The way we work is changing as we continue our transition into the post-pandemic enterprise era.
Complete remote working might be down, but hybrid work continues to remain popular in organizations around the world, with over half of workers still working at least 3 days from home, according to Pew Research.
As hybrid working becomes the new norm, organizations need to make sure they have a solid organizational network to keep business communications as efficient as possible with employees working remotely.
That’s why cloud phone systems continue to be essential for enterprises big and small.
What are PBX cloud phone systems?
A cloud phone system, also known as a cloud PBX, hosted PBX, or virtual PBX, is a business phone service that operates over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. Here's a breakdown of how it works.
Unlike traditional systems with on-site hardware, cloud phone systems are hosted by a service provider in secure data centres. This eliminates the need for your company to buy and maintain its own equipment.
They rely on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to transmit voice calls and data. This means your calls travel over your internet connection instead of dedicated phone lines.
You can also use a variety of devices with a cloud phone system, including traditional IP phones, smartphones with apps, computer software, or even regular phones with adapters.
Over the past few years, cloud phone systems have transformed from being a cost-saving opportunity for modern business communications to a necessary investment.
With cloud phone systems, companies can access future-proof communication tools that empower staff in any environment, including remote and hybrid work.
Benefits of PBX cloud systems
There are several advantages to cloud phone systems compared to traditional phone lines. For one, Cloud-based systems often mean lower upfront costs since there's no need to buy and maintain physical equipment. You also typically pay a monthly subscription fee which can be more predictable than traditional phone bills with per-minute charges.
Cloud phone systems are also perfect for today's remote work environments. Employees can use the system from anywhere with an internet connection, whether it's the office, home, or on the go.This flexibility can improve productivity and collaboration.
Another major benefit is the ease of scaling your phone system up or down as your business grows.
With traditional systems, adding new lines can be complex and expensive. Cloud systems allow you to easily add or remove phone lines as needed.
On top of these benefits, cloud phone systems often come with a range of features that can enhance your business communication. These can include auto attendants, voicemail to email, call forwarding, video conferencing, and integrations with other business tools like CRM software.
Best PBX Cloud Systems for 2024
Cloud telephony systems provide a more affordable, flexible, and scalable solution for business communications in a digital world.
Depending on the provider you choose, you can access additional features such as analytics, AI enhancements, and software integrations to make your company more successful.
In this list, we’ll examine ten of the best cloud phone systems for companies looking to improve their communication strategy.
GoTo
GoTo’s “GoToConnect” cloud phone system is easy to deploy, simple to use, and packed full of useful features. You can take and manage your calls from anywhere, access face-to-face collaboration through video conferencing for your teams, and more.
GoToConnect checks all the boxes you could ask for as a simple and effective cloud-based calling solution. There’s call routing (with geolocation and time rules), team-based call distribution, and a host of security features to give business leaders peace of mind. You can also integrate tools like CRM systems to provide users with extra information about customers.
Ooma
Offering a simple, effective, and reliable way to enhance your business communications, Ooma offers cloud phone technology for companies of all sizes and backgrounds. You can access all the core features you’d expect from Ooma, such as virtual receptionists to help with routing calls, holding and transferring music and apps for your Android or iOS devices.
Ooma is one of the more cost-effective options for cloud telephony, intended to enable smaller companies and businesses to make the transition into a flexible future. There’s also the option to scale your technology as your business grows.
Aircall
Ideal for companies looking to step up their telecommunications strategy fast, Aircall allows for instant setup, and it integrates with your existing tools. The solution provides businesses with a comprehensive communication centre for making calls, messaging, and video in the same place. There’s also a huge selection of helpdesk, CRM, and productivity tools too.
With an analytics suite built-in, Aircall makes it easy to determine whether you’re getting the right ROI on your technology investments. Plus, you get the added benefit of being able to enhance your system’s functionality with further add-ons for tools like Salesforce and HubSpot too.
Dialpad
Dialpad gives business leaders a comprehensive global phone system capable of growing with them. The technology is built in the cloud, with a 100% secure architecture you can deploy without servers or third-party services. There’s access to mobile apps, so you can enable the team members in your office who are constantly on the move, and global or local numbers too.
One of Dialpad’s most impressive features is its AI-powered “Voice Intelligence” functionality, which uses AI to support users through a range of machine learning and speech recognition tools. The intelligent systems built into Dialpad make it much easier for companies to make informed decisions.
Avaya
A comprehensive unified communications solution from the leaders at Avaya, OneCloud provides companies with the ultimate scalable solution for cloud communications. You can access a host of features within the ecosystem, including Avaya’s collaboration tools with instant messaging and video conferencing for teams, AI analytics, and extensive reporting.
The Avaya OneCloud telephony features also ensure teams have everything they need to operate in an ever-evolving marketplace. You can access everything from Global connectivity to local numbers and intelligent routing systems.
2600Hz
Best known for its unique approach to turnkey, white-labelled unified communications solutions, 2600Hz offers a range of communication tools on the cloud, with more than 4.8 billion minutes processed each year. Kazoo is the turnkey UC platform offered by 2600Hz, and it comes with access to more than 300 APIs to customize your communication ecosystem.
2600Hz’s technology is built with reliability and security at its core. You’ll always have access to geo-redundancy features and security tools to provide absolute peace of mind. There are also all of the communication features you would expect, as well as collaboration tools for better teamwork.
UniVoIP
Promising to be the only communications provider companies ever need, UniVoIP builds on the value of Microsoft Teams with a direct routing service. This means companies can leverage a complete business phone system within the collaboration environment they’re already using. The technology supports Native Teams calling across all devices, as well as a dedicated platform.
With UniVoip, you can eliminate the need for on-premises appliances, third-party plugins, and local trunks. There’s even access to valuable automated onboarding, workspaces, and lifecycle management tools too.
800.com
800.com is a provider of toll-free and vanity numbers, making it easy for businesses to create a professional and memorable phone presence. The platform offers a variety of customizable options, such as SMS marketing and call analytics, to help businesses enhance their communication strategies and increase customer engagement.
With 800.com, businesses can easily track and analyze their phone calls, allowing them to gain valuable insights into customer behaviour and make data-driven decisions. The platform's SMS marketing feature also allows businesses to send targeted text messages to customers, promoting products or services and driving sales. Overall, it provides a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to enhance their communication strategies and improve customer engagement.
8x8
One of the most popular cloud-based communication platforms available today, 8x8 offers a highly flexible and modular approach to modern communications. Companies can build the tech stack they need, with access to everything from communication and collaboration tools to in-depth analytics, contact centre support, and more.
The 8x8 ecosystem is enriched with a host of fantastic “extras,” such as embeddable communications and APIs, and artificial intelligence, to help you make better decisions. The ultra-modern and flexible approach 8x8 takes to cloud communications earns it the title of “Leader” in the Gartner Magic Quadrant UCaaS
RingCentral
A popular provider of cloud-based communication and collaboration tools, RingCentral offers a host of business phone systems for the modern workplace. Named a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS, RingCentral can provide standalone business telephony and mobile apps, as well as comprehensive messaging, video, and phone systems through RingCentral MVP.
A leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for 9 years in a row, RingCentral has a comprehensive portfolio of communication tools that allow companies to easily access all the phone functionality they need, from monitoring and recording to call logging and analytics. There’s also the option to extend your investment even further, to cover things like CCaaS (Contact Centre as a Service) and CPaaS (Communication Platform as a Service) technology.
