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WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDERA CLOUD PHONE SYSTEMA MITEL EBOOK

WHY CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS?Your phone system plays a critical role in your business operationsand in your company’s success. But with more employees workingfrom home and on the go, increasingly global markets and everchanging customer demands, today’s workforce requires decisionmakers to think beyond the traditional phone systems of days past.The modern workplace requires a complete communications andcollaboration system that not only lets employees interact withease, but also empowers IT teams to easily manage and adapt to anevolving business environment.This eGuide explains cloud technologies, compares traditionaland cloud-based phone systems and discusses how unifiedcommunications can elevate your business. Use it to betterunderstand cloud communications and determine if a cloudphone system is right for you.OVERVIEW1 CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS 1012 C LOUD VS. ON-SITE:CONSIDERATIONS ANDBENEFITS3 B ENEFITS OF A CLOUD-BASEDPHONE SYSTEM4 W HAT TO LOOK FOR IN ACLOUD COMMUNICATIONSSOLUTION5 MICLOUD CONNECTMITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

1CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS 101Chances are, you’re already using cloud technology in otheraspects of your business. G Suite by Google Cloud , MicrosoftOffice 365 and Dropbox are just some examples of cloudbased applications.The cloud simply refers to software and services that arehosted by the provider and run on the Internet insteadof equipment housed in your building. Since the documents,emails, photos and other software that live in the cloud areavailable from any device with a secure Internet connection,users can access the information and services from anywhere.MITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

2CLOUD VS. ON-SITEWhen it comes to communications, a cloud-based phone service offers unique benefits a traditionalon-site phone system cannot. Let’s take a quick look at how these two deployment models differ:On-Site Phone System You fully own and operate the solution You are responsible for overall maintenance,upgrades, reliability and security Typically acquired as an upfront purchase, andaccounted for as a capital expenseCloud Phone Service Applications are hosted remotely by the cloud provideror a hosting partner Cloud provider manages the service, relieving in-houseIT of most or all network-related tasks Services are consumed as a monthly subscriptionexpenseMITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

ON-SITE CONSIDERATIONSWith an on-site phone system, IT maintains control ofyour solution. As a capital expenditure (CapEx), there areminimal-to-no ongoing costs to finance the solution.However, there are several important considerations tokeep in mind:Total Cost of Operations: Plan to factor in the additionalcosts of system maintenance, changes/adds/deletes,upgrades and replacements.Obsolescence: With technology constantly evolving, thereis risk of the equipment quickly becoming obsolete.Resources: If IT resources are limited, the complexity ofthe deployment may pose problems in implementationand user adoption.Less Flexibility: An on-site solution mayhave limited flexibility when integrating with newapplications and rapidly supporting new sites orremote workers.MITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

3BENEFITS OF A CLOUD-BASEDPHONE SYSTEMValue: There are minimal-to-no upfront expenses becauseyou pay monthly on a subscription basis. Plus, with manycloud providers, upgrades are automatic, and maintenanceor installation fees are either low or non-existent.Maintenance: Cloud phone services require minimal-to-noon-site equipment, eliminating the need for equipment thatrequires valuable time from IT staff and space in your building.Accessibility: Employees have access to the same easy-touse features and functionality whether they’re in the mainoffice, working from a remote location or on the road.Integrations: Easier integrations with popular back-officecloud solutions, such as CRM, ERP and other apps, turna cloud phone system into a communications hub thatenhances productivity and collaboration.Scalability: Adding locations and growing teams becomesimple to handle in a cloud environment, with new usersable to be provisioned in minutes.“While the benefits still largelyrevolve around cost savings, thereasons for deploying UCaaS are toEMPOWEREMPLOYEES &IMPACT THEBUSINESSon a variety of fronts.”- AMY LIND,IDC RESEARCH MANAGERMITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

