The good news is that despite what your phone provider might say, you don’t necessarily need to switch – and it’s even possible to retain support for your existing Mitel phone system.
While cloud phone systems are good options for some companies and circumstances, they’re not the right fit for every scenario, so it’s critical to evaluate your unique needs before making a decision that profoundly impacts your finances and operations.
With that in mind, here are five questions to ask if you’re losing Mitel support or being pressured to switch to the cloud.
1. Is my Mitel system end-of-life or just “end-of-support” from my current provider?
Ending support isn’t the same as end-of-life, and if your provider insists on switching you to the cloud, it begs the question: are they looking out for your best interest or trying to make you conform to their new business model?
Chances are, your system can still be fully supported, even if your current provider no longer wants to maintain it.
Ask yourself:
- Is your phone system obsolete?
- Or is it working for your business?
- What is the justification for change?
If you’re not sure whether your Mitel system is end-of-life, you can check Mitel’s official legacy products page or speak with an authorized Mitel partner – such as Cady Business Technologies – for an unbiased assessment.
2. Does switching to a cloud system solve any problems for my business – or create new ones?
Are you experiencing issues with your Mitel system, and are those issues truly unresolvable? If so, it’s worth exploring whether switching to a new cloud-based system will solve them.
You can also investigate whether a cloud system offers capabilities you don’t currently have – but don’t make the mistake of assuming your Mitel system can’t do something until you verify it with a qualified advisor. For example, Mitel phone systems are compatible with softphones, have mobile apps, and support remote work – all features some believe are only possible with the cloud yet are native to many Mitel systems.
Of course, it’s just as important to consider whether a cloud-based phone system might introduce problems for your business. For example:
- If the Internet goes down, will a new system have redundancy to keep your lines of communication open?
- Will you be able to maintain business continuity during the transition, or will you experience significant downtime (and what will that cost)?
- Is there a learning curve for your staff? How will you navigate that while maintaining operations?
- Will a new provider offer live support if needed, or will support requests go through a chatbot or portal? What if there is an emergency outage?
Before you commit to switching, ask yourself what problems a cloud phone system can solve that your existing Mitel system cannot – especially if quality, reliability, and features are already meeting your business needs.
3. What are the long-term cost implications?
Compare the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) between keeping your Mitel system and moving to a new cloud-based system. Important considerations include:
- Compare costs from today: You have already purchased your Mitel system, so calculate costs going forward (not past costs)
- How cloud phone leases work: Cloud phone systems are leased indefinitely and typically charge per user, per month, so costs can increase as your business grows
- Accounting strategies and tax implications: Will your phone system be a capital expense (CapEx) or operational expense (OpEx), and how does that impact your business?
Since your Mitel system is already paid for while a cloud phone system is leased, a cloud phone system will likely be more expensive from this point forward. In fact, when one of our enterprise customers made the comparison, they discovered that switching to a cloud phone system would cost them over $1 million more annually.
In addition, if you’ve already made a significant investment in your Mitel system as a capital expense, switching to a cloud system would mean abandoning it for a new, ongoing operational expense.
4. How much control do I need?
On-premise Mitel systems offer greater control over security, data, and configuration, allowing a high level of customization. This is particularly important for regulated industries that demand security and compliance, including healthcare, finance, and government.
Other considerations include:
- Data ownership: Is your data owned and controlled by your business or the provider?
- Access control: Can you grant and restrict access to features per user or role?
- Custom reporting: Can the system generate the types of reports your business needs for auditing, compliance, and performance tracking?
- Change speed: Can you quickly add or remove seats yourself, or will you need to wait for your vendor to do it for you?
Cloud phone systems offer less control, but they also do not require you to have on-site infrastructure or a dedicated admin – it’s a tradeoff between control and convenience, and you need to decide which is best for your business.
5. Is there a way to keep my Mitel system and retain support?
If switching to a cloud-based phone system isn’t the best option for your business, is there a way to keep your Mitel phone system – and your support?
The answer is yes, but you’ll probably need to switch to a different provider.
Understand that:
- Cloud phone systems aren’t bad, but you shouldn’t be forced into a major decision without business justification (or simply because it’s convenient for your current provider)
- Keeping your Mitel system now doesn’t mean you can’t switch to the cloud later – but it does mean you can do it on a timeline that makes sense for your business
- You can also modernize your Mitel phone system with SIP trunks, software upgrades, and integrations with your CRM or collaboration tool – all without needing to switch to the cloud
If you’re losing Mitel support or being pressured to switch to a cloud phone system, be sure to answer the five questions listed here to ensure you’re making the right decision for your business – and if you want expert help understand the impact of your decision, don’t hesitate to speak with an authorized Mitel partner like Cady Business Technologies for unbiased insight.
Gold Level Mitel Support (That Won’t Abandon You)
Cady Business Technologies is a Mitel Gold Partner with 8 Certified Mitel Technicians on staff, and we can help you evaluate whether switching to the cloud or keeping your existing Mitel system makes the most sense.
We offer:
- Industry-leading white glove service
- 10-second average answer times with live local technicians
- Guaranteed emergency response times
What our customers say:
“Cady’s support team has never let me down. I am always impressed by the depth and knowledge shown by their employees. I know that if I reach out to Cady, whether for a purchase or support, the issue will be addressed with competence and confidence.” – Matthew Haga, System Administrator, City of Crystal (Mitel phone system connects 130 employees across 3 locations to 23,000 citizens)
“With Cady, we get problems resolved in hours instead of days, weeks, or months, and that’s what we were looking for. When we call, a real person answers instead of getting a call center with a calling tree where a machine answers and sends you to voicemail.” – Lee Stewart, Manager of Information Systems, Fairmont Area Schools (Mitel system supports 225 full-time employees serving 1,800 students between 2 sites)