How to Build a Successful Roadmap to the Cloud

If you have no strategy in place for a) determining if you need a cloud-based phone system and b) how you will migrate towards one if you do, you should prepare your company for a long and pricy road to failure.

Your phone system is a critical component to the success of your business and the productivity of your employees, but taking advantage of its capabilities requires incorporating your phone system platform into your overall IT strategy.

This is especially true when considering a move from an on-premise phone system to a hosted cloud-based platform, which can provide greater flexibility for your company, and stronger ability to scale. But without a set roadmap and plan, you may end up facing a number of different pitfalls that are hard – and expensive - to repair. Having a plan that aligns with your overall IT strategy will allow you to implement the right solution for your company.

Here are the top 3 steps to consider when transitioning from an on-premise phone systems to a hosted cloud solution:

Step 1: Define your goals and analyze your needs.

Having an overall goal of where you want your phone system to take you and what challenges you are trying to solve with the cloud will allow you select the right solution. The objective here is to start thinking about what needs to get done, and why and how it will affect each department in your company. This is the phase where you carefully analyze all related components, focus on your larger business objectives and identify any cost savings associated with the implementation of a cloud-based unified communications platform.

Truth be told, this might also be your only step, as not all companies need a cloud-based phone system. It’s important to do this careful analysis and make sure the transition from premise to cloud is right for you.

Step 2: Include the right stakeholders.

Oftentimes, phone systems are not included as part of the overall IT strategy. Working directly with the CEO, as well as different departments within your organization, will enable you to move quickly through the process of transitioning to cloud, while showing your colleagues the overall value of adopting a cloud solution.

Step 3: Educate your employees.

If you are having a difficult time getting your technicians or end-users to support your move to the cloud, show your company’s departments and employees the benefits of cloud-based phone systems. Invest in training your employees, especially if you don’t have a dedicated telephony system’s expert.

One of the most obvious benefits of setting up a roadmap for transitioning from an on-premise phone solution to the cloud is that it can provide your company with significant savings in the long term. It enables you to make informed decisions about what phone system to invest in, and define a tactical process for making the transition to reduce downtime and impacts on productivity.

XFER Communications offers a 360° process, which helps businesses to determine whether cloud is the ultimate answer to their business problems. We analyze all aspects of the decision, from outside connections, internal network considerations, how the phone system integrates with mobile devices, company culture, and company infrastructure, and then look for cost savings to implement the strategy. If the move to the cloud is the right choice for your company, you’ll walk away with not only a firm understanding as to why it’s the best move, but a plan to make the move as seamless as possible.