Digital Transformation Archives

6 Signs Your COVID-19 Workforce Needs Cloud Phone Technology

Cloud communications, Digital Transformation, Mitel, News & Trends, Remote Working

Almost overnight, the number of remote workers increased dramatically, as businesses mandated “work-from-home” policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s no telling when the situation will change. Even when restrictions ease on social distancing, employees may not be able to return to the office in full force, and future waves of distancing have been predicted. You may have been perfectly satisfied with your communications solution in the pre-COVID days, but you may find yourself realizing you now need something more robust. If your current phone system isn’t able to handle the office exodus, that’s a glaring sign you’re due for a change.

The good news during this challenging time? A cloud phone solution, like MiCloud Connect, delivers the latest in mobility and ensures employees can work and collaborate from anywhere.

But mobility is just one problem solved by cloud phone technology. Chances are, your communications system is flashing yellow and red in other places as well. Some of these warnings are harder to recognize than others. If you’ve noticed any of the following signs, now is the time to make the switch.

COVID-19: 6 signs it's time to upgrade your communications

High traffic is reducing the quality of your communications. People might run on coffee, but business are powered by a reliable and consistent network. With fewer people working in the office due to social distancing, just about all communications is now handled remotely. Can your current phone system support the increased demand? Slowdowns, dropped calls and low-quality video impede conversations, frustrating employees and customers. Ask providers about their track record. As a reference point, Mitel has 99.995 percent uptime backed by SLAs and financial penalties if we don’t meet these standards. Other important items to look for in a reliable solution are Tier 4 data centers with several layers of redundancy and multiple connectivity options with automatic failover. With these built-in capabilities, employees work fast and never miss a chance to drive customer satisfaction higher.
You’re concerned about security. This is a hot topic both in the news and at weekly IT meetings. With more employees working from home, protecting sensitive information is a top priority. But if you’re not 100 percent confident in your communications system, you’ll want to ask vendors some hard questions. For example: Do they offer Secure Real-Time Transfer Protocol (SRTP), which ensures voice, web and signaling traffic is encrypted? What platform are they using and what levels of security do they offer? At Mitel, we decided to amp up security by partnering with Google Cloud. Our customers benefit from the same reliable and trusted network infrastructure we all use for search and videos on a daily basis.
You operate in a regulated industry. In industries like healthcare or finance, compliance looms large. Violations are expensive and can tarnish your reputation. Spikes in telemedicine and virtual financial advising put companies at increased risk of non-compliance. However, when you work with a cloud phone provider committed to ensuring high levels of security and protecting sensitive data, you’ll ease your IT burden. MiCloud Connect, for example, is certified to meet Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards and Service Organization Control Type II (SOC 2) compliance, helping you adhere to even the most stringent requirements.
You need to adapt – quickly and constantly. Every day seems to bring on a new challenge as the world battles COVID-19. Businesses need to be able to rapidly respond to changing demands and requirements. Ask yourself how difficult it is to add or remove lines and users to your current system. If it requires a call to the vendor every time you need to make a change, then it’s time for a cloud phone solution. The beauty of the cloud is that it’s so easy to adjust to new conditions. You can add or remove seats and upgrade permissions in real time, which means your business is more agile. A scalable solution keeps you competitive, while also offering flexible pricing plans so you can stay within budget.
It’s getting harder to meet client expectations. The coronavirus has created a unique marketplace, in which employees and customers are almost 100 percent reliant on technology to conduct business. It has become all too easy to fall behind without integrated collaboration tools. A stellar customer experience is more important than ever, but it can be difficult to deliver when employees are taking extra steps to share documents or discuss issues remotely. When collaboration is built into communications, it’s easier for employees to exceed customer expectations. For example, with click-to-join access for web, audio and video conferencing, a product manager can convene his team to resolve a pressing issue quickly, getting goods in the hands of customers at the right moment. In addition, a persistent workspace with chat, tasks and file sharing gives teams the ability to collaborate in real time. When employee collaboration is easy and seamless outside the physical office, customers get answers faster and satisfaction soars.
Managing multiple licenses keeps you very busy. Every second counts when you’re trying to run a remote employee workforce and keep customers engaged. You don’t have time to worry about managing multiple licenses for your communications system. With a cloud phone solution, you can mix and match license types on a single plan. Need a contact center? Collaboration tools? It’s simple to add licenses on-demand and manage each user via their own profile. And since your cloud provider is responsible for infrastructure, you don’t have to worry about maintenance or carry the cost of unused equipment or lines. Plus, budgeting on an operating expenses (OpEx) model is predictable and easy, which is important in these uncertain times.

