{"id":46125,"date":"2024-06-15T18:08:29","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T01:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=46125"},"modified":"2025-03-13T08:42:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T15:42:08","slug":"what-is-cloud-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/what-is-cloud-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"What is cloud communications? A guide for businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To boost revenue and drive growth, businesses from startups to established enterprises are implementing and embracing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/solutions\/office\/call.html\">cloud based phone system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jiawertz\/2024\/02\/06\/from-startups-to-giants-the-role-of-the-cloud-in-business-growth\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">approximately 94% of companies <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">worldwide<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are using cloud technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and 85% of companies are forecast to embrace a cloud-first principle by 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In today\u2019s digital world, cloud technology is changing how people communicate, collaborate, and do business. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/5-use-cases-for-cloud-communications-in-the-healthcare-sector\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud computing has driven innovations in the healthcare sector<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Internet of Things (IoT), devices, autonomous vehicles, mobile apps, and machine learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, cloud computing has changed business telecommunications forever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is cloud communications?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everything you need to know about cloud communications. For beginners.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u2b50 <strong>What is UCaaS?<\/strong> \u2b50<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Everything you need to know about unified communications. For beginners.<\/p>\n<p><center><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"download-form-widget enterprise-download-form\" data-url=\"https:\/\/netstorage.ringcentral.com\/documents\/unified-communications-as-a-service.pdf\" data-id=\"69e21309796f0\" id=\"69e21309796f0\">\n\t\t<button tabindex=\"on\"  on=\"tap:69e21309796f0.toggleClass(class='open')\" class=\"open-modal-download-action download-form-button\" type=\"submit\">See the guide<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"download-form-modal\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-body\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-content\">\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-title\">What is cloud communications? Here's our complete guide.<\/div>\n<form class=\"download-form ENTERPRISE\" method=\"post\">\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"download-form-input\" aria-label=\"Full Name\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" type=\"text\" name=\"fullname\" placeholder=\"Full Name\" data-dl-events-hover=\"true\" data-dl-element=\"text\" data-dl-additional-info=\"enterprise download form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"download-form-input\" aria-label=\"Email (please enter a work email address)\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" type=\"email\" autocomplete=\"on\" name=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email (please enter a work email address)\" data-dl-events-hover=\"true\" data-dl-element=\"email\" data-dl-additional-info=\"enterprise download form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"popup_form\" value=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"Asset_ID__c\" value=\"ODAM-02215\" class=\"download-form-input\"><\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"Lead_Entry_Source__c\" value=\"RC Blog Enterprise\" class=\"download-form-input\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-part\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"download-form-submit\" type=\"submit\" data-dl-element=\"button\" data-no-auto-dl=\"true\" data-dl-additional-info=\"enterprise download form\" data-dl-name=\"Download Now\">Download Now<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<button on=\"tap:69e21309796f0.toggleClass(class='open')\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"  class=\"download-form-modal-close\"><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"download-form-modal-thank\"> Enjoy!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/span><\/center><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, you will uncover the important aspects of cloud communications as we unpack exactly what this term encompasses and how cloud computing can streamline business processes and drive success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re going to discuss:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#cloud-communications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is cloud communications?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#communication-platform\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a communication platform?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#how-do\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do communication platforms work?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#common-cloud-based\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some common cloud-based communication platforms?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#typical-communications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the typical communications used in cloud computing?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#ucaas\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#benefits-of-switching\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits of switching to a unified communications <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">platform<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#choose-the-right-cloud\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to choose the right cloud communications software for your business<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#use-cases\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications use cases<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#future\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future of cloud communications<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"cloud-communications\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"one\"><\/a>What is cloud communications?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud-based communications refers to internet-based voice and data communications for businesses, enabled by tools hosted by a third party in the cloud.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By using cloud communications providers to outsource systems management responsibilities like switching, provisioning, data storage, and security, businesses can do more than just <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/evaluating-the-cost-savings-of-switching-from-on-premises-to-cloud-pbx\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce costs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations also receive advanced features and functionality that enable their employees to communicate and collaborate in ways\u2014and places\u2014that they never would have thought possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The definition of cloud communications<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we talk about \u201cthe cloud\u201d, we\u2019re referring to a global network of remote servers, and the software and databases that run on them. Cloud communications is defined as any communication that takes place via this network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications platforms are hosted by service providers, so users don\u2019t need on-site servers or physical phone lines. You can access the platform through any internet-connected device, and communicate via phone, video, messaging, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This makes it possible to reduce overheads, work remotely, and easily scale your business by adding extra users or upgrading to a higher subscription plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"communication-platform\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"two\"><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cloud-based <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">communication platform?