In an era where hybrid work and work from anywhere have become the new corporate standard, the traditional office phone system (a traditional PABX, with a large metal cabinet in the server room and telephone cabling to every single desk) is becoming a burden in both cost and maintenance.
Cloud PBX (cloud private branch exchange) has therefore become the core technology carrying corporate voice communication into the digital era. (If the term is new to you, read the full definition in What is Cloud PBX? The complete guide first, then come back to the comparison table below.)
How does Cloud PBX work?
A Cloud PBX is a virtual branch exchange that moves all the processing and call switching into the cloud, connected over the internet using VoIP (Voice over IP) and a SIP Trunk.
Instead of buying a PABX hardware cabinet and installing it in the office, every member of staff can take and make calls from the company's main number (02-XXX-XXXX, for example) on a range of devices:
- IP phone: a desk IP telephone in the office
- Softphone on a PC/laptop: a telephone application on the computer
- Mobile application: an app on a smartphone (iOS and Android)
Comparison table: traditional PABX vs Cloud PBX
| Point of comparison | Traditional PABX | Modern Cloud PBX |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front investment (CapEx) | Very high (hardware cabinet + office cabling) | Very low (pay per actual user) |
| Maintenance (OpEx) | Needs an in-house IT team + annual MA fees | The provider maintains the system and its security |
| Flexibility of work | Calls can only be answered at the desk | Calls can be answered anywhere with internet |
| Scalability | Awkward — buy expansion cards and run new cabling | Add or remove extensions instantly |
| Advanced features | Requires expensive additional licences | Comes with a full feature set (IVR, recording, mobile app) |
Five standout Cloud PBX features that lift a company's image
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR): set a greeting such as "press 1 for sales, press 2 for customer service" to screen calls professionally
- Smart call forwarding and ring groups: ring several devices at once (ring all) or in order (sequential), so no important call is missed
- Call recording: record conversations in the cloud to check service quality and meet legal requirements
- Voicemail to email: when nobody answers, the system converts the voice message and sends it straight to the employee's email
- Call reports and analytics: see inbound and outbound statistics, missed calls and the busiest periods, so staffing can be planned
Is your business right for Cloud PBX?
Cloud PBX is an excellent fit for:
- Businesses with several branches, or staff working off-site (remote work)
- Startups and SMEs that want to reduce the cost of setting up a new office
- Enterprise organisations that want to combine the phone system with working platforms such as Microsoft Teams or 3CX
Organisations still running an old PABX and worried about the transition do not have to throw everything away at once: a hybrid design can let the existing cabinet and a Cloud PBX work together through a VoIP gateway. See the details at migrating from analogue to IP.
💡 A recommendation from the specialists: if your organisation is looking for a highly reliable Cloud PBX with SIP Trunk infrastructure and network security, ask for a free consultation and system design from SIPPER Network Communications, or call 02-098-9500.