All signs point to cloud phone technology

COVID-19 has changed the way we do business. The new “normal” requires organizations to support remote communications and collaboration and to respond quickly to changing conditions. If any of the signs discussed above are flashing red or yellow in your organization, it’s time to start exploring what cloud phone technology can do for your business. A solution like MiCloud Connect will adapt to your business needs, ensuring you stay current with the latest technology – and healthy in the battle against the coronavirus.

Source:Mitel

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Business Communication Mistakes To Avoid

Effective communication is at the heart of every successful business, no matter the size or industry. In today’s diverse global business environment, effective communication skills will definitely set you apart from your peers and competitors.

Here are some common communication mistakes we are all guilty of and it would be best to avoid:

Discussing Sensitive Information Through Email

How many emails do you send and receive a day… 10, 50, 100? It’s efficient and effective; without it, we’d all probably have a few problems to say the least! We are so reliant on email that it’s easy to forget the company privacy policy when trying to get through a busy day. However, with the leak of countless confidential emails belonging to prominent organizations over the last few months, now more than ever, it is important to think twice before we hit “send”.

Failing To Train New Employees On Their Desk Phones

It’s easy to assume that people know how to use their email client or smartphone, but what about their desk phone? With all of the models and variations out there, the features and functionality of a new desk phone may be completely new to your recent hire. That’s why it’s important to make sure they are trained on it. Any good business phone provider, including Introtel, will provide training services to your staff.

Failing to Respond to Voicemails

There’s no rule on acceptable time to respond to your voicemail messages. Instead of responding quickly with incomplete information, it is better to wait to respond when you are able to address everything in the message. Furthermore, if your caller asked you to call them back, don’t send an email. Likewise, if they give you the option to respond by email or by phone, use the method that best helps you communicate your point. The main goal is to give your caller the information they need, in the timeliest manner. In general, people in our offices respond to voicemails within the same business day or at most, up to one business day later.

Speaking More and Listening Less

To stay on top of any situation, stop speaking and listen. When you listen more than you speak, you open yourself up to learning and empathy — which in turn help you accomplish more.

Transferring Customers To Numerous Departments

Having dedicated representatives to take customer calls is one of the most important customer relationship management plans you can put in place. If you have ever called a company and been transferred to department after department, you understand how frustrating it can be. That’s why as a business, you should have a plan to deal with sales inquiries, complaints, and general questions. It may sound simple but all too often, businesses fail to plan for this and therefore risk losing customers.

Are you guilty of making any of the communication mistakes above? Let us know in the comments section!

By the experts at Introtel

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SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT BODY WITH UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

Digital Transformation

Colleges and universities have undergone a drastic technological transformation. Across multiple campuses, thousands of students are continually connected, working on multiple devices simultaneously. Because of this change, students, faculty and administrators alike have new needs – and new expectations – when it comes to communications technology.

A recent study of undergraduates and information technology found that 19 out of 20 undergrads own a laptop or smartphone while almost one-third own a laptop, smartphone and a tablet. The majority of professors use technology as part of the learning environment, but not enough put it to work for value-added efforts, such as engaging with students and fostering critical thinking. Increasingly, students favor a blended learning environment that has at least some components online.

The study’s results present colleges and universities with an opportunity. Robust and sophisticated unified communications systems enable them to provide the level of technological engagement undergraduates want.

A deeper dive demonstrates the many ways unified communications improves student outcomes and delivers innovation to your campus – and beyond.

How Unified Communications Empowers Students

Unified communications helps improve student outcomes in four ways:

Collaboration: Unified communications makes teamwork simple. Whether students are in different locations on campus or working remotely, they can easily communicate and collaborate. Sharing lecture notes, exchanging ideas and conducting research become simple with the integration of messaging and conferencing apps, G Suite and Outlook. Even students who are sick, working at an internship or traveling abroad can still participate in class sessions.

Mobility: Unified communications supports today’s mobility by keeping students connected at all times. As they move between classrooms, campuses or even off-campus, they can still access the university’s communications system through the school’s WAN. Full access to all tools is available regardless of device, location and network. Mobile apps keep distance learners engaged and a part of the larger university community. This has become more important as the number of remote students continues to increase: More than one in four students now take at least one distance education course.

Productivity: Audio, web and video conferencing enable students to communicate effectively, while messaging and other collaboration apps provide access to all of the necessary materials and resources needed to complete work efficiently. The added face-to-face benefit of video conferencing improves communication and productivity. Real-time communications keeps students informed of events and campus information.

