Now that the cloud has become a mainstay in the business world, we’re starting to see the true impact of cloud business communications.
Most companies use the cloud — 91 percent use the public cloud and 72 percent use private cloud solutions. With hardware and software hosted in off-site data centers, in-house IT teams have more time to focus on business-critical tasks, and business leaders can direct more of their IT budget toward new tools and infrastructure advancements. The cloud has basically freed up staff, time, money — and potential.
But when it comes to cloud communication for business, the shift has been even greater. With the cloud, teams can work from anywhere. Productivity increases. And, the reliance on traditional phone systems and expensive hardware is over, making industry-leading business communications accessible to even small companies.
Cloud business communications have turned out to be far more than an option for cutting costs and making scaling easier. It’s shifting the way people work, collaborate, and share information. Let’s dive into the specific ways that the cloud enables business communications.
1. Teams Can Work From Wherever
With the cloud, teams can work from any location that has an internet connection. Cloud phones transmit voice data over the internet, so there’s no need to be connected to a traditional PBX phone system to communicate with customers and partners. Your users can also access your cloud communications platforms from anywhere.
This lets companies — and their employees — decide where they should work from.
Because of the cloud, more businesses are shifting to remote or hybrid work models, which can create a range of benefits, including lower real estate costs, more flexible scheduling, and the ability to tap into a wider talent pool.
2. Data Is More Secure
Before the cloud, data security fell completely on the shoulders of the company. You had to ensure all your hardware and software were maintained, updated, and protected.
With cloud business communications, your cloud provider shoulders some of the burden.
It’s still up to you to protect your devices, provide security training to employees, and follow best practices such as email encryption and multi-factor authentication. However, it’s up to them to secure their data centers and networks.
It’s their job to demonstrate what steps they are taking to ensure security and compliance for their users. When it comes to cloud security, your only task is to be diligent when comparing providers and to make sure you partner with a company that has high standards.
This shared responsibility enables your teams to use advanced communications technology with confidence. You don’t have to limit your business communications to the level of tech your company can afford to manage and secure on its own.
3. Companies Can Better Serve Customers
During the pandemic, a lot of companies moved their contact center agents out of the office. By April 2020, nearly three-quarters of contact center agents were working remotely versus about 59 percent pre-pandemic. The quick switch to a work-from-home model was possible because of cloud technology.
Cloud-based contact center platforms enable agents to offer the same level of service, whether they are working remotely or not. In addition to this flexibility, contact center as a service (CCaaS) solutions offer advanced reporting and analytical tools that help contact centers work more efficiently. With clear insights into call queues, customer experience, and wait times, managers and agents have the tools they need to improve customer service.
The potential for outstanding experiences is in the hands of even small businesses, thanks to the cloud.
4. Cloud Business Communications Boost Productivity
Being able to work from anywhere and on any device is also helping to boost productivity. With cloud communication tools such as video conferencing and UCaaS (unified communications as a service), co-workers can connect virtually. They can also share files in real-time and collaborate on projects as if they were physically together.
The cloud also enables employees to connect using their own devices. This can help them be focused and productive at the times that work best for them, rather than only working when in the office and using company devices.
Additionally, cloud platforms can integrate with other business applications, syncing data and simplifying work processes. Employees can access customer information, analytical insights, and other data without having to jump to different applications. This saves time and reduces employee errors.
5. Cloud Technology Is More Reliable
Another way that the cloud enables better business communications is through performance. As long as you work with a provider that guarantees near-flawless uptime, your teams don’t have to worry about reliability issues. Look for a provider that offers a 99.999% uptime guarantee in their service level agreement and say goodbye to business downtime.
Empower Your Teams with Cloud Communications
The cloud has revolutionized business technology. But no area has been more profoundly transformed as much as business communications. With cloud communications, the office has become obsolete, high-level security and compliance aren’t just possible, they’re streamlined, and even low-budget companies can access powerful communications tools.
The best part is, migrating to the cloud and getting started with leading-edge cloud business communications is simple. There’s no need for months of planning. No large IT budget is required. Just reach out to the team at Intermedia today and let us know what your cloud communication needs are. From cloud phones to integrated communication platforms, we’ll help you thrive with the cloud.
The Intermedia Team
Intermedia helps businesses of all sizes connect better – through voice, video conferencing, chat, contact center, business email and productivity, file sharing and backup, security, archiving, and more – from wherever, whenever. And, as a partner-first company, Intermedia goes to work for our channel partners to help them grow their revenue and maximize their success.
April 11, 2022
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