cost of ownership versus using a multi-vendor approach.

    How to reduce your costs: When choosing a unified communications provider, look for a vendor that offers all the communications tools your business will need so you aren’t paying multiple vendors. If you want contact center functionality, make sure your vendor has Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS). You should also be able to integrate your tools so your data updates across platforms. That will make using your software seamless for users, which can boost productivity and lead to even greater benefits.

    3. Smaller Phone Bill

    You’ll also see lower costs with unified communications through a better rate per line and reduced long-distance calling costs.

    Businesses that use cloud phone systems save money each month on their phone bill. When NTELogic compared what other phone companies were charging, we found that most of our customers were paying about 50 percent less with us. Other phone companies charge about $67 per line, while NTELogic’s hosted phone users pay a fraction of that.

    How to reduce your costs: Choose a cloud-based unified communications system instead of an on-premises solution. That way you can take advantage of the immense savings that come with a cloud phone system. You’ll have a smaller phone bill and never have to worry about downtime for app updates – your cloud provider automatically updates the software.

    4. Increased Productivity and Less Employee Recruitment

    When you empower your teams with user-friendly, full-featured software, they have the tools they need to work more efficiently. Additionally, with UCaaS, your staff can be productive from anywhere.

    Your employees are going to be more productive and more satisfied with their job when they have technology that makes work more flexible and seamless, which means your company will probably spend less on recruitment and training over time.

    How to reduce your costs: Choose a provider with excellent customer support and reliability. That way your employees will have the best experience possible, technical support will be there when you need it for fast problem-solving, and you don’t have to worry about issues with downtime.

    Optimize Your Unified Communications Costs by Choosing the Right Provider

    Cloud communications is a popular business tool because businesses end up saving money when they switch from their legacy phone systems. But, you can optimize those savings if you choose the right cloud provider.

    Contact us today to learn how easy it is to make the move to UCaaS.

  • Got Questions About UcaaS? We Have Answers

    For organizations looking for ways to increase flexibility and resilience with cloud technology, a unified communications solution is often the first step. With UCaaS, teams can stay productive, engaged, and connected, whether they are working from home, in the office, or on the go. Before adopting any new technology, however, it’s important to learn as much as you can about how it works, what it can and cannot do, and potential challenges. We’ve put together this list of UCaaS questions and answers to help you start the research process.

    What Is UCaaS?

    UCaaS, or unified communications as a service, is a cloud communications solution that offers all the main types of business communications from one platform. Users can access everything from one app.

    What Features Are Included?

    This is something that can vary a lot between cloud providers, so be sure to do your homework and ensure the platform you use has everything you need. Often, UCaaS comes with video, voice, chat, and file sharing,

    You’ll also want to look at the more granular details such as advanced voice features like voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID, as well as a contact center solution to power your customer success. Other details to look for include rich video conferencing features, including interactive presentation tools, screen sharing, and HD video, and a real-time backup and restore function for your file management.

    What Do Users Need to Access the Technology?

    As a cloud solution, users simply need to download the application to their device and log in to the platform to get started. Your employees can chat with co-workers, launch video meetings, share files, and more from any location as long as they have an internet connection.

    The software is hosted on secure off-site servers, so there’s no need for on-site hardware, nor for extra IT resources to manage and maintain the technology. You can, however, purchase specific hardware such as desk phones, headsets, and webcams to work with your technology.

    Does My Company Need a New Phone System to Make UCaaS Work?

    UCaaS relies on VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology. This means voice data is transmitted over the internet, so there’s no need to have a traditional phone line to make and receive calls. In fact, this is one of the largest draws of cloud phone systems – your business can likely save on your phone bill by switching from a traditional phone system to VoIP technology.

    Can Employees Use Desk Phones Through the UC Platform?

    Yes, they can! You can use feature-rich desk VoIP phones to make and receive calls, send messages, and more, all through the same unified communications app you have on your computer, mobile phone, or other devices. These desk phones are plug-and-play, so you can set them up yourself right away.

    Is Communicating Through a UC App Secure?

    As with any type of cloud technology, security can be a big concern. To ensure your teams can use your UCaaS solution with confidence, it is important to inquire about the security practices your cloud provider uses.

    Your provider should be able to explain how they offer a worry-free experience. Here are some of the security best practices to expect from your cloud services provider:

    • Third-party audits to validate their security controls
    • Adherence to all applicable compliance standards such as HIPAA and PCI-DSS
    • Advanced encryption for email services
    • Ongoing network monitoring and detection
    • Highly secure data centers with security guards, controlled access, and 24/7 monitoring
    • Rigorous background checks for employees

    How Can UCaaS Increase Productivity?

    With a unified solution, employees no longer have to juggle between applications for communication and collaboration. This prevents workers from losing focus every time they have to switch apps, while also saving time overall by making everyday tasks like sending an email or sharing a file more efficient.

