If there is one thing that defines the distributed work experience during Covid more than anything else, it is video conferencing. As we adapt to a completely remote workplace, many of us have turned to collaboration tools to stay connected during the pandemic, and of these, Microsoft Teams has always been among the most prolific, with 145 million daily active users. in April 2021. However, as many companies have discovered, collaboration software alone is not enough. To get the most out of distributed work, processes and systems need to be reinvented. In many cases, this means migrating from the old infrastructure to the new one. Your corporate phone system (aka Private Branch Exchange / PBX) is one of the clearest candidates for this migration. The traditional PBX does not adapt to a world defined by mobility, flexibility and remote work. The problem is that while the business PBX may take advantage of new technologies like VoIP, automated call handling, and video calling, it is ultimately still anchored to one location: the office. A Cloud PBX system does not suffer from this deficiency. Because it is Internet-based, the cloud PBX is easier to manage and scale, requiring no physical storage space, less capital investment, and less overhead. In addition, cloud PBX systems can be accessed and managed from virtually any device, while supporting the deployment of more sophisticated functions and features. In short, cloud phone platforms are more or less a perfect match for distributed work. But they can always be better. Before Covid, business users were already feeling overwhelmed by the number of applications and platforms they faced. The deployment of new solutions during the pandemic only exacerbated the problem.
(Image credit: Shutterstock) After all, collaboration is always more beneficial when it's transparent. Productivity is always at its peak when someone doesn't have to interrupt your workflow by jumping between multiple tools. In other words, migration is just the first step in supporting a remote workplace. Integration is equally critical. The more systems and tools you can integrate into a unified platform, the greater your benefits. This is where we see another lesser known benefit of cloud PBXs. It is perfectly suited to this type of integration. RingCentral's Cloud PBX solution is a perfect example. Its native and seamless integration with Microsoft Teams allows a business to take advantage of the best of both platforms through a single, intuitive interface. With RingCentral for Microsoft Teams, you can: With a global presence in over 110 countries and PSTN availability in 44 countries and 16 languages, RingCentral's always-on cloud PBX makes it easier than ever for remote staff to stay connected, wherever you are. And thanks to the integration with Microsoft Teams, you can train those same employees without interrupting their workflows. Whether you're looking to expand your existing phone system or implement a new communication channel, RingCentral Cloud PBX and Microsoft Teams are a great option. RingCentral for Microsoft Teams supports web, desktop, and mobile use and is available to all RingCentral MVP subscriptions. All features require an active Microsoft Office 365 account and the RingCentral app. Find out more here.