Safety and security: Mass notifications enable campus administrators to issue emergency alerts in real-time whenever necessary. Campus police and security are notified when a 911 call is made, while built-in messaging allows texts to be sent from a desktop, creating more options if a crisis occurs.

Colleges And Universities Need These Key UC Features

IP communications that permit students to work remotely at any location within reach of WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi and broadband networks.

Audio, web and video conferencing integrated into the communications system.

Unified messaging that allows users to manage all voicemail boxes from a single interface and access their messages anytime, anywhere and from any device.

Multimedia outbound notification so faculty and staff can remind students about events, deadlines and emergency situations.

Open APIs that allow colleges and universities to build solutions tailored to their campus size and needs A flexible architecture allows schools to easily expand and add services as needs change and scale down during the quieter summer sessions.

Dynamic extensions that support students’ multimedia dependence. A user’s profile can be associated with multiple devices. Users can manage the presence of each device to fit their work pattern, so students and faculty are always reachable regardless of where they are working and which device they’re using.

College and university students require a sophisticated communications system that provides collaboration, personalization and integration. UC enables universities to deliver all of the tools and support students need to complete their academic work efficiently, communicate effectively and be kept safe.

When these critical capabilities are available within the academic environment, students are enabled to maximize scores and universities can attract top academic talent well into the future.

Source:Mitel

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HOW THE CLOUD ACCELERATES CHANGE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Digital Transformation, Productivity & Efficiency

The consumer sits on her sofa, tablet in hand, shopping for a friend’s perfect birthday gift. After finding a website that creates customized t-shirts, she spends a few minutes crafting her message and, with a few taps, sends the order.

But will it arrive in time for her friend’s birthday? The site promises a delivery within five days. The customer will receive emails notifying her of order completion and shipping status.

Ten years ago, this scenario was hard to imagine. Now it’s the norm. Customers expect the products they order online to be delivered to their doorstep – in perfect condition – within days. You have to wonder: How is manufacturing, distribution and the entire supply chain adapting to these expectations? What’s the future for supply chain management, and how is cloud communications accelerating these changes?

The Cloud In Product Design

When GE Appliances wanted to improve its design process, it opened lines of communication directly to its customers. GE’s FirstBuild website enables consumers to submit ideas and comment on products in development. They can even work alongside GE staff in the FirstBuild microfactory in Louisville, Ky. Products are developed, designed and manufactured all in the same location.

This trend of collaborating directly with customers is gaining speed. IDC predicts that by 2019, 50 percent of manufacturers will involve consumers in the design process using virtual reality, product virtualization and other cloud-based tools. It anticipates product success rates improving up to 25 percent as a result.

At the same time, a Gartner survey reports that a lack of visibility across the supply chain and difficulty with cross-functional collaboration are two challenges that remain to be solved. To overcome them, many companies are looking at “digital twins,” virtual versions of an actual product, system or facility that incorporates real information like the internet of things (IoT) or simulation data into the design process. According to Gartner, nearly 50 percent of the organizations implementing IoT reported either using digital twins or planning to use them in 2018. As a result, their supply chain stakeholders will use cloud communications to “see” the product, provide input and troubleshoot, increasing product success and reducing long-term costs.

Data, Data And More Data

Today’s businesses are awash in data. This can be good – or frustrating. Many organizations struggle with the amount of data they have to process quickly and effectively. The sources of data are many: IoT devices, inventory systems, customer feedback, logistics and weather conditions, to name just a few.
Industry clouds and cloud-based commerce networks help supply chain partners share and analyze data pertinent to their vertical, avoiding supply disruptions and improving the overall performance of all participants. Fundamental to this process is the use of open and flexible cloud architectures, which allows data to flow from both inside and outside the organization.

“The cloud provides the mechanism for not only data sharing, analysis, and collaboration or joint ventures but also integration with even more data sources, such as environmental conditions (weather or traffic) or customer demand signals,” explains IDC’s report. The research firm predicts that by 2020, three-fourths of all manufacturers will participate in industry clouds, while 80 percent of supply chain interactions will occur across cloud-based commerce networks.

Automation has a role to play in all of this, too. IoT devices can communicate automatically, processing data and responding in pre-determined ways without human intervention. This sequence of events, called edge analytics, uses cloud communications to execute actions, such as calling police or fire departments when a sensor detects conditions that warrant an immediate, local response.

