Summer hits differently when you’re running a business. Half your team is remote, the other half is rotating through PTO, and customers? They’re still calling like it’s peak season.
If you've got a traditional phone system, you're in for a long, hot few months. Because that legacy system can’t flex, route, or follow your people to wherever they’re working.
Thankfully, a cloud PBX phone system can.
Let’s take a look at five ways cloud phone systems can keep your business cool under pressure, even if the thermostat hits 105.
1. Mobile App Access (Take Your Office Poolside, Metaphorically)
There's a golden rule when it comes to remote workers this summer: if it can’t go mobile, it gets left behind.
Traditional systems get left behind. But cloud PBX phone systems? They let teams hit the road and take their office with them (if they want, of course) thanks to their desktop and mobile apps.
These softphone apps, like those offered by Simplicity VoIP, let your teams make and receive calls on their business line right from their preferred device. No more giving out personal cell numbers to customers or managing two phones and a laptop.
All they have to do is download one app, have a steady Wi-Fi signal, and they can take the whole show on the road quickly, easily, and securely.
Why It’s Hot for Summer:
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Functions well on both iOS and Android devices.
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Work calls stay on the work line (and stay professional) even if the employee is 300 miles from their desk.
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Keeps personal numbers private and boundaries intact.
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Easy access to advanced features (video conferencing, voice services, real-time analytics, etc.) keeps response times fast and customers happy.
✅ Summer Tip: Encourage employees enable app notifications and set up answering rules and call routing preferences before heading out. It’s a quick way to avoid missed calls without turning their beach day into a tech support session.
Find out how cloud phone systems can increase productivity and CX no matter the season →
2. Voicemail-to-Email (Because Nobody’s Checking Voicemail by the Grill)
Let’s be real: voicemail is the celery at the BBQ of summer communications. Ignored, outdated, and a little awkward. Enter voicemail-to-email.
Cloud PBX takes voicemails and shoots them straight to your inbox as audio files and transcriptions. That way, your team doesn’t have to dial in just to hear someone mumble a callback number over beach noise.
Why It’s Hot for Summer:
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Staff can check messages during travel, from any device.
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No more “Sorry, I didn’t get your voicemail” excuses.
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It keeps things moving even when people are out of the office.
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Hunting for voicemails is eliminated, helping your team increase productivity slightly.
✅ Summer Tip: Set up shared voicemail boxes for departments with rotating schedules, so nobody drops the ball when Cheryl’s hiking the Appalachian Trail.
3. Status Indicators and Presence Settings (Avoid the “Are You Even Working?” Ping)
In the summer shuffle, visibility gets murky. Is Angela working remotely today? Is Jordan at lunch or just deep in spreadsheet mode? With cloud PBX, those questions get answered.
Hosted PBX systems often come with real-time presence indicators and status settings, taking the guesswork out of team communication. Employees can set their availability manually or sync it with their calendar. Green means go, red means “try someone else,” and custom messages like “back at 3” keep everyone in the loop.
Managers can stop wasting time calling someone who’s off for the day or sending awkward messages that start with “Just following up again...?”
Why It’s Hot for Summer:
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Keeps hybrid and vacation schedules transparent.
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Reduces missed calls, delays, and internal wild goose chases.
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Helps staff collaborate without over-communicating.
✅ Summer Tip: Encourage your team to update their status message on the cloud PBX phone system at the start of each day, especially if they’re working flex hours or traveling.
4. Scalable Extensions (Build the Dream Team, Temporarily)
Some businesses don’t slow down in the summer. Instead, they explode. Think HVAC companies bracing for A/C emergencies or beachside resorts hiring seasonal front desk crews.
These companies engage temporary crews who need phones and fast. With cloud PBX like Simplicity VoIP, you can quickly add or remove users as needed. There's no waiting for specialized hardware to come in or struggling to change long-term contracts. You point, click, and go.
Why It’s Hot for Summer:
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Ideal for industries like hospitality, retail, home services, and tourism.
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Simple to spin up extensions for interns, temps, or rotating shifts.
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Easy to scale down when the season ends, giving you peace of mind and significant cost savings.
✅ Summer Tip: Label summer-only extensions clearly (e.g., “Pool Service Dispatch – Summer”) so you can route calls correctly (and deactivate them correctly) once the season winds down without losing track.
Discover how a cloud PBX phone system can help companies grow year-round →
5. Smart Call Routing and Auto Attendants (Because Humans Need Vacations Too)
Summertime means fewer people in the office and more “OOO until Tuesday” replies. So, who’s picking up the phone when customers call? With cloud PBX phone systems, the answer is: whoever you want, thanks to custom call routing and virtual receptionists (also known as "auto attendants").
Intelligent call routing lets you direct incoming calls to available team members based on time of day, location, or summer schedules. If no one’s free? The cloud PBX platform can automatically forward the call to a backup, voicemail-to-email, or a designated support line. It’s like giving your phone system a playbook for every possible “what if.”
And when live coverage just isn’t possible? That’s where auto attendants step in to offer quick solutions to common questions, such as "When do you open?" and direct callers to the right destination ASAP.
Set these up once, and you’ve got 24/7 coverage, no meltdowns required.
Why It’s Hot for Summer:
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Keeps customers from hitting a dead end when their usual contact is OOO.
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Reduces missed calls, long hold times, and unsuccessful manual call transfers.
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Can easily match new team schedules, hybrid coverage for onsite or remote teams, and more (with just a few tweaks)
✅ Summer Tip: Set up a seasonal greeting, such as “We’re on reduced hours July 1–4,” and adjust routing rules accordingly. It's a small touch that saves big on caller frustration.
Want To Optimize Your Cloud Phone System for Peak Summer Performance? Start Here
Before you go, here are a few best practices to keep your cloud phone system running smoothly while your team soaks up the sun:
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Update holiday greetings in your auto attendant to reflect any closures or summer hours.
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Use call analytics to track peak times and adjust staffing as needed.
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Train staff on mobile features like call transfer, conferencing, and presence updates.
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Rotate phone duty fairly among remote staff using ring groups and schedules.
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Encourage customers to use instant messaging when possible. Many hosted PBX systems support omnichannel tools that lighten your phone traffic.
And, most importantly, test all these features before the 4th of July weekend hits! The last thing you want is your communication tools to buckle under the strain.
Get a Cloud PBX Platform that Keeps You Cool, With Simplicity VoIP
Summer moves fast, and so should your phone system. Simplicity VoIP's cloud PBX is that phone system. This single solution makes it easy to stay connected, no matter who’s working from home, who’s covering shifts, or who’s answering calls from the passenger seat of an RV.
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Need to scale up with seasonal staff?
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Route calls around vacation schedules?
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Give your team mobile access without handing out personal cell numbers?
You can do all of that and more with these essential features from Simplicity.
And, unlike other cloud PBX providers, you'll get white-glove support from actual humans to go along with it.
So, if you're ready to spend less time putting out fires and more time enjoying the season (and enjoying lower costs), explore a summer upgrade plan or request a feature demo today! We've got engineers standing by to help.
