The cloud is calling – the time is right to pick up

There’s no denying that COVID-19 has majorly affected business operations around the country and despite the obvious restrictions and issues it has caused, we have also seen significant advancements made as a result. For many businesses prior to the pandemic, the concept of a hybrid or full working-from-home workforce was indeed just that: a concept, rather than a reality. Many organisations weren’t equipped with adequate systems to manage remote working when the pandemic fully took hold. Consequently, many businesses cut corners and made rash purchasing decisions that were ultimately not fit for the long term.

With Australia reopening, and the ‘new normal’ within reach, business decision makers now appreciate the importance for work forces to be able to connect anytime and anywhere, with employees, customers and partners. While cloud calling is certainly not new technology, it’s importance as part of this journey has never been greater – the PBX (on-premise telephony system) will soon be rendered obsolete, why wait and face the posibility of being left behind?

What are the benefits of cloud calling?

Cloud Calling functionality now exceeds that of on-premise telephony systems, providing significant improvements to flexibility and visibility to its users. Corporate initiatives regarding implementing a digital workplace and purchasing cloud IT where possible are also substantial reasons why the move to cloud continues to gather momentum.

Cloud calling is far simpler to deploy and able to scale easily. Rather than worrying about purchasing new connections as your business grows, a cloud solution alleviates any of this hassle – Cisco has dramatically simplified the licensing model and doesn’t even charge for key group telephony features like IVRs and Call Queues. Disaster recovery is also an important element to cloud calling. As we’ve seen in Australia in recent times, freak weather incidents have the ability to derail business operations, especially if you’re still relying on an on-premise PBX solution. A cloud solution allows employees to stay connected, respond to enquiries and make sure that the organisation doesn’t miss a beat.

A Cloud calling solution also guarantees calls are never missed and individuals don’t get lost in the personal voicemail ‘black-hole’. Access to real-time data troubleshooting also presents itself as a key benefit. IT managers can see which devices are being used, how they are being used, the call quality and subsequently troubleshoot any issues being faced.

Why Cisco Webex?

Security should be one of the main concerns when it comes to any business decision and it’s an area that Cisco plays a vital role in. With all Cisco products, security is built in, it’s not bolted on – Webex Calling, for example, comes with end-to-end encryption. As with the rise in collaboration tools in the wake of the pandemic, so too was the rise in malicious actors attempting to hack these platforms. Webex has stood up tall.

The continued evolution of Webex has now meant that we’re able to integrate with other platforms, such as Microsoft Teams – allowing customers to continue to use Teams as a messaging service, while utilising Cisco for Webex Calling. A big benefit is the control hub which provides a central place to manage all people, locations and devices. This is essential from a visibility perspective – supplying analytics and insights and highlighting any action that may need to be taken.

Vital Connections

The ability for people to stay connected anywhere, anytime has never been so crucial. From Virtual Parliament to multi-site global corporations through to local SMBs – every organisation must now have the correct tools in place to make this happen. PBX usage is on the decline – legacy technology rarely has a place in business operations. At the heart of this movement for the last 20 years, has been Cisco Webex providing secure Calling, Meetings, Messaging and Contact Centre – from security to user experience and ease of management, it’s a platform that is and will remain a vital part of Australian businesses’ ecosystem for decades to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about Cisco Webex and how it can help support your business, take a look at the Cloud Calling Simplified webinar or get in touch.