Voices from the cloud say ‘you can save money’

Cloud-based voice solutions help organisations more effectively receive, act on, and communicate information critical to their business without requiring significant internal IT costs.

Using Internet connectivity, they can quickly implement voice software to improve business processes while bypassing the traditional up-front cost, time, and resource commitments associated with on-premise solutions. 

For example, as the popularity of online shopping has exploded in recent years, retailers – especially larger ones – have spent millions on creating powerful and persuasive online storefronts.

Many, however, have not given adequate attention to optimising their distribution center operations and supply chain technology. As a result, the initial purchasing experience is great, but the last piece – order fulfillment – is all too often mediocre or poor, negatively impacting the overall customer experience.

By employing cloud-based voice solutions, these retailers can drive better results in their supply chain.

Further, cloud-based voice solutions bring the benefits of voice technology to retailers and organisations who traditionally could not afford to undertake a voice deployment project. Smaller and mid-size organisations across any sector can now gain the same advantages as larger ones, enabling them to stand on more equal footing in an incredibly competitive industry.

Some of the key benefits that organisations of all sizes can enjoy by leveraging cloud-based voice software include: minimised IT cost and impact, employing a highly configurable and flexible solution, the ability to scale usage based on need, and the ability to realize faster time to value.

Often, deploying a new technology can mean significant financial outlay. However, by selecting cloud-based voice, the solution provider has already invested in the infrastructure needed to host and scale the voice solution.

This infrastructure is more robust and extensive than any single company would likely implement because it is a managed service, giving organisations the benefits of a world-class IT infrastructure without having to lay out additional capital to purchase it.

The initial installation process of any new technology solution can be daunting for a company; however, cloud-based voice offerings deliver high-impact operational benefits without disrupting current systems or requiring additional resource commitments from the existing IT team. Therefore, organisations can continue on schedule with other projects and processes without hiring additional employees or placing more strain on current resources.

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During installation and initial deployment, static on-premise solutions require extensive customisation that not only increases overall solution costs, but also extends the timeframe for the system to be up and running. As a pre-packaged, configurable solution, cloud-based voice software is more readily deployed to meet an organisation’s specific needs. This flexibility also lets organisation more easily adapt as needs evolve over time, such as experienced with the expansion of a facility, changing distribution center layout, the addition of new products, or the extension of voice into new processes. 

Beyond IT savings and efficiencies, organisations that deploy cloud-based voice also gain a new pricing structure for their voice software. A cloud-based voice solution includes hardware and software upgrades within the subscription pricing model. Software updates are automatically uploaded into the system over a broadband Internet connection, while hardware refreshes occur at predetermined dates at no additional cost.

Since the cloud offering is paid for via a subscription, organisations are able to move from a CAPEX to an OPEX financial model for their voice solution. This fixes the operating cost, such as rent and other regularly recurring costs, stabilising the year-on-year budgeting process while eliminating CAPEX justifications during challenging business conditions.

Additionally, more advanced cloud-based voice offerings allow organisations to acquire additional capacity when they need it, such as during a peak period when dozens of additional voice users are brought into the operation. Organisations can then easily return to their normal capacity and only be charged for the actual usage.  

Overall, cloud-based voice technology provides organisations with a fast, cost-effective solution to ensure the speedy, accurate communication of essential information. As a result, they can quickly and cost-effectively achieve greater operational efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive increased profitability.