Most organizations are still adapting to a fully remote workforce or a hybrid office model. It was most common for start-up companies that opted for a decentralized office environment as a way to cut overhead costs. It then became the only option for companies once pandemic restrictions were enforced, until it evolved into a preferred working model for several companies who realized the flexibility and even efficiency it allows.
The prevalence of communication technologies has vastly simplified working from home. As long as you have Internet access, connecting with your coworkers, clients and stakeholders and fulfilling your deliverables is feasible. However, it takes more than that to keep your remote workforce connected on a level that further promotes collaboration in a way that mimics the traditional office environment. This is where the true value of hosted PBX solutions for businesses can really be seen, thanks to its user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness and the level of functionalities it provides. Hosted PBX solutions are an ideal fit for organizations who seek to keep their remote workforce connected, collaborative and productive, all while cutting costs and keeping the bottom line healthy.
Hosted PBX Connects Remote Teams Economically.
It is easy to imagine the cost savings of hosted PBX in businesses. Instead of acquiring hardware-based phone systems for each employee–who is also likely to be in geographically dispersed locations–you can simply host your Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution on the cloud. Gone is the need to order, ship and configure the hardware for each remote employee. All you will need is for your team to install an app on their device, and that could be multiple devices they work from. This just doesn’t cut costs, but also simplifies the installation and set-up processes that can become grossly complicated when employees are working from home.
The initial setup costs are not the only part that is more or less waived with hosted PBX in businesses. The ongoing costs of legacy systems also disappear. Long-distance call rates that inevitably mount with the current global nature of most workforces no longer apply. Conferencing functionalities, which are perhaps imperative for genuinely collaborative team meetings to happen, also become easily facilitated.
Hosted PBX solutions in business typically work via the software-as-a-service model. The traditional phone bill that accumulates long-distance calls, audio-conferencing, and other “add-ons” is completely waived here, as you’ll be billed monthly on a per-user basis. Even the contract arrangements are forgone, as you’ll never be locked in a contract and subjected to early termination fees if you wish to cancel the service.
Remote Workers are More Productive with Hosted PBX
Because all users need to do is download an app to stay connected through hosted PBX, employees can work from anywhere and from any device as long as they have Internet access. Productivity never wavers with hosted PBX solutions, as they easily facilitate employees to meet their deliverables despite the distance or device.
VoIP systems can be routed to any device professionals are working from: computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. No complicated configuration or setup is required. Even when technical support is needed, providers such as Unite Communications offer 24/7 support–and it’s not even an extra add-on. Unite also provides transparency on the volume and tracking info of calls being made, so managers can easily access important metrics and reports.
Hosted PBX Features Enhance Flexibility
The appeal of working from home is largely due to its flexibility. A hosted PBX solution provides direct connectivity to the corporate phone system regardless of where the employee is working from. Professionals have the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere they need to be, or from wherever they feel would make them the most productive, without worrying about connectivity and collaboration getting compromised.
If an employee is at home or on the go–working from a cafe or an airport–they can use their mobile devices to connect to their colleagues and clients and not miss out on any important meetings. By always having the option of using their work phone, they will always seem to be “in the office”. It is easy to imagine the alternative scenario to this, which is essentially being tethered to one’s office to complete daily obligations. This raises inconveniences when you have to juggle many things at once while being out of the office on work-related assignments.

Hosted PBX Enables Mobility in Employees
By moving the on-site PBX phone system out of the office and into the cloud, a hosted PBX system makes life much easier for mobile employees. Workers in the office and remote workers alike share the same functionalities of a sophisticated business phone system—regardless of their physical locations. When employees leave their offices, a mobile app allows them to remain connected at all times.
Many job roles require employees to be constantly on the move, and it is easy to imagine the complications that could arise without a communication system that swiftly maintains connectivity. With hosted PBX, you are always in the office whenever you need to be. Virtually or physically, the mobility that your role requires does not change that.
Increased Control for Both Customers, Employees and Companies
Hosted PBX systems not only benefit companies on an internal level but helps in achieving superior customer service. It gives customers different avenues to reach the support staff to have their concerns addressed. With hosted PBX systems, incoming calls feed into one central repository, and it can be communicated across multiple channels from the same portal without any configuration or change in setup. A customer, for example, might call the company’s call center with a question while they are in an office, and then continue the conversation over their mobile devices. The transition is seamless and puts customers’ needs at the center of it all.
The autonomy PBX solutions extend also applies to employees, who are now able to enjoy some control over how they want to work and collaborate with each other. This has invaluable effects on employee morale, arguably an integral factor in boosting productivity and meeting company goals.
Hosted PBX solutions similarly empower organizations with the flexibility to adjust their workforce according to seasonalities and changing market conditions. When demand is high, assigning support calls to staff is seamless through the office cloud PBX. Call routing is as quick and efficient as can be, keeping wait times low for customers and idle time minimal for employees. It also removes any need for hardware and office costs that could otherwise go to waste when demand starts to dwindle again.
Whether you are preparing your organization for a remote working model or still adapting to it, Unite Communications will help you create an office environment that upholds collaboration and teamwork. Contact us today to get started.