If you’ve been researching new phone options for your business, you’ve probably come across the term hosted business phone system and wondered exactly what it means. In simple terms, a hosted phone system is a business phone setup where all the clever technology, the part that actually connects and manages your calls, lives in the cloud instead of sitting in a box in your office. Your team still makes and receives calls exactly as they always have, but the equipment and management happens off site, maintained and updated for you. It means no ageing hardware to maintain, and none of the sudden failures that come with an old system reaching the end of its life. Read more about our system Features
How It Differs From a Traditional Landline or PABX System
Traditional phone systems, often called PABX systems, rely on physical equipment installed on your premises. If something breaks, a technician needs to physically visit and repair it. Adding a new staff member usually means new wiring or new hardware, and moving offices can mean starting again from scratch. A hosted system removes almost all of that friction. Because everything runs through the cloud, adding a new extension is often just a few clicks, and moving locations doesn’t mean losing your phone number or rebuilding your setup. [Link to: How It Works page]
How the Cloud Technology Actually Works
Put simply, when someone calls your business, the call is answered and routed by software running in a secure data centre, not a box under your reception desk. That software directs the call based on rules you’ve set, who should ring, in what order, and what happens if nobody answers, then delivers it to your team’s desk phones, computers or mobile apps. Because it’s software rather than hardware, changes can be made quickly, and updates or new features roll out automatically without a technician needing to visit your office.
What Businesses Actually Notice Day to Day
For most business owners, the biggest difference is flexibility. Staff can answer business calls from their mobile or laptop when they’re working from home or on the road, without customers ever knowing they weren’t in the office. Call flow, like which team rings first or how after hours calls are handled, can be adjusted quickly as the business changes, whether you’re running a medical clinic , a trade business, a transport company or a range of other industries. There’s also no single point of failure sitting in your office, since everything is managed in the cloud.
Things to Consider Before Switching
Before switching, it’s worth thinking about your internet connection, since call quality depends on a stable connection, and most modern business internet plans handle this comfortably. It’s also worth checking whether your provider includes number porting, so you can keep your existing number, and whether ongoing support and changes are included or charged separately.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to see if a hosted system is right for your business? Contact our team for a no pressure chat, or check out our features to see everything included as standard.
