Why Cloud-hosted VoIP is perfect for growing companies and startups

If your growing company or startup operates in several geographic locations – or if your business has a virtual headquarters with remote employees, for example, that travel extensively – then using a cloud-hosted PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is the perfect choice for consolidating your team’s phone extensions under one system.

Even if you only have one site, you can still achieve great flexibility when it comes to adding or removing extensions, when a cloud-hosted PBX provider is dedicated to servicing your PBX. A cloud-hosted PBX provider is also responsible for making sure that you are able to make calls uninterrupted in the event of a partial communications outage, and they regularly back up their systems to protect yours. This results in welcomed peace of mind for companies with no technical staff — and gives you a reliable business continuity advantage.

Lastly, the greatest benefit of using a cloud-hosted PBX may well be the cost savings. Industry analysts estimate that setting up a hosted PBX solution costs up to 70% less than implementing one in-house PBX – and with far less headaches to install, maintain and upgrade costly equipment.

Why Small Companies Might Want to Avoid Traditional, On-Premise PBXs

Small to mid-size companies usually don’t have dedicated IT staff in full time positions. When you are the one in charge, the responsibility and maintenance of the phone system rests on your shoulders, and an in-house PBX doesn’t manage itself. If this kind of administration is your forte, then you are likely to do fine with it, but for many, the challenge of maintaining and installing extensions is prohibitively complex.

An easy solution would be to hire someone to manage your in-house PBX, but even this plan of attack may prove to be infeasible monetarily. Overall budget challenges may, in fact be the strongest downside when it comes to hosting your own PBX on site. You’ll incur higher initial equipment charges and setup costs than you would with a cloud-hosted system, and you are stuck with annual maintenance and software upgrades. Additionally, you need physical space for the equipment while keeping it powered and physically secure. This creates ongoing business continuity responsibilities that are averted when you employ a cloud-hosted solution.

What are some common scenarios where companies should really consider Cloud-hosted VoIP?

• Startup companies that have 1-5 employees who work virtually or are decentralized with plans to grow quickly up to 50+ employees
• Companies that have work-from-home sales staff, account representatives, or branch offices they need to setup outside of their main headquarters
• Retail, Salon, Spa, Healthcare and Dentist offices with multiple locations spread across a metropolitan demographic
• Small to mid-size companies that need to scale quickly and have no dedicated IT staff to administer on-premise telephone systems
• Professional services firms, such as Accounting, Law, Engineering, Architectural and Design firms who have multiple office locations within a region or state.