Lower CapEx costs

Buying a traditional phone system ties up a significant portion of an end user’s budget from day one. In addition, the purchase will mean that they own a piece of equipment that they'll have to replace one day. And that system will have to include some ‘headroom’ to allow for any new employees they may be planning to take on in the next few years so they’ll be paying for a system that won’t be 100% utilised from day one. End users could put that money to better use by subscribing to a Hosted IP PBX Business Communications service that they can pay for on a monthly basis, improving their cash flow from day one instead?

No need to worry about depreciation

Like any major purchase, a telephone system that sits on their premises will depreciate in value over time. With a hosted communications service, end users won't have to worry about depreciation because they won’t have purchased an expensive telephone system using their operational expenses budget.

No need for a crystal ball

A Hosted service gives end users day to day control over the sizing of their business communications system. They don’t need to forecast how many employees their business will have in 3 or 4 years and they don’t need to forecast where those employees will be based. They can buy a service for the exact number of employees in their organisation today, they can add users to their service only when they need to, and, they’ll have complete flexibility over where their employees work.

Easier to implement and maintain

The engine that powers an end user’s Hosted Business Communications Service is located in the service provider’s network. End users don’t have to worry about its installation or maintenance - that’s the responsibility of the service provider. By subscribing to a Hosted Service, end users minimise the equipment that has to be implemented and maintained at their premises and they will therefore benefit from less disruption caused by problems with equipment.

Easier to adjust to your changing requirements

With a Hosted Service, activities such as Moves, Adds and Changes no longer need an on-site visit from an engineer or technician. Hosted communications systems are designed to be remotely configured by the service provider and, depending on the capabilities of the solution, end users may even be able to make their own changes via a web browser, without needing engineering or technical expertise. End user expenses can therefore be reduced by eliminating costly monthly maintenance contracts or the high labour cost typically required to have a ‘techie’ or engineer onsite for every change they require.

Extended features for improved productivity

A Hosted Communications System will provide end users with advanced calling features that are not typically included in traditional telephony systems. Features that can improve employee productivity such as Outlook integration, easy call diversion, ‘pop up’ of contact details on incoming calls, ‘Click to Call’, and quick set up of personal speed dials can all be accessed via a Hosted solution.

An easier way to build security into your business

With a network many times larger than their own, end users can be sure that their service provider will have invested in security such as firewalls and physical security. The hosted service will be secure because it’s in the service provider’s best interests. End users don’t have to worry about finding the best solution and implementing it, they can let their service provider take that worry on for them. And, when it’s time to upgrade security systems and apply patches, their service provider will take the time to do that, saving the end user the time and effort.

Disaster recovery and emergency Protection

A hosted communications system will benefit from the same level of protection as an end user’s hosted website or email - their communications infrastructure will reside in a secure, off-site location, protected from any major or minor disasters that may affect their business locations. The hosting service provider can provide the end user with the level of protection and redundancy that the end user feels is necessary for their business. And the Service Provider is responsible for making sure that their protection and redundancy systems and processes are fully operational at all times so that’s one less thing for end users to worry about.

A hosted business communications service eliminates technology obsolescence

With a Hosted Service, end users don’t have to purchase a phone system, so they don't have to worry about the equipment becoming obsolete. Their service provider will be responsible for making sure that his equipment is up to date because, in a competitive world where the end user can easily switch providers, their service provider will want to ensure that he runs the latest technology so that he can provide end users with updates and new features to ensure their loyalty.

A hosted IP-PBX is built on non-proprietary components

If end users buy a traditional PBX phone system, they run the risk of locking their company into a proprietary architecture. In other words, they are building their company's future on a system that may or may not remain compatible with ever evolving industry standards. Many companies who have bought a traditional phone system are now at the mercy of the manufacturer for repair and expansion since only their parts will work with their purchase. End users will want to make sure that their Hosted IP-PBX system works with multiple phone manufacturers so if they decide to move to a different system, a forklift upgrade won't be necessary.