There are clouds, and then there is the cloud.

The first are dreamy things we used to imagine were alligators and castles. The latter is the technology that is revolutionising the way we work, allowing businesses everywhere to be more mobile and efficient.

‘The cloud’ means services and programmes are made available to users via the internet from a cloud computing provider’s servers, as opposed to being provided from a company’s own servers.  Cloud services are designed to provide easy, scalable access to applications, software and resources, and are fully managed by the provider—so the company (or individual user) needn’t do anything but use them.

You are probably familiar with cloud-based CRM systems, music, or document and calendar sharing—Salesforce, iCloud, Soundcloud, Microsoft OneDrive, etc.  But did you know your business phone system can also be hosted in the cloud?

A cloud-based phone system works much like any other cloud service.  The provider uses their own servers and the internet to deliver your telephony service to the phones on your desk (or the soft phone on your computer, or app on your mobile).  The end result is you are able to enjoy an advanced, state-of-the-art phone system, but without equipment to manage, connections to set up or maintenance to do.  The ‘brain’ (the platform, network, applications and software) that make your system work, are all in ‘the cloud’.

A cloud-based phone system typically offers many advantages for the small to medium sized business—operating cost go down, remote employee support goes up, a dynamic feature set is instantly available, operational efficiency is increased, updates can be made remotely, business continuity is maintained even through a major disaster, applications are easily integrated, new sites are seamlessly opened, and extensions can be added with the click of a mouse.

Perhaps the best thing about a cloud-based phone system however, or any cloud based service, is the mobility aspect.  Suddenly you can work from home, on the road or even at the beach as if you were in the office.  This has had a dramatic effect on businesses because employees are much happier and more productive.  According to Microsoft, “SME’s who have embraced mobility have generated 40% higher revenue growth in the last 12 months compared to those who have not.”

There are many types of cloud-based phone systems and depending on the size and needs of your business—some will certainly be better than others. But they should all ensure one thing: while you lay in the park and watch the alligators go by in the real clouds, you will be able to work as if you were in the office thanks to ‘the cloud’.

For more information on cloud-based telephony visit www.vtsl.net.