What are the best phone systems for remote teams? – The workplace today is very different from what it used to be. Since flexible work arrangements are becoming the norm instead of the exception, it’s more important than ever to have a reliable communication system. Whether your employees work from home, in co-working spaces, or in a mix of both across Greater London and beyond, staying in touch is the key to getting things done. This change in operations often makes business leaders ask a very important question.
It’s not enough to just make and receive calls when looking for the right communication tool. It’s about bringing together video conferencing, instant messaging, file sharing, and easy mobility into one platform. Additionally, the UK will turn off the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) in 2027, so upgrading your old systems is no longer an option; it is a must for your business.
This complete guide will show you what are the best business phone systems are for remote teams, how to get ready for the ISDN and PSTN switch-off that is coming up quickly, and how Connect In Cloud can make sure your move goes smoothly, is cost-effective, and makes sense from a business point of view.
The 2027 PSTN Switch-Off: The Catalyst for Change
UK businesses need to look at the bigger picture of telecommunications before they can choose the best business phone systems for remote teams. The old copper-wire telephone network (PSTN) will be completely shut down by 2027. This means that old PBX systems, landlines, and alarm or broadband connections will no longer work.
Companies that depend on old infrastructure need to act quickly. The switch-off is a huge change in technology that is pushing businesses to use digital, internet-based communication. But this change shouldn’t be seen as a problem; it’s a great chance to switch to cloud-based phone service. Cloud solutions not only take care of the compliance problems that come with the PSTN switch-off, but they also naturally answer the question of what are the best business phone systems are for remote teams.
Moving to a cloud-based framework now will protect your business for the future, give your remote workers more power, and keep the inevitable bottleneck from happening as the 2027 deadline approaches.
Things to Look for in a Remote Phone System
To find the best business phone systems for remote teams, you need to look at the features that are most important for decentralised operations. A regular desk phone just doesn’t work anymore. Your next telecommunications investment needs to include the following:
1. UCaaS, or Unified Communications as a Service
A modern remote worker doesn’t just use a phone. They use CRM software, video calls, team chat, and screen sharing. The best systems combine all of these tools into one application that works together. This stops “app fatigue” and makes sure that your team can work together well from anywhere in the world.
2. Softphones for mobile and desktop computers
A lot of business owners and IT directors are asking right now, “What are the best business phone systems for teams that work from home?” Softphone features are almost always part of the answer. A softphone is a program that lets people use their computer, tablet, or smartphone to make phone calls over the internet. This means that a remote worker can answer their direct office extension from their phone, keeping up a professional appearance without being tied to a desk.
3. High-Level Security and Compliance
It’s much harder to protect your company’s data when your team is spread out. The best cloud phone service will have end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and follow strict rules for protecting data.
4. Ability to grow and change
Your phone system should grow with your business as it does. Every time you hire a new employee, you have to install physical hardware for traditional on-premise PBX systems. It’s very flexible because you can add or remove users with just one click on an administrative dashboard.
Comparing the Best Options: VoIP, Cloud PBX, and UCaaS
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is always at the top of the list of the best business phone systems for remote teams. But what does that mean in real life, and what are the different types you should know about? Let’s look more closely at what are the best business phone systems are for remote teams to make sure your money is well spent.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
VoIP is the basic technology that lets voice calls go over the internet instead of through regular copper lines. It is cheap, easy to set up, and is the foundation of almost all modern remote systems. A standard business VoIP service is a great place to start if all you need is a way to make phone calls from anywhere with an internet connection.
Private Branch Exchange in the Cloud
Cloud PBX is like a virtual version of the old phone cabinet that used to be in the IT closet. It does call routing, automated attendants (IVR), voicemails, and call queuing, but it is all hosted in the cloud. This is great for businesses that want a very professional caller experience (like “Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support”) but don’t want to have to take care of the hardware.
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)
So, what are the best business phone systems for remote teams when it comes to Unified Communications? UCaaS adds powerful collaboration tools to Cloud PBX. A UCaaS platform can connect your phone directly to Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Slack if your team uses those tools a lot. This makes it easy for an employee to turn a quick chat message into a full video conference or an external phone call with just one click.
Cloud telephony can help you deal with the problems of working from home.
There are some unique problems that come with running a remote team. The good news is that the right telecommunications infrastructure can fix a lot of these problems.
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Keeping things professional: You don’t want employees who work from home to use their personal cell phones to call clients. Cloud systems hide personal numbers and show your company’s caller ID instead.
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Call Analytics and Management: How do you keep an eye on your employees’ work when you can’t see them? Modern phone systems have real-time dashboards, call recording, and deep analytics. Managers can keep an eye on the number of calls, the average time it takes to handle each one, and make sure that customer service stays high.
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Business Continuity: If the internet goes down in your area, regular phones will stop working. Cloud systems can automatically send calls to mobile networks or other places, so your business never misses a beat.
Working with Connect In Cloud
If you’re still not sure what are the best business phone systems are for remote teams, Connect In Cloud can help. We know that the telecommunications industry is not the same for everyone. We are experts in IT and communications infrastructure, so we will help you with your digital transformation.
We will look over your current setup, figure out what you need to work from home, and design a solution that fits your business needs perfectly. We take care of the whole migration process, which is even more important. With the PSTN switch-off coming up in 2027, our strategic switch-off campaigns make sure that your business doesn’t have to deal with any problems, saves money on old systems, and moves confidently into the future of cloud communication.
We offer the strong, flexible, and safe networks that keep your business connected, whether you need a simple VoIP integration for a small mobile workforce or a full UCaaS deployment for a complicated organisational structure.
In the end, the best business phone systems for remote teams depend on your team’s size, growth plans, and operational needs. There is one thing we know for sure: the time of the desk phone that stays in one place is over.
You need a system that is flexible, has strong collaboration tools, and is completely reliable in order to give your remote workers the power they need. By switching to cloud-based phone service now, you not only give your team the tools they need to work from anywhere, but you also avoid the problems that will come with the PSTN switch-off.
Don’t wait until the old networks stop working. Get in touch with Connect In Cloud today so we can help you build a communication system that will help your business grow.
