Wednesday, 02 January 2019 13:51

Is Cisco Hosted VoIP Right For Your Business?

VoIP phone systems, or phone systems that run through your internet connection, have become increasingly more popular in recent years. These phone systems offer all the capabilities your business needs at a lower price point and with lower maintenance than traditional, hard-wired phone systems. If you are considering the switch to a VoIP phone system, there are a few things you’ll want to consider, including whether a hosted or installed system makes the most sense for your business. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of the different types of VoIP phone systems and determine if the Cisco Hosted VoIP phone is the best choice for you.

What Are Your Options?

With Cisco, you have two choices for your VoIP system. You can have a hosted service which is recognized for its ease of use and scalability or an on-premises installation that is connected to your local network that offers more control and customization. Let’s walk through the differences of each of these options.

Cisco Installed VoIP Phone

The installed VoIP system will run on your infrastructure and connect to the public switched telephone network. If you opt for this option for your phone system, you and your IT partner will be responsible for installing the VoIP solution and upgrading all of your routers. HCWT can help you determine if your current internet connection is suitable for hosting your voice connection or if you’ll need to upgrade your bandwidth to accommodate voice traffic. A Cisco installed VoIP phone system will require in-house expertise, so it works best in business models that have an IT representative in the office to handle any potential technological problems that might arise.

Cisco Hosted VoIP Phone

Cisco hosted VoIP phone systems are connected remotely and managed by your provider. Any changes you’ll need to make to your phone system can be done online through a user account. These changes will be executed via your provider, so they will not be instantaneous. However, Cisco hosted VoIP can be ideal for a variety of business models, specifically, small businesses who don’t have the capacity for an on-staff IT expert. On-site management requires extensive expertise. With hosted VoIP you can leverage the expertise of your provider without the overhead cost of an additional employee.

In addition to eliminating the need for your own IT team, Cisco hosted VoIP can offer solutions for businesses who voice needs change regularly. If your business operates in a seasonal industry that hires on temporary employees during the holidays or other time of year, you can increase and decrease your phone system capabilities with a simple change in your user portal.

What Kind Of Investment Is Included In Cisco Hosted VoIP?

At the end of the day, cost is the number one factor in your phone system decision. The biggest difference between the investment in a hosted and installed VoIP system is the initial cost. As you might expect, when you have your phone system installed on-site there will be significant upfront costs for the hardware and software required to wire you into the network. However, depending on the size of your business and the type of staff you have, it may make sense in the long-run to pay larger upfront costs for more control and customization of your VoIP phone system.

Alternatively, Cisco hosted VoIP will include monthly fees from your service provider that will be directly related to the number of phone lines you need in any given month. Additional features can have an impact on your monthly fees as well. Technologies like unified communications or video conferencing will be an additional charge.