Think about you’re in a horse race, lined up on the beginning line in opposition to rivals utilizing clunky, outdated modes of transportation. However you’ve acquired the keys to a blazing-fast System One race automotive — the most recent cloud communications options.

Legacy communication methods are stagecoaches struggling to maintain up, whereas cloud cellphone methods are finely tuned F1 automobiles constructed for pace and efficiency. Hop into one among these cloud supercars, and also you’ll depart the competitors within the mud.

Identical to a robust engine gives horsepower, these cloud options turbocharge your workforce’s workflows and effectivity. With their superior capabilities at your fingertips, you possibly can take your foot off the fuel when worrying about outdated tech holding you again. As a substitute, concentrate on the highway forward to development and success.

On this article, we consider 5 of one of the best cloud communications platforms accessible at this time. We’ll cowl their key options, strengths, pricing, and ultimate use instances — offering every part that you must choose the choice that propels your small business ahead.

Let’s cowl some fundamentals first.

What Is Cloud Communications? 

Cloud communications are internet-based instruments that handle voice and information communication. As a substitute of conventional bodily cellphone traces and on-site servers, cloud communication makes use of distant servers (the “cloud”) hosted by a service supplier. This makes it extra scalable, versatile, and cost-effective in comparison with conventional strategies.

You may make calls, ship messages, and maintain video conferences from any gadget with an web connection.

Each time you name a consumer utilizing an app like Skype or WhatsApp in your cellphone, you’re utilizing cloud communications, or extra particularly, cloud telephony. Different examples embrace becoming a member of a workforce assembly on Zoom or sharing a folder together with your colleagues over Google Drive.

However what makes this cloud know-how potential?

Key Cloud Communications Options

Understanding the important thing parts of cloud communications is like realizing what goes into an important recipe. It helps you recognize not simply the ultimate dish but in addition how every ingredient contributes to its success.

4 of the important thing parts of cloud communication embrace:

• Voice over Web Protocol (VoIP) permits cellphone calls over the web as an alternative of conventional phone traces. VoIP may be in contrast with the bottom of your meal: it helps and enhances the opposite communication strategies — “flavors.”
• Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) integrates varied communication instruments, resembling messaging, video conferencing, e-mail, and voice calls, right into a single, unified platform. UCaaS may be in contrast with a chef who skillfully combines totally different substances: it brings the instruments collectively right into a cohesive “dish.” 
• Cloud-based communications instruments embrace a set of communication platforms, resembling Slack, Zoom, Asana, and Dropbox. These instruments may be in contrast with the person substances the chef makes use of to make a standout dish.
• Cloud-hosted personal department trade (Cloud PBX) is a digital cellphone system that makes it simpler to handle calls, voicemails, and name routing without having bodily {hardware}. Cloud PBX may be in contrast together with your kitchen’s organizational system: it’s the behind-the-scenes operation that retains the communication kitchen operating easily.

Prime Advantages of Cloud Communications Platforms

So why select a cloud communications platform? The desk beneath compares cloud communications with conventional methods throughout 5 essential elements.

The next part expands on these comparisons.

1. Scalability

If you use cloud communications applied sciences, you’re selecting options that may develop with and adapt to your small business.

For small companies, they supply reasonably priced entry to superior communication instruments. For bigger enterprises, they provide the capability to deal with a excessive quantity of communications throughout a number of areas.

Whether or not you scale up or down, you’ll have a system with the flexibleness to match your small business wants without having to fret about overhauling your complete communication infrastructure.

2. Price-effectiveness

Investing in cloud communications saves you cash on upfront {hardware} and ongoing upkeep prices. 

Migrating from conventional on-premise cellphone methods to cloud methods comes with sure prices, however they’re usually offset by short- and long-term financial savings and efficiencies, resembling: 

• Decrease operational and staffing prices
• Lowered want for bodily infrastructure 
• Scalable pricing fashions that regulate to enterprise wants

3. Flexibility and mobility

With cloud communications, you possibly can work, be taught, and join with folks from wherever: at dwelling, in a restaurant, or whereas touring. So long as you’ve gotten an web connection, you possibly can entry your communications instruments similar to you’ll entry conventional communications instruments in an workplace house.

