In many ways, the responsibility of managing your small business has become much more complicated in the last several years: Consumers have become savvier, competition has tightened and organizing marketing efforts has grown more complicated. The days of small mom-and-pop establishments operating in a local landscape are over, as the age of an international playing field has dawned.
Of course, this has caused some frustrating growing pains for many small businesses, who wonder how they can compete on a global stage without bottomless reservoirs of funding and an extensive workforce. Fortunately, several tools have emerged that can help even the youngest companies build top-shelf business operations, and many of them are cloud based.
Down from the cloud
In a few short years, the cloud has grown into one of the most useful and dynamic tools for small businesses. It has allowed companies to store documents off site, capitalize on costly software and create an extensive catalogue of all incoming and outgoing emails.
One new cloud capability, however, may turn out to be more important than all of those other features. Cloud voice systems have become essential for companies that want to control costs, increase stability and improve productivity. With a wealth of capabilities – and the list is growing each day – these cloud-based systems make it possible for small businesses to have the most cutting-edge tools at their fingertips, often without any additional hardware or prohibitive upfront costs.
Leveling the field
In the past, small businesses often had a ceiling that kept them from getting too big or more efficient. Without an infusion of capital or a stroke of unprecedented luck, most businesses were constrained by their circumstances. However, inexpensive and easy-to-use technology has changed this, and the cloud is the latest example.
The cloud has become a necessary component in most businesses' strategies. Cloud-based telephone systems, which offer a bounty of features and greater convenience and stability than traditional phone systems, are the latest in this line of improvements. Since their inception, cloud voice systems have become essential components of tens of thousands of businesses. However, the question remains: How do you know if cloud voice is right for your business?
Cloud voice systems help businesses:
• Save money
Cloud-based telephone systems are relatively inexpensive as they don't require hardware and few, if any, upfront costs. Cloud-based systems in general, and cloud voice in particular, are great ways for businesses to reduce overhead.
• Improve Efficiency
The role of business telephone has changes over the last few years as more users need to access features, such as voicemail, conference calls and call-forwarding technology remotely. Cloud voice systems create a streamlined, professionally hosted infrastructure that simplifies the management of these features.
• Increase flexibility
Many businesses operate in a virtual environment with remote workers. While the situation has helped companies operate on a more decentralized level, it can complicate collaboration.
The cloud addresses this. Regardless of where employees are located, they can redirect phone calls, convert voice mails into emails, use simple extensions and share numbers. This also greatly simplifies IT efforts surrounding managing a remote workforce.
As business in the 21st century continues to evolve, cloud-based phone systems can help small businesses stay up to speed and at the forefront of change.
Of course, this has caused some frustrating growing pains for many small businesses, who wonder how they can compete on a global stage without bottomless reservoirs of funding and an extensive workforce. Fortunately, several tools have emerged that can help even the youngest companies build top-shelf business operations, and many of them are cloud based.
Down from the cloud
In a few short years, the cloud has grown into one of the most useful and dynamic tools for small businesses. It has allowed companies to store documents off site, capitalize on costly software and create an extensive catalogue of all incoming and outgoing emails.
One new cloud capability, however, may turn out to be more important than all of those other features. Cloud voice systems have become essential for companies that want to control costs, increase stability and improve productivity. With a wealth of capabilities – and the list is growing each day – these cloud-based systems make it possible for small businesses to have the most cutting-edge tools at their fingertips, often without any additional hardware or prohibitive upfront costs.
Leveling the field
In the past, small businesses often had a ceiling that kept them from getting too big or more efficient. Without an infusion of capital or a stroke of unprecedented luck, most businesses were constrained by their circumstances. However, inexpensive and easy-to-use technology has changed this, and the cloud is the latest example.
The cloud has become a necessary component in most businesses' strategies. Cloud-based telephone systems, which offer a bounty of features and greater convenience and stability than traditional phone systems, are the latest in this line of improvements. Since their inception, cloud voice systems have become essential components of tens of thousands of businesses. However, the question remains: How do you know if cloud voice is right for your business?
Cloud voice systems help businesses:
• Save money
Cloud-based telephone systems are relatively inexpensive as they don't require hardware and few, if any, upfront costs. Cloud-based systems in general, and cloud voice in particular, are great ways for businesses to reduce overhead.
• Improve Efficiency
The role of business telephone has changes over the last few years as more users need to access features, such as voicemail, conference calls and call-forwarding technology remotely. Cloud voice systems create a streamlined, professionally hosted infrastructure that simplifies the management of these features.
• Increase flexibility
Many businesses operate in a virtual environment with remote workers. While the situation has helped companies operate on a more decentralized level, it can complicate collaboration.
The cloud addresses this. Regardless of where employees are located, they can redirect phone calls, convert voice mails into emails, use simple extensions and share numbers. This also greatly simplifies IT efforts surrounding managing a remote workforce.
As business in the 21st century continues to evolve, cloud-based phone systems can help small businesses stay up to speed and at the forefront of change.