How to Get On the Road to Cloud Calling Success

A Road to Somewhere

Taking your business to a cloud calling model can sometimes feel like starting out on a long, cross-country drive without a map, nor a clear destination, nor timeline. There are so many options that make it hard to navigate. That’s why many businesses get lost along the way and lose heart.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Getting your business to a bright cloud communications and collaboration future can be a much more predictable and enjoyable experience.

Elevation Gain

The move to the cloud is picking up pace. Market statistics show global annual growth rates in the 15-20% range, with even higher growth as you move into market segments above 100 users. Leading analysts are predicting as many as 90% of IT leaders will no longer buy new on-premises PBX or unified communications equipment beyond 2021.

The growth in cloud calling is happening for some very clear reasons. Technology innovation cycles are faster for cloud services, which can now deliver a richer feature set that’s more tightly integrated with other important cloud business services, like Office 365, G Suite, Salesforce, and others. Cloud can also offer distinct advantages in scalability, reliability and even security.

Roadblocks

So where’s the difficulty? Well, not all cloud services are alike. Most vendors offer only one pathway to the cloud. These vendors might provide multiple feature packages, but the cloud migration is an all, or nothing proposition, one size fits all. They aren’t really offering you a pathway that respects your business strategy and any current depreciable investments in licensing, phones and equipment you may have. This creates a major disconnect.

Course Correction

Because Cisco is the leader and pioneer in both on-premises PBX systems, as well as cloud PBX services, we can offer a much more practical, business-friendly transition to the cloud, at any pace that makes sense for your business.

With Cisco, your cloud journey starts with a Cisco partner taking the time to understand your strategy, locations, workforce, communication patterns, and infrastructure. This provides the background to work out a transition timeline and technology path that meets your business objectives and will serve your business well going forward.

Navigation Support

First, it’s important to understand where you want to end up. Will you be moving your entire business to the cloud, or are there certain sites, or functions that will continue to use on-premises systems for the foreseeable future. This early discussion of the end-game will help define which Cisco calling platforms will be the best fit for your business future.

Then together we plan your transition by identifying a set of logical phases for cloud adoption. It may be based on sites, regions, workgroups, or any combination thereof. We have found the best transition plan involves a three-step approach defined as cap, surround, migrate.

Cap is where you define the limit for any future spending for on-premises PBX systems. We identify this demarcation point during the pre-planning process.

Surround is where you begin, as soon as possible, to surround your people and processes with rich Webex collaboration capabilities, added to their calling, meetings and team interactions, all delivered from the cloud.

Migrate is where group-by-group, team-by-team, or site-by-site you begin to move your people away from on-premises systems to their new cloud service.

Vehicle Protection (or Predictable Cost)

As you transition your business to the Cisco cloud, we protect your investment with Cisco in a number of ways. Most Cisco IP phones purchased to run on Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UCM) in the past few years become Cisco cloud ready with just a firmware change. Another area of savings is when you purchase your UCM licenses through the Cisco Collaboration Flex Plan, you pay for UC licenses either on a subscription model, or you will receive trade-in credits to apply when you choose to migrate those licenses to the Cisco cloud. Either way, you save money.

Cisco cloud calling platforms make it simple to transition to the cloud, by site or by user, while keeping everybody connected, with common dial plans and directories. Our unique portfolio enables us to deliver an exceptional collaboration experience, with calling, meetings, teams, contact center and devices all intelligently integrated for better performance.

Cisco Webex Calling is a great solution for mid-sized to large enterprises looking for a simple cloud transition. For businesses that require a more customized approach, Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) is an excellent option. And with Cisco you can choose to purchase from any of our qualified cloud channel partners, that include over 600 leading service provider and VAR channel partners around the world.

Safe Arrival

As you can see, Cisco has put in the work and planning that enables you to select a cloud PBX journey designed to serve your specific business needs, rather than try to force you into a one-size-fits-nobody arrangement. You have the freedom to choose your speed, select the technology course that’s right for your business, and the Cisco partner best suited to serve as navigator for your journey. We’ve even made sure you get the most out of your investment in your current calling vehicle (phones and licenses) along the way.