This flexibility ensures that individuals can keep related and get issues carried out no matter their location. 

In truth, the vast majority of the American workforce has a transparent desire for versatile working preparations. In response to McKinsey, when given the choice for versatile work, 87% of individuals would take it.

This exhibits a rising demand for flexibility and mobility within the office, which applied sciences like cloud communications can present.

Lastly, with cloud-based applied sciences, you possibly can simply rent various expertise from all around the world: you’re not restricted to native candidates. You will discover one of the best folks for the job regardless of the place they’re. 

4. Integration and automation

Cloud communications simplify your work by letting you simply join totally different enterprise instruments, resembling buyer relationship administration (CRM) methods and e-mail.

For instance, when a web site customer fills out a contact type in your web site, their info will robotically populate in your CRM, prompting an automated e-mail to your gross sales workforce.

This streamlines follow-ups and retains everybody within the loop.

The know-how additionally helps you scale back the probabilities of making errors by automating repetitive duties, resembling information entry, so you possibly can concentrate on the essential components of your job.

5. Superior options and functionalities

Cloud communications offer you extra methods to attach with colleagues and share info.

Cloud communications let you entry options resembling video conferencing, immediate messaging, and superior VoIP telephony, which you’ll’t use with conventional cellphone methods.

This implies you possibly can speak, textual content, and see one another in actual time or talk asynchronously regardless of the place you might be, making teamwork and staying in contact a lot simpler.

Prime 5 Cloud Communications Suppliers

The next are 5 of one of the best cloud communications suppliers on the market and the sorts of corporations they’re greatest for:

1. Nextiva: Small companies and enterprises searching for an easy-to-use, complete cloud communications system that mixes important instruments in a single app.
2. Connecteam: Small companies of as much as 10 staff and firms with non-desk and frontline employees.
3. Plivo: B2C customer support and contact heart groups in search of an all-in-one communication administration platform.
4. Vonage: Superior buyer engagement companies and commerce groups in search of an AI-powered buyer communication resolution.
5. OpenPhone: Startups and small companies in search of a no-frills, user-friendly, collaborative buyer communications platform.

Hold studying for extra particulars on every software’s options, pricing, and skills.

1. Nextiva

Nextiva is an all-in-one cloud-based communication resolution with a complete suite of enterprise administration instruments, together with VoIP cellphone companies for making calls over the web, video conferencing for digital conferences, and CRM integrations to handle buyer relationships.

With plans and options for each enterprise dimension, it meets the wants of small companies, rising corporations, and enterprise organizations.

Pricing: Nextiva’s Important pricing plan begins at $17.39/consumer month-to-month and provides limitless voice and video calling, voicemail, toll-free numbers, limitless web fax, and Outlook/Google Contacts integrations.

Key options:

• Limitless calling and textual content messages to the US and Canada
• Video conferencing 
• Name recording
• Superior name analytics
• Integrations with CRM methods resembling Salesforce, Hubspot, and Zoho
• Name pop-ups to point out essential name particulars in your display
• Superior name routing and spam name blocking

Finest for small companies searching for an easy-to-use cloud communications system that mixes important instruments in a single app. Nextiva’s platform can be appropriate for bigger enterprises needing a complete, all-in-one, cloud-based resolution to satisfy advanced communication calls for.

2. Connecteam

Connecteam is a strong workforce administration app for connecting and fascinating with non-desk and frontline staff. 

It provides three product hubs, together with:

• Operations: Time clocks, scheduling, and process administration options.
• Communications: Firm updates, in-app messaging, firm directories, surveys, information base, and occasions.
• HR and abilities: Recognition and rewards, doc administration, coaching and onboarding, and time-off administration.