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud-based business communications solutions enable organizations to improve workflows and share information in real time through the cloud.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These cloud-based systems allow co-located and remote teams to collaborate and communicate instantly via team messaging, video conferencing, or phone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"three\"><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do cloud communication platforms work?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once connected, the user is added to a group or team where members can send text messages, share files, and work on projects with synchronous communication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, they can integrate business apps into a single platform to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/how-a-single-communications-platform-can-take-you-from-app-overload-to-effortless\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">optimize productivity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/ringex.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingEX by RingCentral<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a robust communications platform that breaks down the barriers between various communication methods and saves you time on tasks that used to consume your valuable work hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With RingCentral\u2019s cloud communication solution, you can expect streamlined workflows thanks to our AI technologies, as well as context-aware interactions and intelligence, bringing a wealth of benefits to your workday and every interaction within your organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"common-cloud-based\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some common cloud-based communication platforms?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are countless cloud-based communication solutions on the market provided by a variety of cloud communications companies. Some examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral RingEX<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Workspace<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Teams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slack<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salesforce<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-46130 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/cloud-comms-1.png\" alt=\"Cloud communication has numerous benefits for businesses; like being able to handle comms on both laptops and cell phones.\" width=\"930\" height=\"700\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"typical-communications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the key communications channels and solutions used in cloud computing?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are some of the typical communication channels used in cloud computing and the solutions\u2014including cloud-based unified communications platforms\u2014that can help you harness them:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP-based phone calls<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Voice over Internet Protocol (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/what-are-benefits-using-voip.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is one of the key technologies used in cloud communication. Modern businesses and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/call-center.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">call centers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increasingly use VoIP for inbound and outbound calls. VoIP-based systems are easier to set up and boast more extensive features as compared to landlines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations have also increasingly adapted to technology trends, and workforces are now often remote or hybrid. VoIP phone systems, then, are crucial as they provide a flexible and robust solution, enabling dispersed teams to stay connected across geographical borders and deliver integrated and seamless customer experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does cloud telephony work?<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/features\/voip\/overview.html\">VoIP phone service providers<\/a> route business phone calls by converting analog voice signals into data packets. Those packets are then transmitted via an internet connection\u2014rather than relying on traditional landlines or cellular networks.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re then reconstituted into audio at the other end of the call\u2014instantaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Users can communicate with colleagues and customers with a single click using any internet-connected device like a softphone, computer, tablet, or smartphone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business owners can manage their cloud-based communications platform or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with an online dashboard that provides control over phone numbers, adding and removing users, call monitoring, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/five-business-benefits-of-cloud-telephony\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">benefits of cloud telephony<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for businesses are numerous. Some key advantages of cloud-based communications systems like those offered by RingCentral include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cost-efficiency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reduces costs associated with installing and maintaining conventional on-site <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/solutions\/small-business.html\">business phone systems<\/a> and the equipment they require (e.g., handsets, copper wiring, and call center hardware).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mobility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Access complete phone system functionality from anywhere with internet connectivity. Users can make calls, listen to voicemail, fax messages, or view caller activity anytime, anywhere.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Flexibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Employees don\u2019t have to be in the office anymore. They can make and take calls remotely from a computer or mobile device.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scalability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A cloud phone system can grow as your business grows. Businesses can easily add or remove lines to suit their needs, and monthly payment plans keep costs manageable for growing small businesses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Productivity<\/b>: Calling features such as auto-attendant, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center\/interactive-voice-response.html\">IVR<\/a>, call forwarding, and call recording can boost agent productivity and enable customer service teams to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/the-importance-of-effective-communication-in-the-workplace\/\">communicate effectively<\/a> with colleagues, business partners, and customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud-hosted private branch exchange (Cloud PBX)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PBX stands for private branch exchange, which is a private telephone network that offers call management features such as queuing and forwarding. Traditionally, you\u2019d have had to house this system on your own premises, requiring space for the hardware and serious money to install and maintain it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/cloud-pbx.