With 2 in 5 Brits now working from home, the rise in remote and hybrid working means businesses are looking for a way to keep their employees productive, from wherever they decide to work. For many businesses that rely on phones as part of their daily operations, hosted phone systems like 3CX play a crucial role in keeping employees connected.

3CX offers fantastic functionality and reliability across desktop and mobile, as well as with plug-in phone handsets. But what is it, and how does 3CX work? In this blog, we’ll explore exactly what 3CX is and how it can help your business.

How Does 3CX Work: Everything you need to know

What is 3CX?

3CX is a software-based, open-standard business phone system built on the SIP protocol. Compatible with a wide range of phone hardware, 3CX offers web browser extensions and mobile apps for even more convenience.

One of 3CX’s key benefits is its flexibility in hosting. It can run on a remote server, on-premise, or a combination of both to make it even more reliable. Thanks to 3CX being affordable and adaptable, it is often seen as an excellent IP PBX solution for small growing businesses.

What is the difference between PBX and IP PBX?

A PBX is a private telephone network that manages any internal or external calls using landlines and physical phone lines. It connects to internal extensions within a company and routes calls through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

An IP PBX, on the other hand, works with the same core functions of a traditional PBX, but uses the internet instead of landlines. This means calls are transmitted as data over the internet. An IP PBX offers businesses much more flexibility, saves on costs and allows businesses to have remote accessibility.

How does 3XC work?

3CX works by using internet connections instead of traditional phone lines to make and receive calls. It operates through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, allowing calls, video conferencing, and messaging to happen through one single platform.

Once set up, 3CX connects to your choice of SIP trunk provider (the digital equivalent of a phone line) and routes calls through your network, allowing your team to communicate from anywhere.

3CX is software-based, meaning it can be hosted on your own servers, in the cloud or through a managed service provider. All users need to do their login via a web browser, desktop app or mobile app, and can access all the same features, including call transfer, voicemail and video meetings.

3CX key features

A 3CX system comes full of great features including:

PBX (Private Branch Exchange) – PBX lets your staff make and receive calls using an in-house exchange, removing the need for an extra line or phone
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – VoIP helps you save money on long distant calls by allowing you to make and receive calls over the internet.
IVR (Interactive Voice Response) – IVR lets your customers message and leave details through a virtual assistant.
Auto Attendant – Auto Attendant provides automated customer service for incoming calls, routing them to the correct person or department.
Call Routing – With call routing, incoming calls are directed to the best available person based on availability, order of importance, skill set or language.

What are the benefits of 3CX?

There are multiple benefits to using a 3CX system, including:

Cost savings for your business

Switching from a traditional PBX system to an IP PBX delivers significant savings on call costs, letting you make more calls for less. At Infinitel, our pricing is based on the number of simultaneous calls you need. We don’t charge by the number of extensions, like some competitors, so you only pay for what you actually need with 3CX.

Some users end up with a great Unified Communications solution but still have to pay for add-ons like video conferencing, mobile apps, and call centre features. With 3CX, these features are included as standard, saving you both money and time.

Simple and easy to manage

Waiting ages for your phone system to be installed is not ideal, and neither is having a system that takes time out of your day to manage. 3CX makes running your own PBX easy, thanks to an intuitive management interface that’s simple to get to grips with. With 3CX, managing upgrades, security, and scalability is straightforward.

With zero admin and straightforward deployment, plus easy-to-manage extensions and add-ons, 3CX is simpler to manage than many other systems. At infinitel, we can also handle bundled OS and manage updates and upgrades automatically.

Improves your customer service

The market is more competitive than ever, which is why answering every call is so important. 3CX comes with advanced call centre features to help you stay on top of customer service and incoming business.

Everyone wants better customer satisfaction. 3CX links calls to your customer records before the user even answers, and it integrates with leading CRM apps and Helpdesk packages. With advanced call reporting and online customer service chat, plus the ability to set up call queues and IVR, we can help your customer relations run smoothly.

All your tools under one roof

These days, businesses have so many tools at their fingertips, it’s easy to feel a bit swamped. Between apps, CRMs, and multiple communication channels, keeping everything running smoothly can be difficult. 3CX is able to bring all your tools together, into one place. You can connect it with CRMs like Salesforce, Google Contacts, and Office 365, and save time with the 3CX Click-to-Call extension for Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to dial straight from any website or CRM with just one click.

Whether it’s softphones for Windows and Macs or apps for iOS and Android, 3CX keeps everything connected. Its web-based client pulls it all together, giving your team seamless mobile connectivity. Users can make and receive calls, check if colleagues are free, schedule conferences, and join meetings, all on the go.

Get set up with your 3CX phone system with Infinitel

If you’re looking to get your business set up on a 3CX system, contact our expert team today to learn more about what type of packages we offer. Once you’ve spoken to our team, we’ll chat with you about our different package options for your business.

Don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form, or give us a call at 0333 996 0029.