Let’s say you run a small espresso store. With Connecteam’s communications hub, you need to use in-app messaging to ship essential updates all through the day or ask questions.

It’s also possible to run fast surveys to collect enter on new menu objects or rejoice a brand new workforce member once they go above and past. This ensures clean operations and a cheerful workforce, in the end main to higher service and happier clients.

Pricing: The communications hub is free for small companies of as much as 10 staff. For groups of as much as 30 staff, the pricing plans begin at $29 month-to-month.

Key options:

• Immediate messaging
• Personal one-to-one and segmented workforce chats
• Firm-wide broadcasts
• Message learn receipts 
• Information base to centralize firm info
• Surveys and polls
• Occasion supervisor for firm occasions

Finest for small companies of as much as 10 staff and firms with non-desk and frontline employees.

3. Plivo

Plivo is a cloud-based communications platform that simplifies buyer communications for startups, enterprises, and nonprofits. 

Its fundamental merchandise embrace:

• Software programming interfaces (APIs) for voice calling and textual content messaging. This service helps you combine voice and SMS capabilities into your present functions.
• International messaging and voice calls, together with outbound and inbound calling, SMS broadcasting, and two-way messaging.
• Service companies, together with quantity provisioning and superior call-handling options.

Its Plivo cloud contact heart platform gives a complete suite for customer support brokers. With an omnichannel resolution and options resembling voice calling, reside chat, and SMS messaging, it helps your brokers handle a number of conversations and assist queries effectively.

Pricing: Contacto’s omnichannel resolution begins at $39/consumer month-to-month for rising groups. It’s also possible to go for voice-only or chat-only choices, which begin at $29/consumer month-to-month and $19/consumer month-to-month, respectively.

Key options:

• Voice calling and messaging 
• Name recording
• Name whispering to offer personal steerage to brokers
• Unified agent desktop for in-context communications
• Concurrent conversations for larger effectivity
• Drag-and-drop workflow builder
• Reporting and analytics 
• Automated buyer suggestions requests

Finest for B2C customer support and call heart groups in search of an all-in-one communications administration platform.

4. Vonage

Vonage is a complete cloud communications supplier. Its suite of instruments helps you simplify and personalize the way you join together with your clients and groups.

The platform provides 4 fundamental merchandise:

• Communication APIs enable you to customise and embed real-time communication options, resembling voice and video, into your apps.
• Unified communication integrates totally different communication instruments right into a single platform that will help you collaborate and keep in contact with teammates and clients.
• Contact facilities are tailor-made for buyer assist and engagement and enhance operations via name routing, CRM integrations, and complete analytics.
• Conversational commerce merges messaging, AI, and automation that will help you join together with your clients via their most popular channels in a extra pure and conversational manner.

Pricing: For groups of as much as 100 folks, Vonage’s unified communications service begins at $14.99/line month-to-month. To obtain a quote for bigger groups, you’ll have to contact the gross sales workforce.

Options:

• Name routing 
• Toll-free and native phone numbers 
• Limitless home calling 
• SMS and MMS
• Digital receptionist and AI digital assistant 
• Enterprise name recording accessible as an add-on

Finest for companies targeted on superior buyer engagement and commerce groups in search of an AI-powered buyer communication resolution. 

5. OpenPhone

OpenPhone is a collaborative enterprise cellphone system constructed for groups, with a concentrate on simplicity and ease of use. 

The platform provides six fundamental merchandise:

• Telephone numbers: Port your present work quantity free of charge or obtain a toll-free North American quantity.
• Groups: Assist your brokers talk as a workforce with clients, that means your clients gained’t see particular person workforce members, solely a cohesive firm presence.
• Calling: Make buyer calls extra seamless via configurations resembling name routing guidelines and cellphone menus.
• Messaging: Set auto-replies, schedule messages, and message anybody on this planet with no roaming charges.
• Contacts: Import your contacts and join any CRM to handle relationships higher as a workforce.
• Integrations: Entry greater than 5000 integrations via Zapier. Enhance your workflows and save your brokers time by connecting all of the instruments and love.