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud PBX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provides the same service, but it\u2019s hosted remotely by a vendor and accessed via the internet. There\u2019s no need for expensive hardware\u00ad\u2014and you get more advanced call management features alongside video and messaging capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\">Video conferencing<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video conferencing is another method of communication made possible and accessible by cloud communications technology. In today\u2019s world of dispersed teams and a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/what-is-remote-work-why-is-it-important-for-business\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote workforce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the ability to communicate face-to-face via <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/video-call.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video calls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is invaluable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike traditional phone calls, video calls let participants fully express themselves. Real-time video conveys all the emotions, expressions, and tonality that an in-person meeting would.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/video\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral Video<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers conferencing features like screen sharing and screen recording, which boost productivity by making it easier for teams to collaborate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s more, with VoIP solutions available on mobile devices, teams can communicate and collaborate by joining video meetings on-the-go from anywhere in the world. Joining a meeting is simple. All it takes is a single click.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether your team has been remote for a while or has recently shifted to this mode of working, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/video-meeting-practices-collaboration-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video meetings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> fuel meaningful interactions and boost employee engagement among dispersed teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-46127 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/cloud-comms-2.jpg\" alt=\" An employee on a video call on their laptop; perhaps utilizing a cloud communications platform.\" width=\"930\" height=\"700\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Messaging and business SMS<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Text chat and business SMS allow businesses to send and receive text messages between teams, customers, and departments using their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/business-phone-numbers.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business phone number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This method of communication is useful for sharing information quickly, without having to initiate a phone\/video chat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud business communications solutions offer team chat so employees can discuss projects and tasks efficiently. Moreover, switching between a text chat and a phone\/video meeting is simple as all your communications needs are in one place. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">File sharing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data storage, sharing, and backup on the cloud provide increased security and collaboration capabilities for both co-located and dispersed teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With cloud-based file sharing and storage, teams can access data and project resources instantly via a continuously updated database.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is particularly beneficial for teams collaborating remotely who might be located in different time zones, as there\u2019s no need to rely on inefficient email chains to get the necessary answers or information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importantly, cloud storage improves business continuity as data and files remain backed up and safe in the cloud, even if a disaster strikes or there\u2019s a system outage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You could have separate systems for phone, video, instant messaging, and the rest. But wouldn\u2019t it be better if you could access all your comms channels from one interface?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s what<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/what-is-ucaas\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gives you. Those channels and services are seamlessly connected, so it\u2019s easy to switch between them\u2014and to find the data from previous conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS makes it much simpler to communicate with colleagues and customers, with no time wasted on toggling between different apps (or dealing with several different vendors). Just subscribe to the platform, choose the features you need, and access them from anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, we\u2019ll look at UCaaS in a bit more detail.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ucaas\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"four\"><\/a>What is Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/what-exactly-is-unified-communications-as-a-service\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UCaaS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the most comprehensive examples of cloud communications solutions. Unified communications platforms bring together all the channels we discussed above in one place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As such, these platforms provide businesses with a fully functional and unified communication infrastructure hosted on the cloud. With so many benefits, it\u2019s little surprise that UCaaS subscriber growth rate reached a lofty <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1235146\/unified-communications-as-a-service-subscriber-growth\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">41% in 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> alone. With a UCaaS solution like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/ringex.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingEX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can tap into a single communications platform and access: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-time communication (video, voice, message)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non real-time communications (fax, SMS, voicemail)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call center features (call routing, call forwarding, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A personal AI assistant that provides note taking, sentiment analysis, and post-call highlights<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An integration with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/ringcx.