The whole world is going hybrid, and for some organizations it's all they've ever known. But as we all rush towards everyone’s favourite work model, a whole lot of businesses are still dealing with the inherent complexities of having a communications stack that keeps up with a workforce that is no longer in just one place.
From reporting, compliance & security to functionality and user management the list of things that need to be kept in check in brand new ways is quite a bit longer than a lot of people realize.
But as this laundry list of complexities unique to hybrid companies gets longer and longer, there is one app which is at the core of solving all of your customers’ problems and the best part is that they’re probably already using it. Unless you’ve already guessed it, I am of course talking about the one and only Microsoft Teams. More specifically I’m talking about the current most popular option for enabling voice within the platform – Direct Routing.
Integrated voice options are essential in a hybrid world and they thrive in modern work environments that often try to rely on as few apps as possible. Because of this, Direct Routing allows businesses of all shapes and sizes to thrive in a hybrid work setting, whilst keeping them secure and compliant across the multiple devices and multiple geographies with no compromise on functionality.
It's now easier than ever to get calling in Teams, but how exactly does Direct Routing battle the complexity of modern communications and more importantly how does it enable providers to give the emerging hybrid workforce what they want?
How Direct Routing kills hybrid work complexity
The big question is how does Direct Routing make the almost intimidatingly complex process of communicating as a hybrid company that much easier? It's actually fairly simple. Direct Routing focuses on the main pain points of both SMBs and enterprises who are looking to centralize everything and does what it can to not only simplify but also bring as much as possible into one place. Here's how.
Direct Routing reduces setup complexity
One of the most important hurdles for a business looking to get their communications stack going is of course the initial setup process. Whether it’s getting their company onto a service or subsequently getting their people calling, keeping things as simple as possible in this area is often key. Direct Routing simplifies both of these areas by leaning on the power of Microsoft Teams and allowing everything to be connected to the platform. As a native integration, the learning curve for getting on board with Direct Routing is relatively non-existent, and with the right Direct Routing option, user provisioning and syncing can even be handled automatically for new starters and leavers. On top of this, with the right Direct Routing solution, a business doesn't even need the extensive PowerShell knowledge that even some of the larger companies don't have in-house.
Direct Routing ensures compliance with minimal effort
For things like emergency call handling and tackling the maze of regulations that come with both multi and single region communications, Direct Routing allows both end-businesses and providers to easily find their way through. It does this in a number of ways:
- By centralizing everything in Microsoft Teams – With Direct Routing, businesses effectively centralize all of their communications, making it a lot easier to manage call data. Call recording, analytics and data management are all in one place. This unlocks the ability for businesses to have more consistent communications policies
- By ensuring existing call policies remain intact – For businesses who already have a strict compliance structure in place, Direct Routing allows for organizations to plug existing policies directly into their new calling solution.
- By offering an inherently secure platform – The last thing that an SMB is going to think of when they’re finding their feet is if their calling solution ticks all the compliance boxes, often leading to bumps when they get further down the road. Direct Routing allows them to continue to use the devices and processes that they’re used to but now with an added layer of compliance and security, keeping them secure and compliant in any environment.
Direct Routing reduces initial costs & simplifies billing
Cost is usually the main reason that stops smaller or more cost sensitive businesses from adopting a new technology as instead they struggle on with what they already have. The beauty of a Direct Routing solution is that it can lean on existing infrastructure, completely eliminating the need for any drastic rip and replace. And even if a business is starting entirely from scratch and simply want to be more Teams-forward (after all, they use it for collaboration), Direct Routing clocks in at around 56% cheaper on average than alternatives such as Microsoft Calling Plans.
Direct Routing allows a company to take the collaboration software that they’re already using and paying for, and the communications that they’re already using and paying for and puts it all into one place for very little cost.
Direct Routing gets everything into one place
Perhaps the most obvious way that Direct Routing keeps things simple is in how it keeps everything a hybrid business needs in a single pane of glass. No more managing multiple apps, no more constantly switching windows and no more having to choose between collaboration and communication. With Direct Routing, suddenly a business has a true unified communications system that doesn’t compromise on functionality. Ultimately by plugging your voice solution into Microsoft Teams you enable your customers to have the best of both worlds – On one side they have the power, flexibility and familiarity that Teams adds on the collaboration side (with some pretty great native voice features built in) and on the other is your calling function and all of the voice functionality you have to offer.
How Direct Routing empowers CSPs who want to cater to hybrid models
In one sentence, Direct Routing gives service providers an easy win when it comes to targeting hybrid organizations. It does this by letting them take the massive amounts of brand recognition, growth and availability that Microsoft Teams has built up over the past few years and turn it into something they can use to their advantage.
By integrating your services into Teams and building a Direct Routing solution, you can offer a unified solution that hybrid businesses truly want, with minimal effort and cost. In doing so, you can craft unbeatable customer and employee experiences in a work tool they actually want to use.
By blending your services into the Teams environment you accomplish two things as a Provider:
- You give users a consistently high quality calling experience, regardless of if they’re at home, in the office or on the move.
- You futureproof your services by becoming increasingly scalable in a way that lets you expand globally or locally. With the right partner you can bring down regional barriers that may be currently slowing you down and cut out the need for complex deployments or even a physical local presence.
How you can build your Direct Routing solution with Dstny
With our Direct Routing enabler Call2Teams, providers are now able to deploy a resilient calling solution that is natively integrated into Microsoft Teams. With us as a partner you gain access to proprietary tech which allows you to simply connect to the nearest Microsoft point of presence and bring your solution to your key audiences no matter where they are or what device they’re using. Crucially, all of this can be set up for you not in a number or years or months but weeks.
A Direct Routing solution adds flexibility, reliability and scalability to your calling options in a world where all of these are top priorities for hybrid businesses. Not only this, but your potential audience is already familiar with the platform where your voice is delivered. You don’t have to convince anyone to switch apps or migrate, simply add to the skyrocketing numbers of voice enabled Teams users across the globe without any heavy infrastructure spend or resource commitment.
If you’re looking to scale your services and grow alongside Microsoft Teams in the communications space, make sure you get in touch with us today. Alternatively you can also request a demo to see Call2Teams in action!