Pricing: OpenPhone provides a seven-day free trial. Pricing plans begin at $19/per consumer month-to-month.

Options:

• Computerized name recording 
• Voicemail transcription
• Group calling
• AI name summaries and transcripts
• Name logs
• Unified communications view
• Shared deal with ebook for groups
• Group analytics

Finest for startups and small companies in search of a no-frills, user-friendly, collaborative buyer communication platform.

✅ Case Research: Stanley Steemer Upgraded to Cloud Communications for Higher Buyer Expertise

How Do Companies Use Cloud Communications Options?

A few of the most typical methods companies use cloud communications options embrace:

1. Distant working
2. Enterprise collaboration
3. Customer support and call facilities
4. Healthcare communication 
5. Worker training
6. Retail and gross sales

Let’s dive into every use case in additional element.

1. Distant working

If you happen to’ve ever labored from outdoors the workplace or despatched a fast e-mail from a espresso store, you understand how handy it’s to remain related regardless of the place you might be.

Cloud-based options are the important thing to creating this potential. 

Another methods this know-how is used for distant working embrace:

• Coordinating a world workforce: Handle a distant workforce and hold everybody on the identical web page, no matter time zones, with shared calendars and good scheduling instruments.
• Establishing digital workplaces: Create interactive environments for distant interactions with video conferencing platforms and digital assembly rooms.
• Sharing recordsdata securely: Simply share and collaborate on paperwork together with your workforce wherever you might be. No extra ready for everybody to be in the identical room or passing round paper copies of recordsdata.

2. Enterprise collaboration

In contrast to conventional enterprise collaboration, which frequently depends on bodily presence, cloud communications allow you to work collectively in a extra versatile and accessible manner by offering the next options:

• Inventive brainstorming and collaboration instruments: Work together with your workforce and make progress with options resembling digital whiteboards and breakout rooms.
• Coaching platforms: Manage and be part of coaching periods and workshops on-line from any location. Cloud communications make studying and workforce improvement extra handy.
• Challenge administration integration: Handle your initiatives and digital workforce communications in a single place, making it simpler to maintain observe of every part.

3. Customer support and call facilities

Cloud communications make customer support higher for everybody. Clients get sooner, extra personalised assist, and workers in contact facilities have simpler, extra environment friendly instruments to handle and reply to buyer wants.

The next key options provide these advantages:

• Omnichannel assist: Join together with your clients wherever they’re. Whether or not you talk through cellphone, e-mail, chat, or social media, it’s all managed in a single system.
• Analytics for efficiency monitoring: Regulate buyer expertise metrics and workforce productiveness in actual time, then use this info to enhance your service.
• Interactive voice response (IVR): Use cloud-based IVR, a system that robotically handles incoming calls, for smaller name routing and fast self-service. It will enhance response instances and enhance buyer satisfaction.

4. Healthcare communication

In healthcare, fast and clear communication can imply sooner, simpler diagnoses and higher affected person care.

It additionally helps construct belief between healthcare suppliers and sufferers, guaranteeing sufferers are well-informed about their well being and remedy choices.

The next cloud communications options make these enhancements potential:

• Telemedicine: With the ability to talk with sufferers on-line means healthcare professionals can conduct consultations simply and provide distant care, so long as they’re HIPAA compliant.
• Enhanced communication with sufferers: Utilizing automated reminders and follow-ups helps hold people knowledgeable about their appointments and remedy plans.

5. Worker training

Cloud communications open up new potentialities for instructing and staying related:

• Digital lecture rooms: Lecturers can maintain reside lectures and create interactive discussions on-line, making studying extra accessible to college students wherever.
• Mum or dad-teacher communication: With cloud-based messaging, educators and oldsters can keep in contact extra simply and have extra well timed conversations on scholar progress and faculty occasions.

