2020 has been a year where UK businesses have been rethinking legacy technology, such as landline-based phone systems. Lockdowns related to the pandemic have made it clear that cloud technology is necessary to ensure business resiliency in the face of the unexpected.
One of the most important communication systems in any company is its phone system. 67% of surveyed consumers prefer interacting with a human being when contacting a company for support.
The benefits of having a cloud-based phone system over one that’s tied to a specific location include the ability to answer your calls professionally from anywhere and the flexibility of answering calls from multiple devices.
But when choosing a VoIP system, there are multiple options out there.
One of the most robust and integrated with other systems is Microsoft Teams. And Teams is not only for app-to-app calling, with the Microsoft 365 Voice add-on, it can be used as a full cloud-based phone system.
Why Teams Makes Sense as a Universal Communication Platform
Microsoft Teams has risen in popularity this year because it provides a way to keep teams connected even when working remotely. It’s one of the popular apps that has helped companies adapt to the post-COVIDworld.
The power of Teams is that it’s not just one thing – not just a team chat program or a video calling application. It’s a full universal communications platform and workspace hub.
With the addition of a full-VoIP phone system capability, Teams not only can act as an internal communication platform, it can also replace your business phone system.
Here are several of the benefits of using Microsoft Teams for all your communications.
Make and Receive Calls Using PSTN
When you add the Microsoft 365 Voice add-on to Teams, you can make and receive calls from mobile, landline, and VoIP enabled phones. You have the same call capabilities of a landline system with the flexibility of the cloud interface.
Connect from Any Device, Any Location
Teams allows you to access your business phone lines from any device and any location. This means that remote workers can handle calls just as easily as when they’re at the office.
Likewise, customers will receive the same professional environment when they call in to your business, no matter where your team may be located.
Teams allows you to make and receive calls from a variety of options, including:
- Computer
- Headset
- Mobile device
- Conference room device
- Teams-enabled desk phones
Fluidly Move from One Interface to Another to Save Time
If you’re on a landline call with a customer and they need to show you an error they’re having in your software, you would have to hang up the call, email them a video conference link and reconnect. This is time-consuming and causes a momentum loss in the conversation.
Teams is a full-featured universal communication platform that includes:
- VoIP Phone
- Video & Audio Chat
- Screensharing
- Document Storage & Sharing
- Team Status Alerts
- And more
So, in the above situation you could save time and continue your conversation without a break, by transferring from a VoIP call to a video call with screensharing, all fluidly within the Teams interface.
You could even see if a technical colleague was available through Teams’ status indicators and invite them to join the screensharing session.
Outlook Integration to Click and Call Contacts
Another time-saving feature in Teams that makes it even better than a landline phone system is that it’s fully integrated with Outlook.
So, if you’re looking for a contact in Outlook that you need to call, you can simply click their number to call them automatically through the Teams VoIP feature.
Full-Featured Enterprise-Class Phone System
Teams is an excellent option for small and large businesses alike for a phone system upgrade because it includes multiple enterprise-class phone options, but for a fraction of what an installed landline system typically costs.
Some of the features you get when using Teams as your phone system include:
- Auto attendant
- Cloud voicemail
- Call queues
- Direct call routing
- Audio conferencing
- Reverse number lookup
- Do not disturb
- Music on hold
- Simultaneous ring
- Group call pickup
Full Work Collaboration Tool
A study of employee productivity and software found that the typical worker switches apps over 1,100 timesper day, decreasing their productivity. The fewer apps your employees have to switch between the more productive they can be.
Microsoft Teams performs several functions, which allows employees to stay inside one application rather than switching between several throughout their day.
Some of the functions you can perform without leaving Teams include:
- Direct chat communication
- Access to department/team work files
- File sharing
- Voice and video calling
- Business phone system
- Collaboration in apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.
- Ability to launch 3rd party apps and websites from within Teams
- Virtual meeting space to connect with teammates
- Task management and status updates
Transition to Microsoft Teams for a Better Business Phone System
NMX IT Solutions can help your Thames Valley area business transition to a full VoIP phone system within Microsoft Teams to improve your flexibility, productivity, and more.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation! Call 01628 232300 or reach out online.
