Telephony systems have come a long way since the days of manual switchboards and rotary phones. Today, there are two main types of telephony systems available: traditional telephony and cloud telephony. Traditional telephony systems rely on physical infrastructure to transmit calls, while cloud telephony systems are delivered over the internet and rely on cloud-based servers. 

There are several key differences between these two types of systems, including infrastructure, cost, flexibility, features, maintenance, and accessibility. Understanding these differences can help businesses choose the telephony system that is right for their needs.

Traditional telephony, also known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), relies on a physical infrastructure of wires and switches to transmit calls. These networks are owned and managed by telecom operators who invest in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure required to transmit and route calls. The traditional telephone network consists of multiple exchanges connected by physical wires, cables, and switches. When a call is made, it is routed through the network from one exchange to another until it reaches the recipient. The infrastructure required to maintain this network is complex and expensive, and it requires significant investments in hardware, software, and maintenance.

Cloud telephony solutions, on the other hand, is a relatively new technology that relies on the internet and cloud-based servers to handle call routing and management. Instead of physical infrastructure, cloud telephony solutions rely on software, virtual machines, and the internet to connect calls.

In a cloud telephony setup, calls are routed through the internet to a virtual server, which handles call routing and management. The virtual server is hosted in the cloud and can be managed remotely by the service provider, eliminating the need for businesses to invest in expensive infrastructure and maintenance. The benefits of best cloud telephony service include greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Cloud telephony allows businesses to easily add or remove lines as needed, and to route calls to different locations or devices. It also offers a wide range of features, including call recording, call forwarding, and automatic call distribution.

Traditional telephony systems can be expensive due to the cost of setting up and maintaining the required infrastructure. This can include the cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining telephone lines, switches, and other equipment. Additionally, traditional telephony systems require dedicated staff to manage and maintain the infrastructure, adding to the overall cost.

In contrast, best cloud telephony service offers a more cost-effective solution for businesses. With cloud telephony, there are typically no upfront costs associated with purchasing and installing hardware. Instead, businesses pay a monthly or annual fee for the cloud telephony service, which includes access to the required hardware and software.

Cloud telephony solutions providers also typically handle maintenance and updates, reducing the need for businesses to hire dedicated staff to manage the system. This further reduces the cost associated with traditional telephony systems. Cloud telephony systems offer the ability to easily scale up or down as needed. This means that businesses can add or remove phone lines as their needs change, without having to invest in additional infrastructure. This scalability makes cloud telephony particularly attractive for businesses that experience fluctuations in call volume or have seasonal needs.

Cloud telephony solutions offer greater flexibility compared to traditional telephony systems. Cloud telephony allows businesses to easily add or remove lines as needed, and to route calls to different locations or devices. This flexibility is particularly valuable for businesses that have remote or distributed workforces.

With cloud telephony, calls can be routed to any location with an internet connection, making it easy for businesses to manage calls from remote or home-based employees. This flexibility can help businesses to improve customer service by ensuring that calls are always answered, even during times of high call volume or when employees are not physically in the office. Cloud telephony also allows businesses to easily scale up or down as needed. This means that businesses can quickly add or remove phone lines to accommodate changes in call volume or seasonal fluctuations in demand. This level of flexibility is not possible with traditional telephony systems, which can be more rigid and less adaptable.

Cloud telephony solutions offer a wider range of features compared to traditional telephony systems, which can help businesses improve customer service and streamline operations. Some of the key features of cloud telephony include:

Call recording: Cloud telephony allows businesses to record calls, which can be useful for training purposes, quality assurance, and compliance.

Call forwarding: Cloud telephony allows businesses to forward calls to any location or device, making it easy for employees to manage calls from remote locations.

Automatic call distribution: Cloud telephony allows businesses to route calls to the most appropriate employee or department, based on predefined rules or criteria. This can help businesses improve customer service by ensuring that calls are always answered by the most qualified person.

Interactive voice response (IVR): Cloud telephony allows businesses to use IVR systems to automate call routing and provide customers with self-service options. This can help businesses reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction.

Voicemail-to-email: Cloud telephony allows businesses to receive voicemail messages as email attachments, making it easy for employees to manage voicemail messages from their email inbox.

Call analytics: Cloud telephony provides businesses with detailed call analytics, which can be used to identify trends, improve call quality, and optimize call routing.

Maintenance is an important aspect of any telephony system, and it can be a significant cost and time investment for businesses. There are some key differences between traditional telephony and cloud telephony when it comes to maintenance:

Maintenance of Traditional Telephony Systems: Traditional telephony systems require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. This includes tasks such as repairing physical infrastructure, updating hardware and software, and troubleshooting issues that arise. Businesses must either have an in-house team to manage these tasks or contract with a third-party provider.

Maintenance of Cloud Telephony Systems: Cloud telephony systems are typically managed by the provider, meaning that businesses don't need to worry about maintenance tasks. The provider is responsible for managing the hardware and software, upgrading the system when necessary, and troubleshooting issues that arise. This can save businesses time and money on maintenance.

Accessibility is an important consideration when it comes to telephony systems. Here are some key differences between traditional telephony and cloud telephony when it comes to accessibility:

Accessibility of Traditional Telephony Systems: Traditional telephony systems are typically tied to a physical location. They rely on a physical infrastructure of wires and switches to transmit calls, and the system is typically installed and maintained on-site. This can limit the accessibility of the system to workers who are not in the same location.

Accessibility of Cloud Telephony Systems: Cloud telephony systems, on the other hand, can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes them ideal for remote workers or businesses with multiple locations. With a cloud telephony system, workers can access the system from their home office, a satellite office, or even while traveling. This can increase productivity and flexibility for businesses.

If you are searching for a cloud telephony provider, then Office24by7 is an excellent choice. Contact us at +91 7097171717 or drop an email at [email protected] for more information.