If you’re bumping up against a communications contract renewal, you may be deep into considerations around what communications technology is best for your business. There’s been a big shift to the cloud, with companies enjoying benefits like cost savings, scalability, and rich features through cloud-based voice solutions such as unified communications. Before you begin a transition, consider these five cloud migration best practices:
Develop Goals and Metrics: Determine what your primary motivators are for moving to the cloud. Are you trying to equip your workforce for remote work, or is cost savings your catalyst for the decision? You should conduct a full assessment of your current capabilities, the additional features and tools you would like to have, and clear parameters to determine whether the solution you eventually choose is successfully providing for your needs.
Evaluate Current Contracts: Take a close look at your existing contracts to be sure that this is a good time to migrate to the cloud. You could end up in a situation in which an early cancellation results in your old provider owning your numbers. But even if you are mid-contract, talk with the providers you’re considering. They may have advice about how to navigate this situation.
Test Your Infrastructure: Cloud-based communications rely solely on your internet connection, so you want to test your network speed. Unified communications technology is bandwidth-hungry, so you may need to make an infrastructure upgrade to ensure there are no dropped packets, congestion, or other interruptions that can seriously compromise features like video conferencing.
Keep Careful Records: Establish a paper trail through emails and other documented conversations with your current provider so that there are no questions about number porting or other transition issues.
Get Educated: Know the basics around cloud communications and have a clear set of steps in mind for cloud migration best practices before you start scheduling demos or talk with a sales representative. If you don’t have a clear idea of the features you do and don’t want, you’ll be distracted by the bells-and-whistles presentations of providers.
Evaluate Options: With the results of your initial assessment in hand, meet with the providers you’re considering and compare the options against your metrics. There are several areas you should consider in your evaluation of each provider:
- Business Needs: Can the provider guarantee quality of service at the number of users you need? Talk with the provider about the steps they’re taking to future-proof their solution.
- Equipment: If you’re running on a lean budget, find out whether your existing phones and other equipment are compatible with the cloud solution.
- Continuity: Talk over disaster recovery, security, and other continuity issues to see if the approach the provider takes is a good match for your policies and culture around these topics.
- Support: The service level agreement (SLA) should be a central part of your consideration of the provider, not an afterthought. You may even want a legal expert who specializes in SLAs to examine the one you’re considering.
- Cost: Don’t take the sales representative’s word for it. Ask to see copies of actual invoices so that you can spot any unexpected fees or charges.
Moving to the cloud should be an exciting time for your company, promising cost savings and streamlined communications, and with these cloud migration best practices, you will be more equipped to choose a path to successful cloud adoption. Contact us at Cloud Source to get started.