When it comes to ‘thinking virtual,’ 2020 pushed many businesses over the edge – in a good way. How? The past year’s events were essentially a business case for why cloud-based technology is effective. Think about it – cloud technology supports anywhere and everywhere communication, and it enables remote desktops and workforces. It also helps companies deliver digital experiences and more seamless omnichannel customer support. 

A Flexera study found that 31% of SMBs indicated a slightly higher usage of cloud services in 2020 than planned. And, 26% showed a significantly higher use than planned! The verdict is in – cloud computing is here to stay, and it delivers real business value. 

The world embraces new hosted phone options 

One exceptionally bright spot within the cloud computing realm is hosted phone systems. Instead of implementing on-premise communications tools, which requires buying relevant licenses and hardware, plus setting up and maintaining the infrastructure to support it, a cloud-based model offers many advantages. Cloud-hosted Unified Communication as-a-service (UCaaS) is gaining significant attention from businesses of all sizes because it provides flexibility for core tasks, including voice calls, web and video conferencing, messaging, and more. 

Ready for the prime time – Cloud-based voice, video, and collaboration tools 

These cloud-based voice, video, and collaboration tools often include integrated capabilities to give teams streamlined access to all communication tools they need in a single platform. To support new remote working models and digital power businesses, UCaaS brings several capabilities together: 

• Video conferencing
• Instant Messaging and Presence (IM&P)
• Document and file sharing
• Productivity and collaboration 
• Project management

Let’s recap the top benefits of cloud-based communication and why they are particularly relevant in today’s WFH, remote work era: 

1. Mobility – With hosted phone systems, employees can answer calls on their laptops, use a VoIP handset, or take calls through a smartphone application. That means whether it’s onsite, WFH, or a hybrid working environment, employees have access to the tools they need to be productive. 
2. Scalability – Businesses are more agile because they can add or subtract users quickly and add additional features fast. Teams can also integrate with other business applications such as CRM systems for additional capabilities. 
3. Access to more communication channels – With cloud UC, individuals can connect beyond just a phone call. They can send an IM for quick questions or host an on-demand video call for additional collaboration options.
4. Security – Instead of having employees use their smartphones, UCaaS has encryption methods and cloud security features to secure communications. 
5. Built-in disaster recovery – With cloud-based communication, uptime is guaranteed, with back-ups in place to protect data. 
6. Support – Cloud providers manage the infrastructure and UCaaS software, so your IT team doesn’t have to work onsite, and they are free for other critical responsibilities. 
7. Cost – Subscription-based models are more cost-effective than managing and maintaining phone equipment in-house.

The future looks cloudy – and that’s a good thing 

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that cloud computing is ready for primetime. It’s all about determining your company’s goals, your biggest must-haves, and exploring the available options of a modern, cloud-based communication platform. LanYap Networks can help. If you’re looking to make a plan for ‘thinking virtual,’ give us a call.