Direct routing is currently one of the most popular ways for companies to bring state-of-the-art communication tools and telephony into the Microsoft Teams ecosystem. But why is this solution so popular for modern brands?
Currently, Microsoft Teams stands as one of the fastest-growing Microsoft applications of all time, boasting more than 145 million daily active users worldwide, and a growing selection of features. A leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, and one of the ultimate tools for the future of hybrid work, Teams has taken the world by storm.
While Microsoft does offer its own calling plans for companies in search of telephony within Teams, these plans are often considered less than ideal for many businesses. To solve this problem, Microsoft introduced direct routing so companies could bring their existing communication providers into Teams. Now, around 70% of organisations using Teams for UCaaS, or planning to do so in the near future say they’ll be using direct routing.
So why is direct routing so popular?
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Choose your Own Provider
The first and perhaps most obvious benefit of direct routing is you get the freedom to choose your own telephony provider. This means you can select the perfect company for your needs based on the specific goals you want to achieve with direct routing. For instance, you might focus specifically on companies who can help your brand embrace hybrid work.
You’ll get to port your existing numbers into Teams easily, alongside any new DDIs you might need, which is great for brand continuity. You can even stick with the same provider you’ve used for a number of years. This is an excellent way to take advantage of any loyalty discounts you might have earned over the years, or maintain the service quality you’re used to.
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Unlock a Wider Range of Capabilities
While Microsoft’s business calling plans have their own selection of features to explore, they’re somewhat limited compared to what a dedicated communications company can offer. Converting Teams into a full PBX via direct routing will allow you to take advantage of high-quality calling SLAs, and extend your global presence to a wider range of countries.
You can leverage features like call transferring, auto-attendants, queues, location-based call routing, and a range of other tools. Some direct routing vendors are even offering ways to build contact centre capabilities into Teams too, so you can use the same environment for internal and external conversations.
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Pain-Free Migration into a Modern Phone System
Most companies are under increasing pressure to make the rapid transition into the new age of work since the pandemic. Unfortunately, transitioning from an old-fashioned phone system into something which supports an evolving hybrid and remote team can be complex. Using Microsoft Teams direct routing can simplify the migration process, and reduce the number of new tools your team members need to learn how to use.
You’ll be able to leverage support and guidance from a communication leader who already understands your business. Many direct routing providers can build bespoke strategies to help move you into the cloud at your own pace. You can even access hybrid SBC solutions which combine on-premises legacy equipment with cloud-based tools.
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Flexibility and Agility
Microsoft’s dedication to keeping the Teams platform as open as possible, and the extensive functionality of the PowerShell platform, opens the door for a significant amount of flexibility. Direct routing providers can create custom communication strategies for their customers, with built-in integrations to other tools and extensive security and privacy settings.
