What is a Cloud-Based Phone System?

Hand holding phone with cloud symbol

In the modern-day, cloud-based phone systems are becoming a far more efficient and commonly used tool by businesses. Integrating this technology within your organization can improve call speed, functionality, and overall costs. Read more to learn about what a cloud-based phone system is and how your business can best optimize this technology.

The Basics of a Cloud-Based Phone System

In short, a cloud phone system allows a person to make a phone call using an internet connection rather than a traditional analog phone call. Talking through a cloud-based phone system is known as using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP for short), meaning all you need is a strong Internet connection and a VoIP provider.

How do cloud-based phone systems work?

While some modern phones may be capable of connecting to the Internet via the VoIP mentioned earlier, take the phone service further. Your call and, by extension, your voice are broken up into tiny bits of data that are sent through a personal or business phone system over the Internet to the recipient. To take advantage of this system, all a user needs is something that connects to the Internet, such as:

  • A smartphone capable of downloading apps and talking to others
  • A computer with “speaking software” such as Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, and more
  • Traditional phones that use a VoIP plug-in adaptor

Whether you are looking to integrate cloud-based phone systems at your large or small business for customer relationship management (CRM) purposes or simply to save costs, there are many benefits.

What are the benefits of a cloud-based phone system?

While analog phones can be limited in their capabilities, cloud-based phone systems are far more intuitive. A VoIP phone that utilizes a private branch exchange (also known as a PBX system) to connect to the cloud via an Internet connection supersedes a traditional phone system by offering the following advanced features and more:

  • Audio attendant: This is the automated voice you often hear when calling a business phone number that is responsible for routing calls to the correct extension
  • Instant messaging: Your business can integrate real-time text messaging and other forms of messaging using cloud-based phone functionality
  • Voicemail-to-email: One possible technology to integrate with your new desk phone setup is the ability to automatically transcribe a voicemail into an email message
  • Unified communications: Whether storing files, sending a text, video conferencing, or something more, the cloud can keep all your business communications in one place

Should you move your company to a cloud-based phone system?

At the end of the day, business is about scalability and consistent growth. As part of this objective, it’s crucial that your business modernizes to meet customer expectations. After all, a landline won’t allow customers to potentially complete their reason for calling without ever needing to talk with a real person. Not to mention the fact that pricing for cloud-based phones is far cheaper considering they utilize the Internet and can potentially be bundled with existing cloud solutions your business uses.

If you don’t have any cloud communication at your organization, reaching out to eligible VoIP providers to set up data centers is a breeze. All companies should emphasize upgrading the technology used in their organizations, and cloud-based phones are no exception.

Modernize your organization today

For real-time updates from your customers, cost-saving measures, and overall technology upgrades, consider updating your business phones to cloud-based technology today. As part of a larger goal of modernizing your business, cloud-based phone integration can be one of the most prominent steps for your organization. If your business is in Columbus, Cleveland, or Akron, and you’re ready to learn how to update your business with this technology, get in touch with us here at Warwick today.