Could Microsoft Teams Replace Your Business Phone System?

Microsoft Teams is a digital hub that brings conversations, content, and apps together in one place. In this article, we explore how using Microsoft Teams phone system might just be the technology of choice for businesses looking to replace an existing, legacy phone system.

In these days of flexible working, hot-desking and external sales teams working from mobile phones or tablets, real-time effective inter-team communication is vital.

Business owners and IT managers are starting to ask whether the new and improved version of Microsoft Teams, with its enhanced capabilities, might be a good replacement for their existing phone systems.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a platform that combines workplace chat, meetings, notes, and attachments. The service integrates with Office 365 and features extensions that integrate with an increasing number of 3rd-party products party products.

As of March 2019, Microsoft announced 8 new features including a Whiteboard meeting optimisation tool, live captioning and customisable backgrounds for video. The video above (from UCToday) features Lori Wright, Marketing Executive at Microsoft discussing the roadmap for new features.

The current buzz around Microsoft Teams has UK businesses excited by the prospect of a collaboration platform that delivers not only its core offering but could also be a worthy replacement for existing phone systems whilst reducing complexity and offering significant savings to boot.

The new Microsoft Teams platform offers a ‘Direct Routing’ option that allows the connection of SIP trunks straight into the system, cutting out a large amount of complexity and cost.

Can Microsoft Teams Replace Your Business Phone System?

With more than 115 million (as at Nov 2020) daily active users, IT managers are becoming increasingly impressed by the flexibility and usability of the new Microsoft Teams platform. It can, of course, be used for collaboration (messaging, presence, desktop sharing, audio/video conferencing etc.) but it is also being pushed very hard by Microsoft as a replacement for business phone systems and video conferencing platforms: simplifying infrastructure, consolidating suppliers, reducing costs and giving users a comprehensive Unified Communications toolset.

Getting Microsoft Teams Up And Running

The team at Marlin Communications is highly trained in the implementation and support of Microsoft collaboration environments such as Skype for Business and Teams. We make sure your business gains all the benefits available from the interoperable Microsoft product set.

Moreover, where Microsoft Teams’ native capabilities end (such as contact centre, handsets/headsets, video conferencing installations, SIP gateways etc), we supplement these with a complementary range of products and services to deliver a complete end-to-end solution, across voice, data, security, mobile and video technologies.

So, if you’re considering moving from your existing phone system, or just want to understand the benefits available with Microsoft Teams phone system integration, why not arrange a call or schedule a time to visit our demo suite at Marlin Communications. Our experts will be happy to guide you through the available options, with no obligation.

Call us on 0800 032 8274, email us at [email protected], or use our contact form.