SIP trunking or hosted PBX? That is the VoIP implementation debate.
Both are viable approaches when looking for a VoIP solution, which is the only problem. It’s up to you to decide which makes the most sense for your business.
As is true for any business technology decision, it’s essential to know both sides of the story—the pros and cons of SIP trunking and hosted PBX.
SIP trunking services act as a gateway so you can move your on-premise PBX to VoIP.
With SIP trunks connecting on-premise equipment to internet telephony service providers, you replace legacy primary rate interfaces (PRI) or analog lines. And enhance your current system with typical VoIP features (automated attendant, voicemail, automatic call distribution, call transferring, and more).
Keeping your communications system on-premise comes with a few distinct advantages as you transition to VoIP:
Even if these benefits seem valuable, you can’t plan a move to VoIP with SIP trunking if you don’t have a dedicated IT staff. You’ll need experienced IT personnel to manage bandwidth demands and troubleshoot inevitable issues on-premise.
Not only that, but SIP trunking comes with significant CapEx demands as you implement an on-premise phone system with local hardware. If those upfront costs are too much or a challenge to manage your business, hosted PBX might be more appropriate.
Hosted PBX is a complete communications solution. Once the hosted PBX connects to your PSTN, the service provider takes care of the management tasks that SIPtrunks internal staff demands.
The benefits of hosted PBX include:
As you look at these benefits, just keep in mind that the service is entirely reliant on your internet connection. If you haven’t invested in robust connectivity, the whole system could suffer.
It would be nice if there were a simple answer to the hosted PBX vs. SIP trunking debate. However, the reality is that both are viable options for companies of all sizes.
With trusted third parties such as CTG, the opportunities are endless. You may have uncertainty of handing off specific projects to those outside of your own internal team. When in doubt, consider your internal IT staff—can they handle the additional responsibility of supporting VoIP if kept on-premises? CTG is there to help you jump through those hurdles where you are finding yourself wondering.