According to a report published by Microsoft, the weekly duration of meetings for Teams users has more than doubled in one year, primarily due to the pandemic. Covid-19 has considerably accelerated the adoption of technological solutions in order to allow for safe remote work. Although IP telephony is not a new technology, its adoption is increasingly recommended, since the workplace is no longer limited to the office, and conference rooms are no longer static. During our webinar on June 3rd, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of telephony by Microsoft Teams, including its features and its implementation. Here are the highlights:

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Telephony By Microsoft Teams

As our experts mentioned in our first vlog, the biggest advantage of telephony by Microsoft Teams is that it is not just a telephone system. It is integrated within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, making it possible to considerably increase collaboration within an organization.

A second advantage of telephony by Microsoft Teams is the flexibility provided by the system for the mobility of workers. The pandemic has defined a new work environment, in which the workplace is no longer confined to the office. Microsoft Teams offers applications for computers and cell phones that allow you to make calls anywhere using a simple internet connection or an LTE network.

In addition, Microsoft offers a solution in which tele-communications are encrypted up to the server, making it possible to protect company data from any malicious act.

Another advantage of telephony by Microsoft Teams is the absence of a long-term service contract. The flexibility of the number of licenses required allows for adjustment for the needs of any business.

Not all organizations have the same technological needs. It is advisable to call on an expert and be accompanied as you understand how telephony by Microsoft Teams can answer your needs.

Microsoft Teams Features

Microsoft is extremely responsive in the development of its Microsoft Teams telephony solution, and regularly adds new features. That being said, all the expected, classic telephony features are present – some are even improved upon by Microsoft. As a result, certain limitations of traditional telephony no longer apply; it is possible to make conference calls with more than three people, to stay flexible in terms of mobility, without having to transfer your call to another device, and to continue using the system even when the connection is broken.

In addition, telephony by Microsoft Teams offers attractive calling plans. Basically, 3000 minutes are included monthly, per system user. These are part of a shared call pool, i.e. if one person uses 4000 minutes, but another only uses 2000, there will be no additional cost. In Canada, these minutes can be used for calls anywhere within North America. Other international calls can be added to the basic package, and it’s about ten times cheaper per minute than classic telephony.

Finally, Microsoft Teams offers a very clear administration console with features that are easy to configure. You can easily set up a welcome message, call routing or even configure opening hours.

Managing The Migration To Telephony By Microsoft Teams

At MS Solutions, we will support you during all phases of migration to telephony by Microsoft Teams. Firstly, we will, with you, understand your needs by asking you a few questions about your current system and the features you are looking for. Following a submission, we will make sure to request the portability of all your numbers from Microsoft, for a specific date. During this time, we will be testing to make sure everything is functional and we will train Microsoft Teams users so that they are comfortable with the new system. When the system is in place, we provide feedback with you, and maintain direct contact with you!

In Short

Telephony by Microsoft Teams is a simple solution to set up and adapts to the needs of your company. The MS Solutions team can provide you with more information on telephony by Microsoft Teams and support you throughout the implementation process within your company. Do not hesitate to contact one of our experts!