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to provide a robust customer experience functionality at an attractive price<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over 300 integrations with your favorite apps (plus APIs to build your own)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-time analytics that will transform your way of working<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software that has globally recognized security and privacy third-party certifications.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe\" id=\"new-rc-subscribe\"  style=\"background-image:url('\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ringcentral\/assets\/images\/temp\/subscribe.png')\">\n\t\t<button class=\"close js-popup-close\"><svg class=\"icon_close_mobile\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\"><use xlink:href=\"#icon_close_mobile\"><\/use><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__wrapper_text\">\n<h3 class=\"rc-subscribe__title h2\">Stay informed with RingCentral<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__subtitle\">Subscribe to our emails for the latest blogs, events, and exclusive content on AI-powered communication solutions. Stay ahead with insights and tips from the leader in trusted AI communications.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/legal\/privacy-notice.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-dl-name=\"Privacy Notic\" data-dl-element=\"link\" data-dl-additional-info=\"social\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Privacy Notice<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__wrapper_form\">\n<form class=\"\" data-event-init=\"true\" novalidate data-js-form>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tname=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Email address *\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Must be valid email. example@yourdomain.com\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tminlength=\"4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaxlength=\"255\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequired\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpattern=\"[a-z0-9._%+\\-]+@[a-z0-9.\\-]+\\.[a-z]{2,}$\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"field__control\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tautocomplete=\"on\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-required=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-dl-events-hover=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-dl-element=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-dl-additional-info=\"LET'S WORK TOGETHER\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Email address *\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-errormessage=\"email-subscribe-errors\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"field__errors\" id=\"email-subscribe-errors\" data-js-form-field-errors><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<select\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tname=\"Country__c\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequired\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"field__control\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-required=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Country *\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-errormessage=\"country-subscribe-errors\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t><option value=\"\" disabled=\"disabled\" selected=\"selected\">Country<\/option><option value=\"Canada\">Canada<\/option><option value=\"United_States\">United States<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"field__errors\" id=\"country-subscribe-errors\" data-js-form-field-errors><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"rc-subscribe__row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"submit\" data-event-init=\"true\">Subscribe<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"confirm-form\" role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" style=\"display: none;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"confirm-form__text\">Thank you for your interest in RingCentral<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"benefits-of-switching\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"five\"><\/a>Benefits<strong> of switching to a unified\u00a0communications platform<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all communications platforms are created equal. Some will do more for your business than others. However, there are some general <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/five-business-benefits-of-cloud-telephony\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">benefits of a cloud communications platform<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you can look forward to:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved flexibility and productivity<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a UC platform, businesses can access a host of services that provide communication in the cloud from one centralized location.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An integrated system means employees can enjoy the flexibility of various platforms and the ability to seamlessly switch between them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does this provide convenience, it also boosts employee productivity as employees spend less time switching between platforms and struggling to communicate with other team members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingEX combines synchronous and asynchronous communications for a robust platform that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/teams\/overview.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enables teams to connect and collaborate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across multiple channels and devices. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap into a remote workforce<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a UCaaS solution like RingEX, businesses can enable employees and teams to connect, collaborate, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/3-reasons-why-work-from-anywhere-is-better-than-work-from-home\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work from anywhere<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether that\u2019s from home, a coworking space, or a country halfway across the globe, they can benefit from using an integrated cloud communications solution and collaborate with their colleagues as if they were in the same room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-46128 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/cloud-comms-3-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing the right cloud communication platform can help employees work from anywhere; like a coffee shop.\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\">Cost savings<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral\u2019s RingEx offers a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/evaluating-the-cost-savings-of-switching-from-on-premises-to-cloud-pbx\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cost-effective solution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for businesses. When we compare on-premises vs. cloud communications, it\u2019s easy to see that a cloud communications solution takes away the costs associated with on-premises hardware and the maintenance of legacy systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a cloud communication system, there\u2019s also less need for business travel and the costs of long-distance business calls to landlines no longer have to be factored into a company\u2019s budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, RingCentral\u2019s pricing plans are straightforward and scalable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can start small with a basic plan and expand your platform as your business grows. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scalability<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main goals for every business is growth. Unified communications provides a solution that can grow as your business grows. You can\u2019t be certain where your business will be in a few years or predict how many phone lines you\u2019re going to need once your business starts to grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s where flexible solution providers like RingCentral can help. They can adapt and scale up or down as your business requirements change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This allows you to make changes from a unified dashboard so you won\u2019t have to rely on your service provider to add new numbers or deploy IT professionals every time you onboard new employees. This way, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/how-integrated-cloud-communications-systems-benefit-users-and-it-departments\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UC can benefit users and IT departments<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> alike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a unified cloud communication platform, you can enjoy access to unlimited call capacity and a fully scalable system that can adapt to your needs in periods of growth. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced data security<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>With the right UCaaS solution, all of your business and customer data is housed in secure, tier-one data centers monitored by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wiz.io\/academy\/security-operations-center-soc\">Security Operations Center (SOC)<\/a>.These data centers are managed by a highly skilled third party who understands the ins and outs of data security and regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This provides a huge advantage for small businesses without large IT departments or businesses spread across multiple locations. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"choose-the-right-cloud\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to choose the right cloud communications software for your business\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know the wealth of benefits that cloud communications software can offer your company, let&#8217;s help you ensure that you choose the right software for your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 1. Ascertain your business needs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to choose the right cloud communications software, it\u2019s vital to first of all understand exactly what your business needs in terms of internal and external communication. Only then, will you know which features are must-haves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many users will require access to the software? Are there any specific security features that are important to your business or industry? Which types of devices do you need the software to be compatible with?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2. Evaluate the most suitable cloud communications providers<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After you\u2019ve got a checklist of all the things you need from a cloud communications system, you should spend time assessing various cloud communications providers to see which ones offer the things you need<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014at a price that\u2019s within your budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also important to factor in whether any cloud communications solution you\u2019re considering can be integrated with your existing software, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a03. Consider the scalability of cloud communications solutions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s impossible to predict with 100% certainty how big<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014or small\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your business will be in five, ten, or twenty years. So, it\u2019s vital that you choose software that can adapt as the size of your company changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t want to commit yourself to software now that will be redundant in a few years because it isn\u2019t able to grow with your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also check out the user experience for any software that you\u2019re considering. There\u2019s no point in having software with great features if your staff struggle to use it or it takes a long time to get used to.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4. Analyze cloud communications software implementation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping a close eye on how your staff members are taking to the new software is important to ensure that your new cloud communication solution is working for your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collect reviews from people within your organization who have first-hand experience of using the new software. Doing this will allow you to refine your processes in the long run by implementing changes according to the feedback you receive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"use-cases\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications use cases<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses can put cloud communications software to use in various ways. Let\u2019s explore a few of the use cases in more detail:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 1. Hybrid and remote working<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where would remote and hybrid workers be without cloud communication software? They need it to communicate with their colleagues both in real time and asynchronously. Not only that but they also need it to facilitate communicating on the go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications makes it a whole lot easier to manage a remote or hybrid workforce. It allows businesses to save money on premises and equipment, and to recruit staff from anywhere in the world (which means access to the best talent).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, with more people demanding flexible working options, companies can offer this benefit to employees and candidates. Thanks to cloud comms, everyone can stay on the same page and increase productivity wherever and whenever they work. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2. Customer service<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone working in any type of role that involves customer service knows the importance of having access to top-notch software that can help provide an excellent customer experience that makes people want to return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cloud communications system with all the bells and whistles means that customer service agents have access to features that help them do their job to the best of their ability. For example, smart call routing, IVR menus, and automation for repetitive workflows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With cloud-based UCaaS you\u2019ll be able to create an omnichannel contact center so that customers can reach you by their preferred method. Agents will have instant access to previous interactions and customer data, while built-in analytics help you understand customer behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sales and lead generation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The efficiency of cloud communications also lends itself to sales, with reps able to communicate more smoothly with customers and prospects via multiple channels. Salespeople and marketers can easily share valuable customer data, and use it to create effective campaigns and improve products and services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, because cloud platforms can be accessed from anywhere, sales reps don\u2019t have to be in the same room as clients or leads when they make their pitch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video conferencing is ideal for showcasing products, holding meetings between sales teams in different locations, and networking with potential leads through webinars and virtual events.