According to Accenture, 50% of corporate data is already stored in the cloud, and that number should continue to grow. It’s no wonder, then, that cloud-based communications have also risen in popularity.
Cloud communications are an excellent alternative to traditional private switch telephone networks (PTSNs). The cloud offers many advantages over PTSNs, including cost savings, scalability, and flexibility. Here’s a list of the top ten reasons to move your communications to the cloud.
#1. Reduced Costs
With cloud communications, businesses and organizations are charged on an “as needed” basis and are charged only for what they use. This eliminates upfront costs related to the installation, configuration, and maintenance of a traditional system, so large capital investments can be avoided.
IT costs are also minimized due to the accessibility and simplicity of cloud-based service. Because you are charged on an “as needed” basis, there is no need to estimate capacity. Organizations can adjust capacity as they go and eliminate unnecessary hardware and bulky on-premise equipment.
#2. Fast Deployment
Cloud-based solutions are time efficient and can deploy in as little as one day and at most, a few weeks. On-premise solutions can take months to deploy. Businesses and organizations also have on-demand access to IT resources, which is crucial for keeping up with competitors, saving employees and customers valuable time, and staying up to date on the rapidly changing dynamics of the industry. In the cloud, almost everything you could need is available on demand.
#3. Improved Efficiency
Cloud-based solutions offer many features and functions to help organizations operate as smoothly as possible, as well as access to efficiency-enhancing apps that are often paid through a fixed monthly subscription.
With cloud-based services, businesses can access and add new features without any new hardware additions or requirements. Productivity can skyrocket; communication often improves dramatically among business, customers, and employees; and all resources are maximized to make for the best environment for employees and clients.
#4. Greater Mobility
Using a cloud communication system, employees can effectively work remotely from anywhere, while still performing and operating as if they were all in the same physical location.
Cloud interfaces allow employees to talk, connect, or collaborate at any time or at the same time on one simple platform. This benefit not only improves productivity, but it can also give a company access to more qualified and experienced employees, regardless of geographical location. The result? Improved customer service and satisfaction alongside reduced costs.
#5. Scalability
Traditional on-premises systems can be extremely difficult to move or expand. They also can be difficult to adapt to any future challenges or changes. Cloud systems offer the ability to quickly scale both general user and contact-center infrastructure capacity upon demand without running up further costs and time-consuming tasks.
Organizations can also scale rapidly when demand rises by using auto-scaling functionality and flexible data management services. The cloud offers the flexibility and scalability needed to adjust as the business moves, grows, or downsizes, and provides access to new updates or features without the requirement of new physical hardware.
#6. Easier Integration & Customization
Organizations using the cloud can integrate new acquisitions to existing platforms more easily and collaborate with other client applications as well. Businesses and organizations can customize the tools that can be best utilized for their company, employees, and customers. They will have access to all of the latest upgrades, communication platforms, applications, development tools. This can boost productivity, revenue, and limit stress or tedious tasks so often required by more traditional hardware, software, and on-premise solutions.
#7. More Effective Management
Managers now will have easier and quicker access to different content they need to operate more effectively. Cloud-based services create more space for self-sufficiency without relying heavily on IT departments. Communication-related IT support is now outsourced to the communications provider, while management can make proper use of analytics programs, allowing them greater oversight of business operations.
#8. More Freedom for IT
IT roles are adjusted positively with the help of cloud-based communication services. IT departments can now focus on how to support business goals, instead of monitoring small or tedious tasks that can now be addressed by functional managers. Cloud-based services allow IT staff to manage the system more efficiently and can also be employed from anywhere by using the cloud.
The infrastructure can be remotely accessed by an IT employee or department and fixed virtually. There is no need to stop working, take the hardware in somewhere, or have someone come into the office to fix the problems. By using the cloud, IT staff, time, energy, and resources are utilized to the best of their abilities.
#9. Better Security
With modern technological advancements, security is a growing concern among organizations and individuals. Cloud communication providers specialize in maintaining security for their clients, retaining and protecting data with their own significant resources. Data and its security are monitored by well-trained staff who have been educated in security protocols and best practices.
This means malicious hacking attempts can be stopped long before perpetrators access the data stored within the cloud. The cloud allows organizations to implement rigorous security policies, governance, and compliance guardrails needed for their particular operations.
#10. Automatic System Updates
Businesses and organizations can make the most out of these technologies and improve business performance, time efficiency, and customer service and satisfaction while limiting costs. This cloud-based communication software is maximizing benefits and improving the accessibility of content.
By using the cloud as your home for data, content, and communications, you are using the platform as a service. This service provides automatic software updates, which guarantee that the technology will not become outdated or fall behind in the latest technological advancements. The communications system is changing with time and allows the business or organization to stay focused on other, more important tasks.
Education Is Key to a Successful Transition
To make the move to the cloud go more smoothly, preparation is key. Educate employees on the structure of the cloud and the type of move you are making. Proper training goes a long way toward an easier transition.
If the move is simple, like just emails, then a quick notice will suffice. If the move is more complex, then taking the time to educate employees on the new communication system is vital.
- Data access: Make sure employees know how to consume and access the content they need that will be stored in the cloud. With an on-premise system, data often “lives” behind the company’s firewall. With the cloud, there may be separate logins or multiple authentications needed to handle and access content stored within the cloud.
- Security: In addition to ensuring that employees know how to access everything, also make sure that they understand why there are extra steps or security measures. It’s also a good idea to review basic security topics such as how to spot a vishing scam.
- New features: It’s also vital to focus on the features that help make employees more productive. The option to share content seamlessly among team members is certainly beneficial. But without the proper training, some employees might feel overwhelmed and fail to adopt new technology--reducing the potential benefits.
Communication with employees is key to the success of the cloud system within your organization. It is “future proof” and allows the business to grow with the times and constantly update to the newest technological advancement or update. With proper communication and training, the cloud is super effective and efficient, offering many benefits for both the company and its employees.
Thinking about moving your communications to the cloud? Check out this quick guide that explains the three important decisions to make.