Experts agree that cloud communications has revolutionized supply chain management and will continue to do so. Manufacturers, suppliers, designers and distributors can now collaborate and share data that wasn’t accessible just a few years ago. The result? Products that meet consumers’ demands and, ultimately, generate profit all along the supply chain.

Source:Mitel

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3 ECOMMERCE TRENDS THAT UC HELPS RETAILERS EMBRACE

Digital Transformation

Digital technologies have disrupted the retail industry in numerous and significant ways. According to Forrester, half of all retail sales occur online today. By 2022, the analyst firm predicts, that will increase to 58 percent.

While Amazon is a major factor behind that wave, a lot of other things are at play as well. For one thing, the introduction of smartphones and new communications channels have dramatically reshaped the shopping experience. In fact, Forrester says mobile is driving much of the growth in online sales. Change won’t abate any time soon, either, as existing technologies evolve and improve, and new ones, like artificial intelligence, mature.

Connecting With Shoppers Becomes More Complex

Thus, retailers compete in an ever more complex environment. In particular, three trends will continue to impact how they connect with shoppers: mobility, omnichannel customer experience and artificial intelligence.

To take the complexity out of the equation, invest in a unified communications (UC) solution. By embracing UC, retailers can connect with consumers in every channel, anticipate what shoppers want and deliver a better experience. Here’s how.

Mobile first. As Forrester points out, more consumers use mobile devices to order to purchase goods and services. With support for mobility, UC extends the reach and availability of your sales and customer service teams. For example, consumers often have question. When they do, they’re quick to launch a phone call directly from your website or digital ad.

Unified communications expands your ability to answer these calls. If sales people aren’t at their desk, the call is directed to their mobile device. During holiday seasons, customer service teams can scale quickly to handle growing volume.

UC also gives retailers the tools they need to launch their own mobile app, which makes it easy for customers to resolve problems on their own, or interact with an agent via chat.

Omnichannel customer experience. Today’s consumers frequently begin their product research online. Beyond the company website, they’ll seek referrals and recommendations from friends, peers and social networks. And even though much of this starts online, consumers often head to the store to make their purchase.

To engage consumers at each step, retailers must follow customers as they move seamlessly between channels. Unified communications makes delivering an omnichannel customer experience possible. With it, retailers can connect with consumers through their channel of choice: via phone or email, in social media or on chat. And when retailers integrate CRM applications, their customer support teams have the information they need to deliver the highly personalized experience that consumers expect.

Artificial intelligence. While AI may seem futuristic, it’s within the grasp of all retailers. Paired with CRM integration, unified communications provides sales and customer support teams with comprehensive access to customer history and information. And it’s just an early step.

This same data can also be used to power chatbots. For instance, the consumer might come to the retailer’s website to ask a specific question. A chatbot, tapping into an extensive database of FAQs, can lead a nuanced conversation. With AI, the technology can address customers by first name, find relevant answers based on past purchase history and connect them to an agent if they have more complicated requests. In time, consumers will be able to use bots to place an order.

Retailers will be subjected to continued disruption over the next several years, so it’s crucial for them to future-proof their businesses now. By deploying unified communications, retail IT teams will be able to adapt quickly, adding new services and applications as their businesses grow and shopping behaviors change and evolve.

While the customer journey was once much simpler, the omnichannel experience offers plenty of advantages for retailers. With more touchpoints, they have an unprecedented opportunity to cultivate stronger relationships. Unified communications can help them excel in every channel and build customer loyalty.

Source:Mitel

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CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS DELIVERS A SIMPLER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Digital Transformation

Buying a car has to be one of the most complex and pricey transactions a consumer ever makes. That’s because the road to a new car is almost never straight: Instead, buyers must twist and turn through automotive marketing, conducting their own research, evaluating options and connecting with potential dealers.

During their journey, car buyers tap into website resources, reach out for recommendations on social media, visit dealerships and follow up with questions. The result? They swerve between channels dozens of times before making a decision.

From the shopper’s perspective, this is a single, ongoing conversation, not a series of disjointed discussions. Yet, while many dealerships – like other retailers – believe they’re engaged in omnichannel retailing, they’re really pursuing a multi-channel strategy. All too often, their infrastructure has created silos. For example, they may have one phone number for their physical store and another for their e-commerce division. As a result, they engage with consumers in each channel separately.

For many, this is the result of legacy telecommunications systems that fall short. These platforms make it impossible to stitch all of their channels into a cohesive whole. But cloud communications technology enables retailers to transform their approach and deliver a the way consumers expect it to be: as a single, ongoing conversation.

