Consider this: 82 percent of UK SMEs rate telecomms as a medium or high priority investment – yet 61 percent know little or nothing about hosted voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) solutions.
This discovery was made from a survey* we commissioned in order to get a deeper understanding of the perceptions around cloud telephony in the UK.
Despite the recent explosion in cloud computing, awareness of cloud phone solutions is significantly lacking. Many businesses, it appears, have yet to realise that cloud telephony offers significant benefits.
Just how substantial are these benefits? Look at the opinions of those who are familiar with hosted VoIP. Four out of every five people in this cohort would make the switch to a hosted solution, against 26 percent of those currently operating a traditional private branch exchange (PBX) system.
Those SMEs that currently use or would choose to purchase hosted VoIP cite three main reasons for doing so:
1. The potential to save time and money.
2. Ease of set-up and management through smartphones and tablets.
3. The ability to use one number for all locations.
System features also play a critical role in purchasing decisions. Directory integration, conferencing, call recording capabilities and instant messaging between employees were particularly popular features among hosted VoIP users.
It would seem as familiarity with cloud telephony increases, the level of reliance on VoIP also shoots up. The proof of the pudding really is in the eating.
If you’re considering switching to a hosted phone solution, you can find out all about the features and their benefits right here.
You can even sign up for a free trial of RingCentral Office and see them in action for yourself straight away.
*Survey of UK business owners and decision makers with 2-250 employees. Q4 2013, Circle Research.
Originally published Mar 10, 2014, updated Aug 21, 2020