    Also, a lot of UCaaS solutions integrate with common business applications. This streamlines workflows even more. And, because users can log in from wherever, work tasks don’t have to wait for someone to return to the office.

    What Does the Onboarding Process Look Like?

    Unlike onboarding for on-premises platforms, onboarding for UCaaS is refreshingly simple with the right provider. Keep in mind, however, if your provider tells you to do the migration yourself, you may run into more complexity.

    For the best onboarding process, work with a cloud provider that moves your IT to the cloud for you at no extra cost. This way, your users can get started with minimal interruption.

    How Reliable Is UCaaS?

    Reliability is critical. If your software doesn’t work for your teams, you could run into problems with productivity and employee frustration. To ensure the UCaaS solution you adopt will perform, look for, at least, 99.99% service reliability and accessible technical support.

    How Much Does UCaaS Cost?

    One of the huge benefits of UCaaS technology is its affordability. Because it uses a subscription-based payment model, there’s no need to make a large IT investment to get started. You pay for the number of users you need.

    You can also scale up or down by adding or subtracting users. To enjoy the cost-efficiency benefits, look for a provider that offers transparent, flexible pricing and doesn’t require a contract.

    Start Benefiting with a Leading UCaaS Solution

    Whether you want to save money with cloud-based communications, unlock your teams’ potential, boost resilience, or all of the above, UCaaS can be game-changing for SMBs. Elevate from NTELogic is a comprehensive unified communications platform that comes with all the features your business needs to thrive. Reach out to our team today for a quote.

  • Unified Communications for Small Business: 6 Features to Seek Out

    Communication and collaboration are critical to any business. Enabling your employees to do both of these effectively requires the right tools. Unified communications provide small businesses with everything they need. If you are considering switching to a new platform, it’s important to define what features matter most to you. Let’s take a look at the top ones you should seek out.

    The Small Business Communication and Collaboration Challenge

    Small businesses typically pursue strategies based on efficiency and productivity. They know they need to operate lean to find success. These businesses often have distributed teams, even more so now with the transition to remote work. Because teams are not in a central space and cannot interact with partners and clients in person, the demand for communication and collaboration tools is skyrocketing.

    The problem that many small businesses face is using multiple platforms for chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. If tools are in silos, teams may be as well. With the rise of cloud-based unified communications, small businesses can now afford integrated solutions that enhance communication and collaboration.

    Choosing Unified Communications for Small Business: Must-Have Features

    Your small business should consider unified communications to resolve the use of disparate systems, save money, and improve workflows. When comparing offerings, there are some must-have features you should include.

    Ability to Scale

    Every business has growth aspirations. As you add team members, you’ll need to consider how your technology can scale. It should be easy and straightforward. Unified communications platforms provide you with this control. Ideally, you want to be able to add users in a few clicks. Be sure to inquire about this when comparing providers.

    Support for Business Continuity

    Business continuity is vital for any organization. Natural disasters or other disruptions can put your company at risk if communication systems aren’t available. Unified communications helps support business continuity. The system can ring all endpoints for every call. If no one answers, you can route calls to a number of your choosing, including mobile or an automated attendant.

    Cloud-Based Phones

    Unified communications frees your staff to answer and receive calls from anywhere via VoIP (voice over IP). Employees can take calls from their desktop computer or mobile phone. You’ll experience the same call quality, no matter where you are. Cloud-based phone systems also streamline management from a single web-based portal. You’ll enjoy all the features of any standard business phone, including voicemail to email, hold and park, transferring calls, and call recording.

    Call Analytics

    Measuring the performance of sales and customer support is possible with call analytics. You can track the usage of your teams through reporting. These reports help you analyze the efficiency of your teams and the quality of the engagement with customers. If phone calls are a medium for your sales and support teams, this is a feature you absolutely need.

    Video Conferencing That’s Secure and Easy to Deploy

    Video conferencing has never been more necessary in the business world. It offers your team the ability to connect when in-person meetings aren’t feasible meaningfully. While many unified communications platforms include video conferencing, they aren’t all the same. It’s especially important to determine the security of the system to ensure privacy and compliance.

    It should also be easy to deploy. It shouldn’t require your team to sit through hours of training or download lots of applications. A browser-based solution means users can start meetings with a click and work from any device.

    File Backup and Collaboration from Anywhere

    Having a secure, accessible repository for documents is paramount to simplifying collaboration. Your team members can work together on a document, even editing at the same time. This functionality eliminates the need to email back and forth with multiple versions of a document. Unified communications allows you to achieve the next level of collaboration, and users can have access from anywhere.

    Security is also a factor with a file repository. Advanced security technology should keep files safe. Backup of those files automatically also means you can recover them quickly in the case of a ransomware attack or other data loss incident.

    Enable Better Communication and Collaboration with Unified Communications

    Unified communications is a smart, reliable toolkit for any small business. Your team will have all the resources it needs to communicate and collaborate, all on one platform. As you search for the right solution, keep in mind these must-have features.

    Elevate by NTELogic offers all of these and so much more.