PBX for Small Business

Posted on 22. August 2016. by Bicom Systems

business pbx One of my favorite things about modern communications technology is the way it levels the playing field.

In the past, small businesses had a constant disadvantage against large organizations or enterprises. But with technology like VoIP PBX and Cloud PBX, this is no longer true. Small businesses can access many of the same features and values despite having fewer resources.

Hosted PBX is low-budget, easy-to-use, and scalable – all things that small businesses can appreciate.

Small businesses with a Cloud PBX can serve customers as if they were a large enterprise, opening the path for growth.

Speaking of growth, it is easy with Hosted PBX. Scalability allows small businesses to start with what they have and grow fluidly.

Learn more about PBXware Business PBX or contact an Account Manager today!

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On-Premise vs. Cloud IP PBX Systems

Posted on 6. July 2016. by Bicom Systems

Last month we learned what exactly “PBX System” means and some of the different deployment options. The two most common options – and hardest to choose between – are on-premise IP PBX and hosted or cloud IP PBX.

cloud ip pbx On-premise solutions are owned and managed by the user. The physical IP PBX is stored on-site and all of the technology is set-up and maintained in-house.

Hosted or cloud solutions are rented out by a service provider for a monthly fee that covers service, maintenance, and upgrades. The user needs only IP Phones that connect to the cloud PBX system via Internet.

Both are good options depending on the size and type of your business.

Let’s look at the benefits of each system:

On-Premise IP PBX System

No monthly fee
More control over the solution
Long-term investment
No reliance on a service provider
Can integrate with other solutions
May have more features

Hosted or Cloud IP PBX System

Low or no up-front costs
No additional maintenance or upgrade costs
More flexible and scalable
No need for IT expertise or personnel
Less employee training needed
Advances in technology will come in automatic upgrades

Clearly both systems have benefits and drawbacks. In general, hosted deployments are better for SMBs, organizations limited by budget, or companies expecting to grow in the future. On-premise systems make sense for very large companies that are prepared to own and support their own PBX.

PBXware is an example of a hosted IP PBX solution. Learn more on our website.

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What is a PBX System?

Posted on 22. June 2016. by Bicom Systems

A PBX System (Private Branch Exchange System) is a telephony solution that connects internal users to one another and to an outside PSTN telephone line. PBXs are used within organizations or enterprises to simplify communications and lessen costs.

pbx

As with all technology, PBX systems have evolved with new trends. IP PBX uses Internet Protocol or VoIP technology to make PBX systems more feature-rich, scalable, and affordable.

PBX systems are available in two different delivery formats: on-premise or hosted/cloud. This gives us several combination options:

On-Premise PBX
Hosted PBX
On-Premise IP PBX
Hosted IP PBX
Hybrid PBX
Hybrid IP PBX

We will explore the differences between some of these PBX solutions in our next post: On-Premise vs Cloud IP PBX Systems.

In the meantime, visit our website to learn about a real IP PBX System or read some of our related posts:

5 Ways Hosted VoIP Supports Collaboration

Posted on 17. June 2016. by Bicom Systems

Employee collaboration is essential to productivity in any size company, but particularly important to small companies just getting started. Effective productivity can mean the difference between a growing start-up and a failed business.

Fortunately, Hosted PBX and Cloud PBX offer collaboration tools with valuable benefits to even the smallest businesses.

1. Faster collaboration

Unified communications enables employees to share resources and information more quickly. This can be done through a variety of features including screen share, video conferencing, drag-and-drop instant conferencing, status presence, instant messaging, mobility, etc. You can find all of these features and more in gloCOM softphone.

2. More options than email

While email still has its place in business, VoIP opens up several other channels that may be more effective. For example, dragging users into an instant conference will lead to a quicker conclusion than a lengthy email thread. Written communication can lend itself to misunderstandings and delays that are avoided with voice or even video tools.

3. Customer service

In addition to collaborating quickly with one another, unified communications users can also respond to customers more quickly and efficiently. Whether this means reaching a solution and getting back to the customer quickly or bringing the customer right into a conference call or screen-share, customers will be pleased with the rapid service.

4. Budget- and growth-friendly

Even start-ups with the lowest budget can afford many unified communications tools and apps to get started. Hosted and cloud solutions in particular have low or no up-front costs and little maintenance. Best of all, most of these solutions are highly scalable and can grow as your business grows.

With all of the VoIP tools available today, there is no excuse not to get started. Contact us or visit our website to start planning today!

Read more about collaboration tools for small businesses at VoIP-News.