5 MOST CITED REASONSWHY BUSINESSES ARE MAKING THEMOVE TO CLOUDThe key difference is that cloud communications can helpyour business to be more agile. Cloud solutions are oftenmore flexible, scalable, reliable and offer greater access toinnovative features designed to make your employeesmore productive.for Moving to CloudCommunications:1 AGILITY2 TOTAL COST OF OPERATIONS3 RESILIENCY4 LACK OF IT RESOURCES5 SCALABILITYSource: “The State of Cloud Communications,”2015 No Jitter ResearchMITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

IS A CLOUD-BASED PHONE SYSTEM RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?Now that we’ve covered the differences and value a cloud solution can offer, you can consider if the cloud is agood fit for your business. Certain business dynamics are custom-made for the cloud. Do you see your businessreflected in the list below?1 Rapid GrowthThe built-in flexibility of the cloud makes it a great fit forcompanies that need to scale.2 Multiple LocationsIf you’re moving or adding offices, cloud systems makeit simple to add new users quickly.3 Limited IT ResourcesCloud communications offer expert installation,ongoing support and automatic software upgrades.5 A Need to Improve the Customer ExperienceCloud-based solutions offer greater integrationopportunities that, in turn, can help you meet thedistinct needs of your customers.6 Competitive PressuresThe increased agility of a cloud solution can help youincrease productivity, retain and attract top talent andmore easily set your business apart in competitivemarkets.4 Outdated Equipment and/or Equipment Coming toEnd of LifeIf it’s time for an upgrade, there’s no better time toconsider moving your communications to the cloud.MITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

4WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONUnified communications (UC) technologies go beyond basic telephony by seamlessly integrating popularcommunications and collaboration applications, helping to streamline everyday workflows and improveproductivity. As you’re evaluating communications solutions, take full advantage of what the cloud offers bylooking for a solution that includes features such as:Chat/Instant Messaging: Collaborate andcommunicate with other employees across theoffice, across town or across the globe.Collaboration Tools: Eliminate email clutter with virtualworkspaces, team- or project-based chat rooms andtask management tools.Web Conference & Desktop Sharing: Increase theeffectiveness of your online meetings by sharingimportant documents and visuals with a single click.Back-Office Integrations: Solutions with a broad suiteof integrations to your key back-office systems, suchas your CRM or helpdesk systems, help simplify routinetasks and improve reporting capabilities.Video Conferencing: Integrated, cloud-based videoconferencing provides a seamless environment for amore personal communications experience.Mobile Applications: Apps let you take your businessline wherever you go and seamlessly move fromyour desk to a computer softphone to a mobiledevice without skipping a beat.MITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

55MICLOUD CONNECT: A CLOUD COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONDESIGNED TO GIVE YOU MOREMore IntegrationsMiCloud Connect integrates with countlessapplications, so your business can do more.More FlexibilityMiCloud Connect makes it simple to add usersand capabilities as your business expands.More ValueDue to its monthly releases, MiCloud Connectenables you to always run on the latest andgreatest without your bill ever changing.More MobilityConvenient mobile apps and collaboration tools allowteams to stay connected and productive whereverthey are.More Collaboration FeaturesGoes beyond just a phone system to provide richcollaboration features like desktop sharing, chat, videoand team workspaces.More SimplicityMiCloud Connect provides a complete UCaaS solutionand intuitive experience for all users, no matter theirlocation or device.MITEL EBOOK MOVING YOUR PHONE SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

WHY WAIT?Isn’t it time you gave your phone system a fresh look? Learn how MiCloud Connectcan benefit your business. Learn more at mitel.com/cloud.mitel.com Copyright 2018, Mitel Networks Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The Mitel word and logo are trademarks of Mitel Networks Corporation.Any reference to third party trademarks are for reference only and Mitel makes no representation of ownership of these marks.EB-894327-R1810-EN

This eGuide explains cloud technologies, compares traditional and cloud-based phone systems and discusses how unified communications can elevate your business. Use it to better understand cloud communications and determine if a cloud phone system is right for you. OVERVIEW 2 CLOUD VS. ON-SITE: CONSIDERATIONS AND BENEFITS