The Powerful Benefits of Cloud Communications Your Customers Should Know About

Many forward-thinking companies know that while change can be hard, converting to VoIP and hosted PBX communication platforms is an efficiency that’s necessary for their business. Broken equipment or an office move can accelerate the change along with the following powerful benefits.

Increase Employee and Customer Satisfaction

In less than a decade, cloud communications have become more sophisticated as end-users collaborate in different ways using a variety of methods and devices. Hard-wired phone systems are not adequately equipped to support advanced communications requirements for the modern office.

Cloud communications is proven technology that isn’t limited to a certain company size. It delivers solutions for all companies, from small businesses to large enterprises. And as more companies have remote offices and mobile workers, hosted phone systems can address the need to support a distributed employee base that works on different devices.

For example, VoIP enables employees to work from the office, home or the road using smartphones through a broadband connection. Legacy phone systems don’t offer this flexibility or efficiencies gained by connecting with mobile devices.

For an optimal customer experience, an auto attendant service can keep businesses running 24/7 with a virtual receptionist that greets callers and instantly routes them to mailboxes.

A hosted solution gives businesses access to modern communication applications including conferencing, call recording, automatic call distributor (ACD) and more. It’s capabilities like these that increase a company’s ability to be more efficient, productive and profitable.

Significant Cost Reduction

Maintaining an outdated phone system is expensive due to hardware upgrades, service fees and general maintenance. Cloud communications can drastically reduce costs by eliminating the need for onsite technicians, maintenance fees and surcharges for advanced capabilities.

In hosted systems, you pay one flat monthly user fee, so costs are lower and easier to predict, especially for businesses with multiple offices. And as calls run through the internet, you don’t have to pay for additional equipment to connect workers at home and different locations. Support services also cost less or are non-existent as the system is maintained remotely. Best of all, users gain access to the latest communications technology.

Centralized Control and Application Management

In a hosted communications environment, full integration means businesses don’t need to hire a myriad of disconnected services like video and voice providers. Case in point; Unified Communications combines all professional calling features like voice, presence, chat, data and other applications through a single interface to improve communications and streamline business productivity.  

Scalability At Your Own Pace

Some companies erroneously believe that an on-premise phone system gives them greater capabilities to expand and customize service as they grow. However, the opposite is true. Instead of overinvesting in traditional phone systems to “prepare” for future needs or “save” on future costs, businesses can avoid investment regret altogether. By contracting only the hosted communications services and features they need now, your customers can eliminate the unknown from their purchase decision. As they grow or evolve down the road, they can add or subtract services and applications as needed, empowering them to scale smartly and at their own pace.

Know Your Audience

Many SMBs may be familiar with cloud communications, but using terms like VoIP and SIP trunking may overwhelm them. Industry research reports that  26% of US SMBs still haven't heard of hosted PBX. Become familiar with decision makers in different companies.  For smaller SMBs, the business owner with minimal (or no) IT background may make all the operational decisions. Larger mid-sized companies may have dedicated IT staff that wants to know about the technical details and demands a more sophisticated conversation.

Speaking at the level of the customer is important so they don’t get lost in terminology and can instead focus on the substantial benefits a cloud communications solution can deliver. And don’t forget to ask your prospects and customers about their needs so you can tailor the conversation to their unique circumstance and business. A deep understanding of how you can best help them enables you to have productive, targeted and successful conversations.  

As cloud communications become more mainstream, service providers who can convey the benefits of a hosted environment have an excellent opportunity to drive SMBs to adopt this new platform. Learn more about the benefits of offering cloud communications and how you can become a one-stop-shop for your customers.  

^*http://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/voip-software-smb-buyer-trends-2015/