Cisco Telephone Systems: The Value of Advanced Webex Calling

Every business needs a telephone system of some sort. But today, the definition of “telephone system” is rapidly expanding to include a wide array of options for different needs. The landline-based system of physical phones plugged into jacks remains the main communication line for many businesses. Still, virtual and hybrid systems of digital telephony and VoIP are quickly becoming the new default, with 31% of businesses now using VoIP systems.

Along with decisions about physical versus digital infrastructure, organizations must decide which capabilities their telephones need and which supplemental features they can’t do without. For many companies, one option continually rises to the top: advanced Cisco telephone systems. 

Modern Cisco phone systems use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to power virtual communications as a more versatile alternative to conventional landlines. VoIP runs over IP networks and the internet so businesses can leverage communications in the office, at home, and on the go. 

VoIP from Cisco also includes several contemporary communication features, reliable security, and operational guarantees that businesses need for clear continuity and strategic planning. Businesses can stay ahead of the curve by evaluating whether advanced Cisco telephone systems have the right combination of features, uptime, and flexibility.

Top 4 Advanced Features of Cisco Telephone Systems 

Compared to analog telephones, most VoIP systems already offer significant upgrades. But when businesses are shopping around for new service providers and interfaces, knowing the details pays dividends. Consider these four critical features of advanced Cisco options for businesses. 

HD Voice and Video Calling

Just like modern telephones are outstripping the conventional physical devices they used to be, virtual telephony services offer far more than just transmitting audio. Webex by Cisco has released HD Voice for Webex calling capabilities. It’s an AI-based technology that can identify voices, differentiate them from background noises, and “rebuild” the upper spectrum sounds often lost in conventional calls’ narrowband audio. The result is a crisper audio transmission that sounds fuller and is much easier to understand. 

HD Voice provides superior call quality on both ends of a line, even when only one caller uses the technology. Businesses with advanced Cisco telephone systems can provide better call quality to their customers, regardless of whether calls are incoming or outgoing. 

The same clear wideband audio is available over video and conference calls. HD voice and video removes typical call quality complaints that even modern video calls often suffer from.  

Mobile Integrations

There are two different lenses through which businesses should view mobile integrations: 

1. Technical capabilities of mobile integrations. This feature determines how the hardware and software work together in a large or complex system (such as if you’re upgrading your business’s systems without scrapping everything and starting from scratch)
2. Mobile integrations with your tech stack. You can integrate business applications that should naturally tie in closely with calls. Consider the benefits of automatically connecting phone call recordings to client accounts, tracking touchpoints, and analyzing word choice and tone to get the pulse on client mood and intentions.

Whether your team is currently comparing specific options under the umbrella of advanced Cisco telephone systems or you’re just beginning to look at VoIP options, it’s important to understand what each system can and can’t do, which integrations each vendor offers, and which capabilities you’ll have to custom build (or go without).

Real-Time Availability Status Indicators

Downtime is more than just time lost. It encompasses blocks of time when your customers can’t reach you and start trusting you less. It also represents time when your employees are getting frustrated or are unable to get their work done. 

One of the unique advantages of choosing Cisco is the effort the company has put into developing its real-time monitoring tool (RTMT). The system connects to online phones to provide continuous monitoring, proactive solvency, and fast troubleshooting. This allows back-end system managers to get in front of any problems before they cause downtime—or step in to make that downtime as short as possible.

Seamless Collaboration Tools

The core value of upgrading to a new phone system isn’t just that phone calls get clearer or that phone lines are more reliable—these improvements matter significantly. Rather, the nature of what a phone call entails deepens to facilitate better collaboration of all types. Through Webex, Cisco offers a wide range of interconnected collaboration tools that go beyond traditional telephony. 

