About the Author:
With over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, Rob our Head of Telecoms Operations brings a wealth of expertise to the table. A seasoned professional, he has honed his skills in facilitating tailored telecom solutions for businesses of all sizes. Rob has an unmatched awareness of the industry’s evolution, he stays ahead of the curve, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest trends and innovations.
Move over copper-based networks and hello Next Gen telecoms technologies. It’s well known now that the future of telecommunications lies in the cloud. But what do businesses need to know about the systems they can bring in?
Read our article from Rob Girvan, Simplicity Group’s head of telecoms operations, as he explores the options that exist, the features they can bring and how that opens a world of possibilities you might not have considered.
Spoiler alert! The cloud incorporates much more than just your phone system.
Next Gen telecoms technologies & more
With the PSTN Switch Off well on the radar of any business, it’s important to be aware of the technologies replacing this. Or, more importantly, how best to use them.
Most businesses will have already made the switch. Or at least will have their plan in place for moving over. But how will that look and what system should they switch to?
There are many options, some better than others.
Cloud based telephone systems
A cloud telephone system, also known as a fully hosted VOIP solution, is a phone system that operates over your Internet rather than through traditional telephone lines.
Cloud based telephone systems are the new standard for every business phone system. Technologies and services play a crucial role in enabling modern businesses to enhance communication, collaboration, and customer engagement while adapting to evolving business needs and technological advancements.
There are several systems that you can incorporate into your business and what you choose will depend on the service you offer. Here are the options:
Agility
Agility hosted telephony is Simplicity Group’s cloud telephone system for Northern Ireland, ROI & UK businesses. This utilises voice, video, messaging, and conferencing capabilities delivered as a cloud-based service.
Rob’s advice- Financial institutions and healthcare providers are suitable for this because the system enables them to securely communicate with clients or patients, conduct virtual meetings or appointments, and collaborate internally in real time.
UCaaS
UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service): UCaaS integrates various communication and collaboration tools into a single platform delivered as a cloud-based service.
Rob’s advice- Start-ups, remote businesses, and small to medium-sized business should look at this option as it’s cost effective and offers scalability and flexibility. So, they are ideal for businesses with limited resources.
CCaaS (Contact Centre as a Service)
CCaaS provides a cloud-based contact centre solution that enables organisations to manage customer interactions across multiple channels. These include voice, email, chat, and social media.
Rob’s advice- Any companies prioritising customer service should use this. Using this incorporates advanced features such as omnichannel support, analytics, and workforce management tools.
Agility for MS Teams
Agility for Microsoft Teams integrates our telephony features with Microsoft Teams, a popular collaboration platform.
Rob’s advice- If your business uses Teams or Zoom for their communication, this system will perfectly integrate with them.
Fully Hosted & On Premises Cloud Phone Systems
Fully hosted cloud phone systems are hosted and managed entirely by a third-party service provider. They eliminate the need for on-premises hardware and maintenance, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
On-premises cloud phone systems involve deploying communication infrastructure on-site within the organisation’s premises. While the core functionality may be cloud-based, some components, such as servers or gateways, remain physically located on-site.
Rob’s advice- If you want to keep and integrate your hardware, you can combine your cloud system with hardware. Or take your communications fully on the cloud. That way, you can remove the need for expensive hardware or maintenance contracts.
Broadband Options
Telecommunications incorporate a lot more than just a phone system. Although, that is still a huge part of any business communications and is rightfully, incorporated into the next generation of technologies.
Business broadband is one of the core parts of a business’s digital connectivity. It offers faster speeds and additional features than regular home broadband. We’ve outlined some business broadband options below:
FTTP- Fibre-to-the-premises involves the installation of cables directly to the business. This enables high-speed internet access with greater reliability and bandwidth compared to traditional copper-based connections.
FTTP, you’re getting the fastest and most reliable internet connection possible, with the fibre-optic cables delivering high-speed data right to your doorstep. It’s like having a superhighway for internet right into your home.
SOGEA– SOGEA is a type of broadband service that provides a pure digital connection without the need for a traditional landline telephone service. It allows users to access the internet over a standard phone line without requiring a voice service bundle.
This is used in areas which don’t yet have fibre availability but need to be transitioned away from copper services because of the upcoming PSTN switch off.
Ethernet Leased Line- An Ethernet Leased Line, also known as an Ethernet Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) or Ethernet Private Line, is a dedicated, high-performance internet connection that provides a direct link between two locations.
With regular internet connections, you share the road with everyone else, like a busy highway. But with a leased line, it’s just for you. It means you get all the space and speed you need without any traffic jams.
How can we support our customers
At Simplicity Group, we are driven by a commitment to exceptional customer service and operational excellence. As platinum partner of Gamma, we are sure that we can deliver the best systems available in the market, coupled with a personalised touch of local customer service.
Our account managers are dedicated to supporting their client’s reach and exceeding their expectations. Our customers are at the forefront of what we do, and we believe we can offer a competitive price and a better service than any other provider.