The move to cloud-based communication platforms is on! As more businesses realize the flexibility, cost savings, and productivity benefits of cloud platforms, adoption continues to skyrocket. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best platform for your needs? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read on for 10 essential tips to help you select an outstanding best cloud communication platform that takes your business interactions to new heights!
1. Assess Your Current and Future Needs
Conducting a thoughtful business and communications audit is step one when selecting a cloud platform. Gather input from across your organization to understand pain points with current systems and wish lists for the future. Look at your growth projections and goals around metrics like headcount, location expansion, customers, and revenue channels. Will you be entering new global markets or launching new product lines? Also factor in desired shifts around things like work-from-home flexibility, customer experience improvements, sales and marketing automation, and more.
Getting concrete around both current communication limitations and future aspirations will allow you to formulate a clear list of must-have capabilities in areas like voice, video, messaging, conferencing, contact center features, mobility, APIs, predictive analytics and beyond. Having a solid handle on where your needs stand today and your goals for one, three and five years out will allow you to evaluate platforms against present and future organizational requirements. This prevents shortsighted decisions and set the stage for scalable growth.
2. Seek Out Reliability
Since cloud communications rely on internet connectivity, ensuring the platform you select offers robust reliability is critically important. Start by scrutinizing third-party uptime statistics and historical performance data, as well as factors like average latency and jitter. End-to-end service level agreements that guarantee 99.99% or higher uptime are ideal. Also examine redundancy mechanisms like automatic failover between geographically dispersed data centers, usage of load-balancing technology to prevent overload and more.
Emergency calling capabilities, alternate network connectivity options during outages and quality assurance testing procedures also signal reliability. Double check reliability infrastructure for all platform components, including voice, video, contact center and other tools. Confirming a vendor has all the proper redundancy, failsafe and outage prevention mechanisms provides confidence your communications will be there when you need them.
3. Demand Flexibility
Since no two organizations are alike, your chosen communications platform should bend to meet unique needs. Seek out adaptable solutions that support diverse deployment models, from public clouds to private or hybrid options allowing you to spread resources on-premises and in the cloud.
Vendors should provide flexible bundling so you only pay for the exact capabilities you require. Optimally, the platform will securely support BYOD programs enabling employees to use personal mobile devices. Finally, assess customization options around things like role-based interfaces, automated workflows, CRM integrations and customized reports to create tailored experiences.
4. Compare Ease of Use
Ease of use makes or breaks user adoption and productivity gains with any business technology. So assessing how intuitive and seamless it is to perform core tasks within your cloud communications platform is essential. Examine how simple it is for administrators to provision services, devices and numbers or configure features without lengthy training. Check that the self-service management portal allows authorized users to easily control preferences, setup conference bridges, run reports and more.
Evaluate end-user experiences around core tools like video meetings, business SMS and softphones for simplicity. Ideally the solution offers handy productivity enhancers like drag and drop conference scheduling, user staging tools, configuration wizards, mobile apps and role-based interfaces too. Bottom line – frictionless, consumer-like experiences increase utilization and speed task completion.
5. Get Global Coverage
As business becomes increasingly global, anywhere-anytime connectivity is imperative. Thoroughly investigate potential cloud communications platforms’ global infrastructure and coverage reach. Look for extensive coverage offered directly by the provider as well as interconnect agreements with Tier 1 carriers worldwide. Ensure the countries and regions important to your business are covered with localized service and support.
Also confirm the platform provides inbound dial-in local telephone numbers around the globe to simplify customer, partner and employee access. For multinational organizations, verify the solution offers in-country data hosting to align with privacy regulations. Finally, check that self-service portals, mobile interfaces and end-user experiences are available in all languages your organization requires for smooth cross-border collaboration. Selecting a cloud platform with genuine global competency makes worldwide growth achievable.
6. Demand Security
When communications and data live in the cloud, security is paramount. Vet each vendor’s security standards, policies, technologies, and track record. Prioritize solutions with SOC 2 compliance, GDPR readiness, end-to-end encryption, role-based access controls and other leading security safeguards.
7. Compare Price and Value
Cloud communications unlock major cost efficiencies compared to conventional solutions. But pricing can still vary markedly between platforms, so compare carefully. Watch for hidden fees. And weigh costs against overall value–a rock-bottom price means nothing if the system doesn’t meet your needs!
8. Check References
There’s no substitute for checking first-hand reviews and references when selecting a business technology platform. Reach out to the vendor for customer referrals, read online reviews, check community discussion forums, and more. This due diligence step helps avoid disappointments.
9. Consider Support Resources
Even the most reliable, well-designed cloud communications platforms can occasionally have issues. When they do, you want great support fast. Compare each vendor’s support channels, availability, response times and resources. Having ample self-help and expert assistance available 24/7/365 is ideal.
10. Envision the Possibilities
Cloud communications unlock innovative ways to engage with customers, partners, as well as employees. So in your selection process, don’t just look at direct replacements of existing systems. Consider how next-gen capabilities like AI, omnichannel integration, along with programmable communications, as well as more could take your business to exciting new heights!
Conclusion
There you have it – 10 savvy tips to choose a phenomenal cloud based communication platform in india tailored to your unique business needs. Following this advice will help you identify the right solution to affordably transform the way you interact. So don’t settle for anything less than outstanding when it comes to your communications backbone. Embrace the flexible, scalable future offered by cloud platforms as well as get ready to rise up! What are you waiting for? It’s time to soar to new heights!
