What is cloud telephony?

Cloud telephony, sometimes called cloud-based telephony or hosted telephony, enables businesses to make and receive telephone calls over the internet, using a cloud computing infrastructure. In doing so, it removes the need for traditional on-premises telephone systems and physical phone lines.

With cloud telephony, voice data is transmitted digitally over the internet. The cloud telephone provider is responsible for hosting the requisite hardware and software in the cloud and usually offers its services as a subscription.

How the cloud telephony landscape changed with Covid

Pre-Covid, Cloud telephony was the sole domain of multinationals and tech companies. But, back then, the value for smaller businesses simply wasn’t there. Working from home was more the exception than the rule. As such, the office wasn’t geared up to support home workers. The handful of employees that didn’t work in the office were equipped with company mobiles so they could still be reachable with a consistent contact number.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, employees were encouraged to work from home. However, for many businesses, the infrastructure wasn’t there. People were calling their company contacts or colleagues on the company phone and were either patched through to a mobile number or emailed a message and then had to wait for a return call. Not a seamless process by any account.

Covid came and went, but the home working, for many businesses, remained. Businesses enjoyed the lower rent for reduced office space and employees appreciated the greater flexibility and enhanced simplicity of having less geographical distance between their home life and work life. While some have now gone back to the office, many haven’t and employers have resolved that flexible working, home working or hybrid working are here to stay. And the benefit of cloud telephony that can be easily managed, easily administered, and easily scaled has become much more apparent.

How cloud telephony makes modern working possible

The benefits of cloud telephony

  • The system is virtual

Businesses no longer need giant switchboards, as cloud telephony is operated entirely in the cloud and can be easily managed through a web-based interface or a mobile app.

  • Cloud telephony is easily scalable

Without the need for hardware, businesses can quickly and easily scale up the cloud telephony service they require, when they need to, and scale back just as easily in periods of cost-cutting.

  • A cost-effective telephone system

Because there’s no need for costly telephone units and switchboards, the cost of expanding can be spread easily in more manageable subscription payments.

  • Flexibility for the modern working world

Because calls can be made through the internet, employees can place or receive calls wherever they are, from the same office number, ensuring continuity and professionalism designed for the modern working world.

  • Integration for modern service provision

Cloud telephony can integrate with other systems and processes to make your office communications even easier. Features may include interactive voice response, call forwarding, call recording, voice-to-email and virtual phone numbers to name just a few.

  • Reliable communications 24/7

Service providers tend to use multiple data centres to deliver high availability and high reliability at all times. And when things go wrong, the service provider is responsible for sorting it out!

For more information on choosing the right cloud telephony system for your needs, visit our website Telecoms – ASL Group (asl-group.co.uk) or contact us on 0345 207 7000.