What is the Significance of Hosted PBX & its Features required for Business Growth?

The concept of a PBX (a private branch exchange) has been around for decades and is based on the premise that an organization's telephone system will be located within its own premises. Technology advancements such as cloud computing and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) have changed the landscape so an increasing number of small to medium-sized companies are looking at hosted PBX services as a way to improve their communications.

Most business telephone systems today are designed to work with conventional copper-based analog telephones and leased phone lines. As more and more people use mobile phones and VoIP services for voice communication, hosted PBX is the best solution that allows you to access your voice services through any device with a broadband Internet connection.

Importance of Hosted PBX For A Business

Hosted PBX systems are quickly becoming the standard for businesses of all sizes due to their many benefits. The benefits of hosted PBX include improved call quality, reduced telecom costs, and enhanced flexibility and scalability. Hosted PBX systems are delivered through the cloud, which means they are not reliant on any specific hardware or software installed on-site. This gives businesses the freedom to access and manage their telephone system from any location and on a variety of devices.

The efficiencies and cost savings delivered through hosted PBX allow businesses to function smarter and remain competitive. Businesses that implement hosted PBX services enjoy the advantage of a more comprehensive and higher-quality phone system while realizing major cost savings. This is because hosted PBX systems are only charged on the actual time used. There are no setup fees, monthly maintenance charges, or long-term contracts associated with hosted PBX systems.

Hosted PBX Features Required for Business Growth

A hosted PBX system is a great way to take advantage of all the features of a PBX system without having to purchase and manage the system yourself. 

Hosted PBX providers offer a wide range of features, including:

Auto Attendant

Auto-Attendant (or automated attendant) is a very important feature that adds a professional touch for incoming callers and increases their satisfaction. Callers can be transferred directly to an extension without going through a telephone operator or receptionist when using an Auto-Attendant voice menu system, a term used commonly in telephony. You might experience an auto attendant when you call a company and are directed to use your keypad to reach the department you want.

Voicemail to Email

If you have the voicemail to email feature, all new voicemail messages are automatically forwarded to your email address. Afterward, you can listen to it on your computer and follow up whenever convenient. With this feature, reviewing your work voicemail is a breeze instead of a hassle. Additionally, the voicemail to email feature of cloud-based phone systems can help you and your team be more responsive, adaptable, and available to your customers and prospects.

Call recording

Small businesses can now get the benefits of call recording with a hosted phone system. This feature is available on most systems and can be used to improve customer service and training. The ability to record calls can be a powerful tool for businesses. By recording calls, you can capture important information that can be used for training and customer service purposes. You can also use call recordings to improve your business processes.

Call Forwarding

One of the most popular features of a hosted PBX is call forwarding. This feature allows you to forward all calls that come into your number to another number or multiple numbers. When you forward calls, your phone does not ring. Instead, the system automatically rings the other phone or phone that you have specified. You can forward calls to a single number or to a list of numbers.

Conference Calling

Conference calling is a key feature of the more expensive telephone systems. While costs for these systems have come down in recent years, they are still beyond the reach of many small businesses. Cloud-based phone systems are now offering a low-cost alternative for small businesses that don't need all of the power and flexibility of a more expensive system. These systems allow you to make audio and video conference calls without any problems. Since VoIP calls are made over the internet, there is no difference in call quality during conference calls.

How Switching to Hosted PBX Can Help in Reducing Cost?

If you are looking for a way to reduce the cost of your phone system, then you should consider switching to a hosted PBX. Hosted PBX is more of a business phone system that would provide you with all the features and benefits of an on-site phone system, but without the installation cost.

By getting your own hosted PBX solution, you can reduce expenses by as much as 70 percent compared to traditional on-site systems. Hosted PBX providers will manage every aspect of the service, including maintenance for hardware and software, emergency repairs, upgrades, and updates. 

Your provider can also offer you cost savings through bundling of services like phones lines, long-distance calling plans, and even Internet access. These are common areas where small businesses spend more than they need to.

When it comes down to choosing between an on-site or hosted PBX phone system there are many factors that you need to consider. The on-site PBX phone system will usually give you a more customized and complete solution, but at a high price. Hosted PBX, on the other hand, is more of a pay-as-you-go solution that will let you save on the initial investment, but may not have all of the features that you are looking for.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that a hosted PBX system can be a great way for small businesses to reduce the cost of their phone system. By evaluating your needs and budget, you can determine if this type of system is right for you