It’s no surprise to hear that cloud-based PBX phone systems have become increasingly popular. The flexibility to add users and features to a powerful phone system is particularly appealing to businesses around the globe. For internal and external communications, all of the features and tools you need are available without having to install or maintain any physical hardware. This blog explores the rise in popularity of cloud-based systems and the main benefits of cloud PBX.
What is Cloud PBX?
Cloud telephony may also be referred to as cloud calling. It is a type of unified communications as a service (UCaaS) that offers voice communications through a third-party host. Cloud telephony services can be web- or applications-based. UCaaS replaces the need for conventional enterprise telephone systems, such as the private branch exchange (PBX). Source
The rise in popularity of cloud-based collaboration software
The reliance on cloud-based team collaboration software has grown rapidly in recent years, with many enterprises relying on these applications to keep dispersed teams connected and communicating. Cloud solutions can significantly reduce operational complexity and costs. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated organizations worldwide to rely on collaboration software as a communications platform for their remote workers.
Traditional PBX versus Cloud-based PBX
The traditional PBX typically requires a physical set of hardware and phone lines on the premises of an organization. PBX’s were created to allow businesses to make internal calls between employees without having to use the public telephone network.
Cloud PBX, (a.k.a. ‘cloud phone system’, ‘hosted PBX’, or ‘hosted phone system’) is a VoIP phone system hosted as a cloud service. It is delivered entirely over the internet and managed completely off-site. Upfront investments in telecommunications infrastructure are significantly reduced. (Yeastar)
Benefits of Cloud-based PBX:
Here are six reasons why cloud-PBX is more appealing than traditional PBX:
- Cost-effective
Most cloud-based phone systems allow organizations to operate on a ‘pay as you need basis’. These models allow you to pay only for what you need at the time of purchase. Advanced features and user licenses can be added as needed. This allows a business to make significant cost savings as they don’t have to purchase unnecessary equipment or hardware for their employees. - No expensive hardware installation
Because a hosted PBX system is provided as a service, you don’t have to purchase any expensive physical hardware. The only equipment you may need is VoIP-enabled desktop phones. Most providers offer online portals through which you can manage your phone lines, updates, and maintenance needs.
- More secure
Because all of your information is in the cloud, your system should experience little or no downtime in the event of an issue. - Virtually maintenance-free
With traditional PBX, all of the infrastructure is physical. Phone lines are required for every handset. It also means you need a telecoms expert to perform maintenance and upgrades on a regular basis, which can end up being costly. With cloud-based PBX, system updates, network routing, adjusting VoIP codecs, etc., can all be handled by the hosted provider remotely, in the cloud.
- More reliable, depending on internet speed
Cloud PBX calls are conducted over the internet. Voice quality is as strong as your internet connection. However, if an organization or individual user doesn’t have access to high-speed internet, has a poor internet connection, or cannot properly secure a connection, then cloud PBX may bring some frustrations. - Wider geographic reach
With telephone conversations taking place over the internet, expensive international calling fees are virtually eliminated.
Unified Communications and the move to cloud PBX
The majority of the world’s leading UC providers have fully embraced cloud PBX. The need for on-premises PBX equipment and regional carrier relationships are eliminated, thereby reducing complexity and costs.
For UC providers, it is paramount that they are able to provide their customers with a premium communications experience. Excellent voice quality is essential to that experience. In order to get to the root cause of any issue, a UC provider needs to be able to analyze the entire call journey to test for connectivity and voice quality. At times they also need supporting data to hold their carriers and network partners accountable.
Spearline’s toolset is an ideal fit for cloud PBX
Spearline’s testing solution works in two parts:
We dial into the cloud calling number provided from within the target country. The call is delivered to the cloud PBX and then directed to a subscriber. Once a connection is established, the call connects to a voicemail option where the Spearline test prompt is located. This allows us to monitor call connectivity and capture voice quality.
A PESQ score (Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality) is then provided. PESQ is the ITU-standard for measuring audio quality. With PESQ, audio quality on a cloud-based call can be assessed to an agreed international standard; there’s no ambiguity, so organizations can be confident that they know for certain how their voice services are performing at any point in time across the globe.
Find out more
If you are interested in finding out more about our cloud-PBX testing solution and how it can benefit your organization, please get in touch with your Spearline Customer Engagement Manager.
New to Spearline?
Spearline is the leading network intelligence company in the telecommunications industry. Our platform enables enterprises and telecommunications service providers to test connectivity and quality on global telecoms networks, testing automatically at volume. If you are interested in benefiting from our platform, please get in touch with us.