“It’s time to stop focusing on distinct channels and instead run the total business in a way that puts the consumer first,” advises Andrew Hogenson, Advisory Principal for Consumer Products & Retail, West Region, Ernst & Young LLP. He argues that omnichannel is becoming the standard approach to retail.

Indeed, as shoppers move seamlessly between channels – from website to chat to in-store visit and back to the website again – they don’t make a distinction among channels. Consumers expect retailers to know everything about their journey to date – and provide appropriate service at each touchpoint.

Retailers can meet these expectations with cloud communications. Here’s how it works.

CRM integration. By integrating customer information and history into the contact center, agents can enter a conversation midstream and pick up the thread. The customer doesn’t have to repeat information, and the experience moves forward, rather than stalls.

Mobility. The moment a customer makes the decision to buy is critical for retailers. If the salesperson misses the consumer’s call, they risk losing the sale as the buyer moves on to the next competitor on the list. Cloud communications enables retailers to equip their sales team with mobile apps and devices. Not only do missed calls become a thing of the past, but the salesperson has seamless access to the customer’s details and history of engagement.

Social media. As more shoppers seek opinions about possible purchases on social media, retailers have a line of sight into potential sales. Using the cloud, social media can be integrated into contact center and communications applications. Retailers can move buyers from social media to chat with ease, which enables them to build trust and, ultimately, customer loyalty.

From bot to human. In the research phase, 90 percent of consumers will visit the company’s website. It’s common at this point to have more questions, and buyers will expect fast answers. Chat bots help retailers respond in these moments of need. At any point in the conversation, buyers can ask to speak with a representative and the chat bot will transfer them to a person.

Such seamless and personalized interactions significantly enhance the customer experience. By putting the customer first and designing a journey based on the customer’s expectations, retailers eliminate the danger of silos and deliver a true omnichannel retailing experience. And that’s what builds customer loyalty.

Source:Mitel

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EARNING THE GRADE IN SCHOOL SPENDING WITH CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS

Digital Transformation

Students are already enjoying their summer. But school and university administrators have different summer plans: They’re working. And one of the most pressing issues they face is how to allocate budget among dozens of competing priorities. Among the most crucial areas: communications.

Administrators and IT staff don’t already see how their needs are evolving. Today’s faculty, students and families are more mobile than ever. Not only are they tied to their smartphones, they rely on an array of devices from tablets to laptops. They also demand more remote learning, more collaborative workspaces and universal device support.

All this leads to one conclusion: Schools and universities must adapt. Fortunately, cloud communications provides the features and functionality that modern students and faculty require.

One advantage of cloud communications is that it’s flexible enough to meet current needs. As requirements change, applications can be added with minimal effort, and both administrators and IT get more from their budgets because these investments are incremental.

Summer is an ideal time to deploy new communications technology and adopt new capabilities. Let’s look at a few cloud applications that modernize your communications without breaking your budget.

API integration allows universities and schools to extract more value from existing solutions. Integration with learning management systems such as Google Classroom and Schoology, as well as applications like Outlook and G Suite, create a collaborative environment that extends school hours beyond the traditional. Faculty have easy access to emails and voicemails on any device and network. Students receive real-time help on questions after normal hours and can collaborate with other students and teachers on projects quickly and efficiently. Lesson-specific resources can be made available, saving students time and enriching the learning environment.

Video capabilities, particularly video conferencing, enable administrators in various locations and campuses to have face-to-face meetings, which are more productive and engaging. Travel expenses are kept to a minimum while productivity remains high. Parents are afforded more flexible times for conferences with teachers, better accommodating working parents.

Voicemail to email transcription saves time for administrators and faculty and provides a choice regarding the preferred method to review messages.

Full call recording and archiving for IMs, phone calls, and web and audio conferences provide a searchable and secure database for school communications. This can be especially useful for staying on top of parent communications. Engaging with dozens of parents is challenging, but the ability to effortlessly keep a record can help teachers ensure every question or concern is answered and parents are receiving critical messages.

Salesforce or other CRM integrations empower university contact centers to create personalized experiences for outbound campaigns. Alumni relationships remain strong, forming a foundation for more successful fundraising efforts. Inbound text messages and calls made by K-12 parents can be addressed promptly with a quick look-up of the student’s record. Call time is reduced, and questions are answered quickly.

NJPA: Ease The Solicitation Headache

Summer goes fast. Schools and universities don’t have a lot of time to research vendors, send out requests for proposals, analyze the options and make the best choice. Sourcewell simplifies the process.

