What is Cloud Style Faxing?
Someday, probably sooner than later, there will be a single solution for all our
digital communications, one simple interface for sending text, documents, sound, video and everything else. That time is drawing near and every first-rate gadget site on the Internet has toyed with the idea of truly converged communications, while futurists are itching to put up a welcome sign to the integrated future. We are not quite there yet, but now that we are faxing from the cloud that's one more sign of imminent convergence. Isn't it?
Perhaps, but who can say for sure? What we do know with some degree of certainty is that the route to that so-called integrated future runs through the cloud, and that e-mail, browsing and faxing have already hit the road. If you want to join in building up the critical mass for this view of the future, you should consider faxing in the cloud yourself. The first requirement, of course, is accurate information and answers to such situation-specific questions as these:
Will you be able to use any of your legacy systems, hardware or software?
What kind of savings will you realize by not buying consumables for your firm's current fax machines?
What kind of approach is needed for migrating from a fax server to an Internet/cloud fax solution, as opposed to migrating from a fax machine?
Is there a practical, step-by-step method for making the switch a smooth process?
What is the best time, and what's the best way, to make this move?
If you are already having reliability problems or find it difficult to meet changing demands, the time for you to move is likely overdue. Since it is never too early to start saving money or increasing efficiency, you should move to the shopping stage and start comparing costs and features of the best cloud-based faxing services.
Initial considerations
The number of acronyms ending in the letters AAS has ballooned in the last couple of years. TAAS, Technology As A Service, and SAAS, Software As A Service, are widely circulated buzzwords now. The last three words signify that you can now make arrangements with companies to store your files on their servers, instead of buying new ones yourself, or arrange for the use of fax services where the software and hardware are not even in your building. They are in the cloud, of course. You are now handling these things "as a service," essentially renting server storage space for your digital documents and paying a fee for Internet-based faxing.
Do not let the terminology throw you. At its most basic, the cloud metaphor simply means that you have remote or offsite computing resources that provide what you need, when you need it, without your having to own the equipment. So you are not buying software to install on hardware that you will then run from your offices. You are, instead, paying a specified amount of money to get a certain amount of work done or storage space filled. It is all about service, efficiency and accountability.
Fax without machines
Some companies operate their own fax servers, but with this arrangement you are still on the hook for utility bills, maintenance and other overhead, not to mention the IT expertise to keep things running. Managing a fax server and dealing with the many complexities it represents cannot help but siphon off resources, human and otherwise, from other IT tasks. If you could have similar, or better, results for about the same overall cost, or less, why would you not?
Migrating fax services to a different piece of hardware that you are still buying or leasing, then continuing to maintain it and all, is not a real solution, at least not one that results in either better results or less cost. With a cloud solution, there is no more ink or toner to buy, paper to replace or paper jams to clear. A large part of the rationale for moving away from standalone, phone-connected fax machines was to lower expenses and maintenance costs, so don't stop halfway and install your own server. Go all the way and virtualize your fax services entirely.
Cloud-style faxing
Whether you are replacing your fax machine or fax server, moving to the cloud will relieve you of all the various concerns surrounding this core business function. It's yet another example of the natural progression of technology, and evolution of business models to accommodate that progress. The path is getting clearer all the time, what with all the people heading that way and trampling down the underbrush, so to speak. Head for the cloud, as that is where you are going to find the most efficient and effective solutions for your 21st century communications needs.
What is Cloud Style Faxing?
By: Chris Haycox
Learning and Applying Interior Design Basics Contemporary Interior Design Styles are Accented with Good Art Modern Interior Design Ideas and Art My Design and Technology Project The Elements of Interior Design Jessica Alba's Evolving Style How To Design Effective Squeeze Pages Hot Beach Bag Styles For Summer! Ways To Style Curly Hair The high price of gold influence jewelry design Why to Choose an Indian Web Design Agency? Today's Need of web design & development Common Templates Versus Custom Web Design