Accessing The Virtual Phone System:

In order to access the features of your cloud-based phone system and make high quality voice and video calls, all that is needed for users at each branch is access to a reliable internet connection and VoIP-enabled devices like softphones, traditional phones, computer software and even smartphones and tablets (using mobile applications). 

Employee Collaboration & Unified Communications:

For businesses with multiple sites, it’s crucial to have a reliable communication system in place for branches and mobile workers to be able to stay connected and collaborate efficiently.

A multi-location, cloud-based business phone system will facilitate communications between all of a business’ locations and branches. Many of the features of these systems have been designed with the goal of collaboration in mind, from real-time chat, instant file-sharing, version control and conference bridging.

Cost Savings of VoIP for Multi-Branch Businesses:

Hosted PABX systems offer even a variety of cost savings for companies that have business in more than one location by providing a single, unified phone system that is able to seamlessly operate across multiple branches and locations. 

Some of the most notable cost savings that businesses with multiple locations benefit from when choosing a hosted phone system include:

• Inter-branch calls can be made the same way internal calls are.. at no cost.
• The need to employ multiple receptionists at each location is eliminated with the automated attendant feature. 
• There is no need to purchase separate on-site phone equipment for each location.
• No call out fees as technical issues are solved remotely.
• As cloud-based communication systems are customisable, there is no need to pay for features that certain branches may not need.

A Single Communication Platform for all Branches:

Having multiple branches on the same cloud-based PBX system allows businesses to link every branch via one central online hub. The entire telecoms system can be managed via one platform and through a single reception desk, as opposed to having one assigned to each branch. This not only cuts on costs but simplifies the call routing process and increases efficiency within multi-branch businesses dealing with high call volumes.

Sales & Support: 

As all calls are routed to one centralised point on a hosted VoIP system, there is no need to have a sales support team in every province or at every branch. Cloud-based systems eliminate the need to switch across multiple systems and provide employees working in sales with instant and convenient access to important customer’ contact records and information.

Remote Support & Reduced Downtime:

With a hosted phone system, downtime is reduced tremendously as everything is hosted in the cloud instead of relying on a physical PBX tied to one office location. A great benefit of this is that most technical issues can be handled remotely instead of technicians having to be sent out to specific locations which can be both time consuming and costly.

Minimal Hardware:

As virtual phone systems are cloud-based, there is near-to-no hardware setup at every branch, no central server is needed, and physical handsets are optional. 

Scalability & Flexibility:

Virtual phone systems allow for anything from three to over 1000 extensions to be easily added to (or removed from) one centralised multi-branch hub. This can be incredibly useful when dealing with multiple branches that are scaling at different rates.

Customer Relationship Manager:

Cloud-based PABX phone systems are able to integrate with CRM (Customer-Relationship Manager) tools in order to log any calls made. This will enable your sales, marketing and customer service teams to access and manage key metrics in real time and across multiple branches.

Valuable VoIP Features For Multi-Branch Businesses:

By now you have most likely realised that a hosted phone system is not simply a phone service but rather an all-round virtual communication system consisting of an array of features.

Many of these features will come standard with others being additional ‘add-ons’ offered by your chosen Service Provider. 

Below we have listed some of the most useful features that have been designed specifically to optimize collaboration and workflow while unifying communications in businesses with multiple branches or franchises;

Auto Attendants

This feature acts as a ‘virtual receptionist’, replacing the need for a human switchboard or receptionists at each branch by automatically answering, escalating, and routing all incoming calls.

Advanced Call Routing

This feature is highly valuable for businesses with multi-site branches, allowing users to organise exactly how and where incoming phone calls are directed, no matter the branch or location. Letting you easily route your inbound calls by customer type, purpose, issue or even staff performance and availability throughout your business.

Advanced Call Management

This feature supports a high call quality and reduces customer frustration by allowing you to hold, route, block and even prioritise incoming calls to be directed to intended agents or employees throughout your branches.

Real-time Sharing 

Using this feature enables users to share sales contracts and other important documents regardless of their location or branch.

Find Me/Follow Me

‘Find Me’ lets your employees receive calls anywhere, no matter the site or branch and ‘Follow Me’ lets customers reach the right agents across multiple phone numbers or multiple branches. Both of these call forwarding VoIP features enable calls (with just one number) to be routed to any number or device throughout your business’s multiple locations. 

Call Analytics & Call Recording

The call analytics and recording features record and process every call (and its data) made over the system for you to easily review. As your VoIP system will run on many different devices (desk phones, tablets, smartphones and softphones) across your various branches and sites, these features will assist you in managing disputes and liabilities, training employees and monitoring call quality across each and every branch, site or location. 

Conference Bridge

This feature can be used to hold multi-party conversations by enabling users to add more than three people to a single call (no matter their location or branch). Conference bridging can be used to hold meetings with dozens of participants across different locations, promoting teamwork and collaboration between departments and branches. 

Video Conferencing

Video conferencing increases all-round collaboration while eliminating the need for travel between branches by allowing users to add multiple video callers to a conference call and letting new callers easily ‘call in’ and join the video conference from their VoIP enabled device.

Hot Desking

The hot desking feature creates a single portal for all employees, allows users to log into any shared device and automatically have access to personalized profiles and configurations, no matter their branch or location.

VoIP Switchboard

A VoIP switchboard is a digital control panel that allows you to organise receive, send, and transfer calls via the internet. And with this feature, you’ll be able to keep communications running throughout your multiple locations whether employees are at their desks or on the go.

To Conclude:
If you own a business that consists of multiple branches with various locations, you will need an affordable phone solution that is able to unify your communications, and the answer to this will always be a virtual phone system.

Considering making the switch to a virtual solution? Get your custom Hosted PABX Quote today.

Still not sure whether a hosted phone system is the right choice for your business? Contact us at X Corp to chat to one of our dedicated team members, we’re here to bring you the best in overall office automation.