A fledgling startup has fundamentally different communication needs from a large enterprise. This is, for the most part, because startups typically have fewer resources and thus need to operate more agilely and resourcefully. It’s also common for startups to expand rapidly over time, so they need scalable communications that can match this pace of growth.
Most startups today have found that traditional phone setups fail at meeting these specific requirements and abandoned them in favor of cloud phone systems, also known as Cloud PBX (Private Branch Exchange). Legacy phone technology can be costly and difficult to install and maintain. It’s also not flexible enough to meet the requirements of modern businesses, whose employees need the freedom to take and make calls anytime, anywhere. In contrast, Cloud PBX is hosted by a third-party provider and operates entirely online. All you need to do is connect to the internet with a mobile app, desktop computer, or desk phone, and you’ll be able to access your phone system reliably wherever you are.
We believe that cutting-edge technology should be within reach of any business, no matter its size. We’re well-positioned to provide startups like yours with expert advice on how systems like Cloud PBX can help you unlock your full potential. Let’s explore some of the major reasons it could be a smart investment for you:
Your startup is likely running on a tight budget and will be for some time. The last thing you want to do is spend valuable resources on bulky hardware, dedicated phone lines, or on-site maintenance. Since Cloud PBX systems are hosted entirely on the internet, you won’t be paying for any physical equipment at all. Most Cloud PBX providers implement a pay-as-you-go pricing model that includes regular updates and maintenance, so you’ll only ever pay for the services you utilise on a regular basis.
Scaling up a traditional phone system requires you to update your physical infrastructure, which can be both costly and time-consuming. In contrast, Cloud PBX lets you add or remove users instantly, meaning you can grow your business’s communication system whenever you need to, hassle-free. There’s nothing stopping you from hiring new employees or expanding into different markets, as you can be assured that the system can handle heavier usage with zero dips in performance.
More and more startups are embracing remote or hybrid work setups to save on overhead costs or to tap into a wider talent pool, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t do the same. Cloud PBX empowers your team to do their best work wherever they are. The system works seamlessly on any device with internet access, so your employees can take business calls on their mobile phones, tablets, desktop computers, or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) desk phones. You should likewise have no problem maintaining smooth and friction-free communication with your team, even without a physical office.
You’ll need a professional image to build trust with potential clients and business partners, especially when you’re just starting out or looking to grow your business. With Cloud PBX, you’ll get access to advanced features such as call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, auto-attendants, call recording, and much more—features that would be either prohibitively costly or fully unavailable with a traditional phone setup. Having these tools in your arsenal will help you both optimise your customer experience and unlock unprecedented efficiency gains on the back end.
Incidents like power outages and equipment failures rapidly put traditional phone systems out of commission—and this, in turn, can lead to hours of lost productivity and even reputational damage for the businesses that use them. Implement Cloud PBX and you’ll eliminate the need to depend on physical infrastructure completely. As long as your team has a means of connecting to the internet, they’ll still be able to make and receive calls from any device even if the power goes out at your main office.
Furthermore, there’s no need to worry about technical failures on your provider’s end. Most will automatically reroute your calls to a backup server in case your main one fails for any reason. Cloud PBX providers also use multiple redundant data centers across different locations to ensure that their services remain available even if one server goes down.
These days, there’s a whole host of digital business solutions that you can use to run your startup—including CRM platforms, online help desks, file-sharing applications, collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and more. Many Cloud PBX systems can integrate easily with the tools you’re currently using, so you enjoy a more streamlined workflow and better productivity overall. Providers like Network Edge are experts at helping clients figure out how a Cloud PBX solution can fit into their existing tech infrastructure, so choose the right partner for your implementation efforts and you’ll be in good hands.
It's one thing to read about all the good a Cloud PBX system can do for your organisation, but it’s another thing completely to experience these benefits in practice. We’d love to chat with you about how our team can help you build the cloud phone system your growing startup deserves. Contact us for your communication needs today!
