Microsoft Teams VoIP Benefits

Microsoft Teams VoIP has created many questions from organizations over the last year. Our CopperTree Solutions CEO-Colin Shantz-and our Professional Services Manager-Melynda Hutchinson-answer some of these questions. Furthermore, they discuss the benefits of moving your phone system to Microsoft Teams VoIP.

What are some of the problems that they’re looking to solve?

The biggest problem is this push to work at home or where people are in the office with a flexible phone system. So how does a user answer the phone as though they’re in the office when they are remote with Teams giving a solution. An attractor of a traditional phone system is its investment/expensive desktop hardware. That hardware doesn’t transport back and forth from home.

Additionally, companies invest in cell phones as well as laptops, and Teams VoIP can work on both of those. So you have your cell phone that works as your office phone, anywhere that you go. Also, a lot of it is that the systems don’t work and have inconsistent tools- they have poor call quality. Your internet quality determines the call quality of Microsoft Teams VoIP. At the same time, there’s not a lot of investment going on in analog phones. So we’re seeing a lot more instability in the analog world. Additionally, maintaining a phone system and later upgrading hardware is not versatile. You can’t move it.

How does Microsoft Teams VoIP solve problems that organizations are having today?

Microsoft Teams has become adopted, as lots of people are using the UI. Incorporating a VoIP system creates an easy learning curve with seamless user experiences. They are already accustomed to Teams video chats and different screen shares/meetings. It is the same technology extending over to voice. Moreover, when you sign up for Microsoft Teams VoIP, each user gets an assigned phone number. Their Teams ring as if they were receiving a chat request from organization members. Additionally, cell phones and laptops can install the application, creating a portable office. The costs are reasonable and you don’t have to invest in any specialized hardware and so you end up saving money.

Can you talk about simplifying tools and being able to have fewer tools?

Instead of :

• Having a desktop application for a VoIP system,
• Worrying about logging into a complex phone UI to forward numbers,
• Sitting there figuring out which control you need to punch in to set up an out of office,

it’s all tied into Outlook, your statuses, and your meeting statuses. You only have to worry about Team software, which you’re already accustomed to using. Also, the administration is very simple, so it requires minimal training.

How does CopperTree help our clients make this switch to Microsoft Teams VoIP?

We meet with each one of our clients and:

• Listen to their auto-attendant,
• Consider their call flows,
• Look at how their workflow’s structured,
• Look at how their call flow’s structured(ex. we’ll hire a voice talent to record their auto attendant if they desire this).

Also, we get all the call flow configurations set up beforehand. This allows pre-testing where a client can vet and test the phone system to make sure it works the way they want it to. Next, we offer user training. Here, we go through all the interfaces and options to ensure everybody’s ready to go. We then start forwarding calls to the new system to finally end with a phone number port, and then they’re live.

What’s the transition to Microsoft Teams VoIP like?

Generally, the transition is seamless, especially if somebody understands Teams and its interface. It’s usually not as big of a deal as people might think it would be. In fact, most of the time, users experience what it’s like to learn anything new. They get excited and it gets over complicated in their head. The phone at your desk was ringing one day, and now, the phone on your computer or cell phone is ringing wherever you are. It works on Bluetooth in the car, at your desk, and even if you’re at the store having to take a call with a client after hours.