6. Retail and gross sales 

Have you ever ever ordered one thing on-line or rated a product on an app? These are made potential via cloud communications.

In retail and gross sales, this know-how is altering how companies join with their clients:

• Digital gross sales conferences: Showcase your merchandise, promote to clients in all places, and meet with shoppers on video calls to take your gross sales pitch wherever on this planet.
• Buyer suggestions assortment: Collect buyer opinions in real-time utilizing cloud-based surveys so you possibly can enhance your services based mostly on what your clients actually need.

Are Cloud Communications Safe & Secure?

Cloud communications safeguard your information with sturdy safety features.

Encryption scrambles info throughout storage and transmission, whereas safe information facilities with superior bodily and digital boundaries hold it protected. Common updates guarantee these methods keep forward of threats.

Compliance is built-in. Cloud suppliers adhere to {industry} requirements (ISO 27001, SOC 2) and regional laws (HIPAA, GDPR) for information privateness and dealing with. Information sovereignty ensures your info is saved based on authorized jurisdictions.

Whereas considerations like consumer error or malicious insider threats can exist in any communication system, cloud options mitigate these dangers via options like multi-factor authentication and role-based entry management.

Common safety assessments and catastrophe restoration plans supplied by cloud suppliers additional decrease potential downtime and information breaches.

Cloud communication methods prioritize reliability. Common safety assessments and catastrophe restoration plans decrease downtime and hold your communications flowing.

Fixed vigilance is vital. Actual-time monitoring and automatic alerts determine and deal with potential safety points promptly.

Cloud communications provide a safe and dependable ecosystem for buyer interactions, providing you with peace of thoughts whereas holding your information protected.

How To Select & Implement a Cloud Communications Service

Selecting the best cloud communications resolution is vital for higher enterprise productiveness and collaboration. With so many choices in the marketplace, that you must take a step again and actually assess what you want.

1. Assess your small business necessities

Begin by figuring out the precise enterprise communication capabilities you require – voice, video conferencing, messaging, contact heart instruments, and so forth. Get a deal with on what number of customers will want entry and whether or not you’ve gotten any industry-specific compliance or safety containers to verify.

2. Consider cloud communications suppliers

As soon as your necessities, you can begin evaluating suppliers.

Analysis the highest gamers and see how their choices stack up in opposition to your guidelines of must-haves. However don’t simply have a look at options — pricing fashions, reliability, safety, and uptime ensures are essential too.

You’ll additionally need to think about integration capabilities. The perfect resolution will sync up seamlessly with the opposite apps and instruments your groups use every single day.

3. Plan for scalability and future development

It’s equally essential to consider the long-term when vetting suppliers. You’ll desire a resolution that may scale up or down simply as your headcount and wishes evolve.

Have a look at every supplier’s product roadmap — are they investing in new capabilities that would profit you down the highway?

Consumer expertise is one other key issue. An reasonably priced feature-rich resolution is nice however gained’t drive adoption if it’s too clunky or sophisticated.

4. Monitor and optimize

The implementation course of itself requires cautious planning too. Have a stable technique for information migration, consumer coaching, optimizations, and general change administration.

Roll issues out easily with complete sources. And as soon as your new system is in place, collect suggestions recurrently. Utilization information and worker enter will enable you to additional refine and streamline processes over time.

The Cloud Is Ready for You

Switching from legacy communications methods to the cloud provides you the instruments that you must simplify your every day duties and collaborate just about in additional artistic and environment friendly methods. 

Cloud communication is a feature-rich, safe, and cost-effective resolution for companies trying to keep related and get issues carried out each time and nevertheless they work greatest.

Many cloud communications platforms can enhance productiveness. However for corporations searching for a complete and unified communications resolution, Nextiva stands out with its mix of dependable customer-centric options, scalable and reasonably priced pricing, and devoted, wonderful service workforce.