What is a cloud PBX and how can it benefit your company?

A cloud business exchange (CBX) is a digital phone system that connects the phone over the internet to cloud services, features, and functionality . It is a system built, hosted in quality telecoms centres, and managed by the cloud service provider. Premitel is one such provider.

The traditional private branch exchange (PBX) usually runs on an on-site server while our CBX is hosted off-site and is accessible via the internet.

Our CBX comes with the following basic features:

• Call forwarding

• Default call barring (choose between a number of options)

• Voicemail to email

• Abbreviated dialling

• Call splitting

• Do not disturb

• Call transfers

• Music on hold (standard)

• Call waiting

• Daily spending plans to combat fraudulent use

• Fraud traffic profiles

• Real time access to detailed call records and usage summaries

• Softphones for various operating systems

As a Premitel CBX client, you can have the above features along with the following additional features:

• Direct Inward Dialable (DID) phone numbers

• Porting of numbers

• Auto Attendant (IVR) for different call capacity requirements

• Day and night service modes

• Direct hunt groups (DHG)

• Hunt groups selectable from an AVR

• Pickup groups

• Call queues

• Queue announcements

• Call Recording

• Custom call barring

• Custom music/messaging on hold

• PIN Codes

• Connectivity solutions

• Selection of IP phones

Setting up a CBX is a relatively quick and straightforward process for the client. This is because the service provider will do most of the heavy lifting, and the product is purely digital. Once customers are onboarded, they can use their web self-care interface to customise the features.

Our CBX does not need much hardware, because most of it is provided by the service provider. The business can get started with connected devices and a stable internet connection. The company can use IP phones and PC or mobile applications to connect to the CBX.

What are the benefits of a CBX?

Our CBX is a cloud telephony technology, so most of its benefits are similar to that of cloud services. Here are a few:

• It offers enterprise-grade services at a lower cost. So companies can get high-end service without compromising on quality or increasing expenses. CBX could also make these enterprise-grade services available to SMEs at a lower cost than their current telephone systems.

• There is flexibility in choosing the device the business can use to access the service. Companies can use an IP phone, mobile phone, desktop or any SIP device.

• Our CBX is easily scalable. You only pay for what you use, and if you need to scale up, it can be done in an instant. Scaling down is just as easy.

• Our CBX is a cloud service that can easily integrate with other cloud services. Easy integration makes CBX a more versatile telephone system that can evolve with the company's needs. 

• Since the service is on the cloud, it is accessible from anywhere through the internet. This makes it easier to connect mobile and remote staff.

• It switches the expenditure on a business's phone system from a Capex to Opex model. This eventually leads to lower monthly costs.

• The technology uses internet protocols to communicate, which could make it cheaper than analogue voice calls. According to the ICASA: State of the ICT Sector Report March 2020, prepaid call rates ranged from R0.66 to R2.00 per minute. With Premitel CBX, your business could save up to 60 percent on call rates.

• The business can quickly onboard, configure, route, and organise permissions of the entire system.

• Cloud systems, including CBXs, have redundancy protocols which can deliver improved continuous uptime.

• The service provider maintains security and updates at no extra cost. So the phone system is more secure and operating at optimum levels.

• All calls are automatically logged, and they can be recorded. So compliance will be easier and less costly.

Premitel differentiates in the market by providing a basic solution that includes extensions and features at low monthly fees. Customers may add more features for scalability, automation and leverage of resources.

Often providers use office based hosting to provide cloud services based on open source software. Beware of the dangers to stability and service levels. Premitel invested in carrier grade software hosted in world class data centres. This allows us to provide a function rich product with outstanding level of service.

To become successful and competitive, one must always strive to be innovative, productive and cost-efficient. Our CBX provides all of these benefits on a simple-to-use platform. 

To find out more about our solutions, please contact us.