These include messaging, file sharing, digital whiteboarding, and virtual meeting spaces, all seamlessly integrated with their phone systems. Cisco phone systems enable audio calls, video calls, and communication through desktops, smartphones, and softphone setups. People can reach out through virtually any device for any type of call or collaborative interaction, creating a unified communications ecosystem that enhances productivity and teamwork.

Unique Benefits of Cisco Systems

Knowing the capabilities of advanced Cisco telephone systems is one thing; knowing the value they provide in practical business applications is another. Companies that are weighing their options for investing in their business tech stack should be aware that the upheaval and complexity of moving to new systems come with tangible benefits. The following three advantages are the most relevant to look for: 

Improved Productivity

Is the investment likely to increase production? Gauge this metric by measuring current gaps in your system’s performance, such as:

• Slowdowns and poor call quality that decrease how much work your team can get done every day or every hour
• Actual production liabilities, such as missed calls, miscommunications due to poor call quality, and missed opportunities
• Loss of top performers due to your phone system or tech stack’s inflexibility in remote or hybrid work arrangements

Ideally, the right phone system should substantively address these problems by facilitating more growth and a quick ROI of transitioning to the new service. You can also look for systems that offer metric improvements, such as less time spent on admin work, better knowledge bases, and faster project completion.

Enhanced Customer Service

Telephone system quality ties closely to customer service quality. Consider the difference in experience you can provide by having crisper audio, more dependable uptime, and the ability to reach internal contacts with more convenience. But advanced phone systems can also offer the following customer service enhancements:

• Easier call redirecting and more convenient directories
• AI-based phone assistance
• Phone call recordings for more comprehensive client records 
• More communication channel options

Support for Remote and Hybrid Environments

Remote work is not going away. Even as some businesses maintain employees in the office, there will always be remote and hybrid work arrangements, traveling agents, and teams that need to stay on call. Advanced phone systems facilitate this modern, flexible approach to work as employees can call via devices from any location without compromising security (with features like HD audio quality).

3 Things You’ll Miss Out On If You Don’t Have a Cisco Telephone System

If your business is conducting a cost-benefit analysis of switching to a phone system like Cisco, don’t let that analysis sit in a vacuum. It’s just as important to weigh the advantages of one system against the advantages and disadvantages of another. Companies should also consider the negative impacts of failing to make the switch or switching to a subpar option, such as losing out on these advantages: 

Scalability As Your Business Grows

VoIP and digital phone systems are significantly more convenient than traditional systems when your company is expanding. You can easily scale up the number of licenses your account has to match the number of employees, all without having to consider the number of physical landlines available. As long as the internet has the bandwidth to support it, you can grow your system. This flexibility also opens the door to more accessible remote and hybrid work arrangements, as your staff can have fully enabled home offices without the headache. 

In addition, if your business is scaling down, you have seasonal changes, or you have pop-up locations in different metropolitan areas, you can easily carry over, increase, or decrease your plan.

Security Features You Can Rely On

Today’s companies must continually protect their data, no matter how it’s transmitted to their businesses or where it’s stored. Phone calls are just as susceptible to data theft and poor security as any other form of data, and not every VoIP phone provider takes that into consideration. Whether your business is in the healthcare space or handles customer credit card information over the phone, bad security is a business liability.

The Right Integration Capabilities

If you’re using a conventional phone system, it can be difficult to imagine how the right integrations can open up your business and bring in more profits. But when you can automatically schedule calls, record calls, analyze call factors, and share information with Cisco communication services without having to manually do the work, things pick up speed immediately. 

As a general rule of thumb, major phone systems offer more technical and software integrations, so you’re much more likely to see premade integrations and plugins that align with your needs.

Upgrade to a Cisco Telephone System With Expert Support and Management

Once you decide advanced Cisco telephone systems are the right fit for your business, the next step is choosing a direct services provider who can maintain the technical aspects of the system for you. At BCM One, we build personalized programs and plans for each client to have the services, communications capabilities, and support they’re looking for. Contact us today to learn more about the Cisco systems we manage and start making the switch.