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Cloud Call Centers: How Virtual Can You Go? If you’re running a call center and trying to figure out ways in which you can save money, consider harnessing the power of the cloud and transforming your business into a virtual call center. By taking as much advantage of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as you can, you’ll be able to considerably downsize—if not eliminate altogether—your physical brick-and-mortar office. The benefits of a virtual call center are plentiful and are a boon to all involved—employer, employee, customer and society as a whole. Let’s examine some of them: Cost Savings By opting to let a hosted IP PBX solution power your communication needs, you won’t have to worry about storing equipment on-site and can in fact choose to headquarter your business at your home. In addition to saving money on rent and utilities, business owners who choose to operate their businesses out of their homes also receive tax benefits for doing so. Better Employees By using VoIP technology to power your call center, you’re able to keep your best employees on board, as they’re able to work from anywhere in the world. That means employees can move and still remain a part of the team. Because they’re working from home, employees will enjoy the added benefits that come along with that. For example, a remote worker can save money on fuel and formal work attire while staying home and working. These sorts of benefits and flexibility will allow workers to acquire and retain some of the best employees on the market. Better Customer Service With a hosted contact center, you can employ native speakers of the language in every country your customers live in, so that when they call to express a concern or seek help, they’re greeted on the other line by someone who is awake in their time zone and who understands them clearly. Improved communications means that customers are more likely to have their questions and concerns addressed adequately. Because your employees can be spread out across the country -- or even the globe -- working from their own homes, you’re able to offer 24/7 customer support. On holidays, while some employees might want the day off, others will jump at the chance to get paid time-and-one-half while working at home in the company of their loved ones. There’s nothing more frustrating than when a customer needs immediate help and calls customer support only to be greeted by a message saying that office is closed and to try again tomorrow. Going Green In addition to the added benefits of enthusiastic workers, reduced costs and happier customers, a virtual call center has the added benefit of allowing you to go green, something that creates good publicity for your company while also protecting the environment. Employees won’t have to commute back and forth to work, saving carbon emissions in the process. Furthermore, since employees will be using their own electricity at work, they’re more likely to turn lights off when they’re not in use to save money on their electric bills, for example. With the help of cloud-based communications, the days of lights being left on all night in the office building are gone. That’s a winwin for employers, employees and the environment.