Sourcewell creates national cooperative contract purchasing solutions on behalf of its members. Membership is free and is open to all K-12 and higher-education institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

Sourcewell completes the competitive solicitation and contract process for its members. You save time and can be assured that you’re offered quality products and services at competitive prices. You are presented with the best choices, while still having the freedom to search on your own should you choose. A Sourcewell membership is a great way for schools and universities to get the best price for cloud communications without having to worry about the quality of the technology.

Your classrooms may be empty during the summer, but your budget planning meetings are packed. Summer is the time to make the right decision about how to make your campus a more productive, engaging, collaborative and safe place for your students and staff. Cloud communications checks all of these boxes and more, and it can save you money with reduced overhead, maintenance and training costs. Leveraging Sourcewell simplifies the vendor selection process so you can be up and running before the first bell rings.

Source:Mitel

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BUILDING BLOCKS: CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS HELP SCHOOLS ADVANCE

Digital Transformation

Parents with kids in K-12 want more from schools when it comes to communications. A recent report from Blackboard and Project Tomorrow found these families expect information to be delivered to them. But At the same time, they don’t want to be inundated with unnecessary messages.

Combine these expectations with students’ use of mobile devices and a faculty that struggles to find the time to communicate, and schools are faced with a tremendous communications challenge.

It’s not surprising, then, that many K-12 schools are making the move to cloud communications. In fact, the global cloud computing market in education is expected to grow at a rate of more than 26 percent per year until 2021.

However, moving toward cloud communications doesn’t mean facilities have to rip out existing systems all at once. Many K-12 schools are on tight budgets, without enough money to replace an old system in its entirety. Fortunately, schools can leverage existing infrastructure while still delivering the innovation and latest technologies offered by cloud communications.

In fact, the case for migrating communications to the cloud has never been greater. Consider the following benefits the cloud offers K-12 schools, and how taking advantage of them isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition.

Cloud Communications Raises The Bar

Improved safety: With cloud communications, administrators can proactively share information during an emergency. Enhanced 911 (E-911) service provides on-site notification and dispatch to facilitate the immediate response of trained on-site personnel, in compliance with E-911 legislation.

Mass notification: Parents remain updated with the latest information on school events, changes to schedules and other important information. Administrators have the flexibility to communicate with parents via SMS, email or voice, so families can be contacted by their preferred channel.

Collaboration: Integration with G Suite, Learning Management Systems, collaboration tools and SMS apps enables teachers to create a more collaborative learning environment. Communication can continue in real-time via video and chat so questions are always answered. Homework hotlines and remote tutoring extend the classroom into the home.

Lower total cost of ownership (TCO): Antiquated phone systems don’t offer now-standard features like mass notification and mobile support. Schools often have to bolt on solutions piecemeal to deliver the functionality they need. On top of that, older systems can end up costing more money to maintain. A cloud communications solution is simple to install and comes with lower maintenance costs that can save schools up to $70,000 per year. The ability to easily and quickly scale your system lowers costs during the summer months when facilities are typically closed.

How To Add Cloud Services To Existing Infrastructure

If your school isn’t ready to replace your existing infrastructure all at once, you can still reap the benefits of cloud communications.

VoIP technology means your school’s voice calls, as well as video and data, are transmitted over the internet instead of the publicly switched telephone network (PSTN). VoIP eliminates the need for a separate voice network. IP PBX systems use the internet to make calls, thus reducing phone bills. New means of communication, like video conferencing, are more affordable and can be provided within budget.

A hybrid solution gives you the cloud’s features and cost-savings while maintaining some on-site control. This is a great way to slowly migrate to a complete cloud solution.

A flexible system architecture allows schools to maximize current on-site infrastructure while delivering modern capabilities required to meet parent, student and teacher expectations. Start with the pieces you need now, and easily add more when you’re ready to expand. Get the most out of your existing systems and slowly replace them over time.

Easily connect data in legacy systems to cloud-based systems. As you continue to migrate to the cloud, students and faculty can be confident they’ll have seamless, 24/7 access to all data.

A secure connection between the cloud and your on-site network keeps data secure and accessible at all times.

Cloud communications delivers simplicity with functionality. K-12 schools need this type of centralized, integrated and unified approach to provide an effective, robust communications solution to faculty, students and parents. A slow migration to the cloud enables schools to maximize the ROI on existing infrastructure and deliver a system with modern features at the same time.

As existing systems continue to depreciate and become too expensive or difficult to replace, the migration process can proceed at a pace that works for your budget.

Source:Mitel