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4. Employee training<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to train new hires to get them up to speed as soon as possible or upskill existing employees? Setting up online training sessions via a cloud communications platform may be the way to go. That way, workers can join from any location (or catch up with a recording later).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll be able to train numerous staff members at once in a virtual classroom where everyone can see each other and share vital training resources that can be saved for future reference. Call recordings and transcripts are great for coaching agents and reps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 5. Business collaboration<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of having to spend time and money traveling to meet business associates, you can accomplish everything you need to do via a cloud communication solution. Conduct online meetings, manage projects, and have multiple staff members working on one document at the same time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud-based collaboration tools such as<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">digital whiteboards and breakout rooms are perfect for brainstorming, while screen-sharing during video calls helps teams to visualize and annotate files together. File sharing and task management features are often built into or integrated with a UCaaS platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"future\" class=\"heading h2\"><a id=\"six\"><\/a>The<strong> future of cloud communications is now<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the current era of digital transformation, optimizing your business communications with a cloud-based business model just makes sense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communication systems encompass much more than cloud telephony, hosted PBX, and UC. It\u2019s a whole new way of building, deploying, and scaling business communication systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With technology trends constantly evolving and remote and hybrid working being here to stay, it\u2019s clear that the need for communications services that transcend the traditional limitations of legacy systems is more significant than ever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future of cloud communications is likely to involve more mobilization, enhanced customization opportunities, and increased functionality that aligns with developments in business needs. One thing\u2019s for sure, cloud telephony is showing no signs of going away.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading h2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the main advantages of using cloud communications for business?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The numerous benefits of switching to cloud communications include flexibility, scalability, and potential cost savings. It\u2019s flexible not just because you can generally customize these solutions however you want, but also because they\u2019re perfect for hybrid or remote teams. Scalable, because you can quickly add or delete accounts as necessary. And because you don\u2019t have to maintain expensive on-site communications infrastructure, you\u2019ll save money too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Are cloud communications solutions secure and safe?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes\u2014\u00adas long as you choose a reputable provider! The vast majority of cloud communications providers prioritize security because it\u2019s a core element of their business offering. You\u2019ll generally find top-end encryption comes as standard, so you can rest assured that all your data is safe from prying eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, RingCentral encrypts data at rest and data in transit, and adds TLS encryption and SRTP secure voice.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s AI-based spam blocking and number masking for phone calls, plus end-to-end encryption via Message Layer Security (MLS).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, users can configure their own security settings, using single sign-on (SSO) and enforced multi-factor authentication (MFA). In video meetings, you can restrict attendance to authenticated users, remove participants, and control data file sharing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communications providers are well aware of data privacy compliance issues as well, so you can share information with confidence and in accordance with your own data governance protocols and industry-specific compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other advantage of storing data and files in a cloud-based platform (instead of on paper) is that they\u2019re less likely to go astray.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is meant by cloud communication?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cloud communication is a type of technology where communications take place via a worldwide network of servers, hosted in the cloud by a service provider and accessed remotely via the internet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses subscribe with their chosen provider, who owns the required infrastructure off-site. As the end user, you don\u2019t need any equipment on your premises. You just log into the platform and communicate with colleagues and customers using any internet-connected device.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is an example of device-to-cloud communication?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Device-to-cloud communication is when a smart device sends data to the cloud for storage and analysis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you have a smart security camera outside your office, it can automatically upload recorded footage to the cloud where you can access it remotely via the internet. It\u2019s also possible to fit sensors to products to gather data on how users interact with them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do cloud-based communications platforms drive customer engagement?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you use a cloud communication service, you\u2019ll find lots of ways to help customers to engage with your business. Because customer data from all channels is housed in one easily-accessible location, you\u2019ll have insights into preferences, behaviors, and common queries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use this to create personalized experiences and more user-friendly services, while advanced call management features mean faster response times.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To boost revenue and drive growth, businesses from startups to established enterprises are implementing and embracing a cloud based phone system.\u00a0 Today, approximately 94% of companies worldwide are using cloud technology, and 85% of companies are forecast to embrace a cloud-first principle by 2025. In today\u2019s digital world, cloud technology is changing how people communicate, &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":46126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17901,43334],"tags":[4606,1855,245,787],"class_list":["post-46125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-leadership","category-it","tag-ucaas","tag-cloud-communications","tag-it","tag-seo"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cloud Communications: Benefits, Use Cases, and More<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how cloud communications can supercharge collaboration within your workforce, whether team members are in the office or working remotely.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/what-is-cloud-communications\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is cloud communications? 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