The cloud is also changing the telephone exchanges.

The overall advantages of a cloud solution are evident, including for example the reduction in capital spending, reducing IT staff dedicated and adoption of monthly service fees for users than its bigger one-time investment. But there are also strategic advantages in terms of economies of scale in particular for organizations with multiple locations, geographically distributed throughout the territory.

In 2017 the business communications market will continue its transition to the cloud. The data of most of the research institutes confirm that the cloud-based solutions for contact centers are becoming increasingly the preferred distribution pattern. The cloud technology is the new normal for contact centers and for 2017 this trend will lead to a higher growth rate of 25%. Where in the first blush companies they wondered if the cloud was or was not the correct approach to adopt, now the matter concerns more than anything else in determining which types of businesses will benefit the most from integrated migration of all systems to the cloud. An example is the fact that the platforms for Unified Communications are now closely interconesse solutions for videoconferencing or CRM applications, which already are headed almost exclusively to cloud infrastructures.

The benefits of a cloud solution are obvious in terms of scalability and especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. At this advantage it must be added the fact that in a cloud system is simpler and less cumbersome to manage at the level of technical assistance. In case of bad or need for new implementations, the service provider will be able to perform maintenance remotely accessing the system without the need to intervene on the spot. Finally it should be considered the reduction of the local bandwidth consumption in the case of the switchboard interconnection with other applications such as CRM, database in the cloud and videoconferencing systems.

The reason why the mass adoption of telephony systems full cloud has not taken place is given by the need to have an adequate Internet connectivity to support a high data traffic. The generic and trade of xDSL connectivity profiles on the market today are not suitable for a use of this type. It is therefore appropriate to select line and providers on the basis of specific qualitative parameters such as bandwidth actually available and the absence of constraints or limitations on the volume data supplied connectivity. These factors are revealed still largely decisive for the choice between UCC cloud-based solutions or installed on-site, especially in a context like the Italian one, in which the ultra-broadband is not yet widespread throughout the country.

Normally it is recommended the installation of an IP PBX in the cloud for Full type systems with VoIP telephone lines provided exclusively for SIP trunk mode. For installations where it is necessary to integrate also conventional PSTN / ISDN telephone instead of installing on-premise (on local machine) it may be preferable depending on the type and number of lines to be connected.

Considering the fact that the adoption of UCC solutions goes hand in hand with the increase in business mobility, the choice between cloud telephony systems, or installed on-premise can not do without a thorough initial analysis of all the factors at play.