Several years ago cloud technology for business was a hot topic that had many companies wondering if they needed to change their strategies, or if it was simply a fad. Now it has become clear that cloud technology is here to stay, and it’s time for businesses of all shapes and sizes to get on board.
According to a 2014 survey conducted by Amdocs about small- to medium-sized businesses and their adoption of the cloud, nearly 50% of the respondents from Canada stated that they use cloud-based services for their company. These services cover a wide range of functions from cloud phone solutions to security, and that figure has only grown over the past two years as cloud services improve and evolve to cover more business needs. Today, it’s merely a matter of choosing which kinds of cloud services will best serve a business and offer the best ROI.
What kinds of services are available in the cloud?
If there is a service or function that a business depends upon in a regular work day, there is probably a solution out there that is at least partially cloud-based, if not entirely so. Cloud technology is becoming increasingly prevalent because it is often simpler and more affordable to employ than traditional methods. Some of the most common services that can be seen in use today include:
- Collaborative communication systems
- Cloud phone solutions
- Automated email marketing
- CRM
- E-commerce platforms
- Analytics tools
- Surveys
- Network security
- Cloud-based accounting
- IT services
These are just some of the many available options that provide companies of all sizes with convenient and affordable solutions for running a successful business today.
With such a dizzying array of possibilities, it’s easy for a business to become overwhelmed and decide to postpone adopting cloud technology in favor of traditional methods. However, the security, flexibility, scalability and price are proving to offer businesses advantages they can’t ignore. One way to get started with cloud business services is to choose something that is affordable, simple to understand and deploy. For these reasons, many professionals turn to cloud phone solutions.
What are the benefits of cloud phone solutions?
One of the biggest benefits that businesses enjoy when implementing cloud phone solutions is the simplicity. The cloud service provider takes responsibility for setting the solution up and securing the connection. They should provide training, support and project management if required. They will offer enterprise level hardware and software as part of the solution.
Another benefit is the affordability. Cloud services usually come with a range of options, so businesses can keep the cost low and scale up as they need to. Additionally, this low cost means a much faster and more impressive ROI than can be found with other business technology options. Any company can get started on virtually any budget. The question business owners should be asking themselves now is not “Should I employ cloud phone solutions?”, but rather, “Why haven’t I moved my phone to the cloud sooner?”
If you are ready to explore one of the best cloud solutions available, visit AltiSphere and see how our hosted phone solution can help improve your business.
