As remote and hybrid working has grown in popularity, you may have heard about Teams Direct Routing and Cloud Telephony integration, but what is the difference between the two technologies? At first, they both seem very similar, but in fact, they are very different in the back end.

In this blog, we will explore the differences between Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and Cloud Telephony to help you understand which might be the best fit for your business based on your business requirements.

Microsoft Teams Direct Routing

With Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, businesses can bring their own phone system infrastructure into Teams and use it as a business phone system. If you’re running Microsoft Teams across multiple devices, like laptops and phones, then Direct Routing is an attractive option for you due to its flexibility and costs.

The primary advantage of using Direct Routing is the ability to use any telephony provider, especially for businesses that want to use a specific provider or have already invested in their PSTN infrastructure.

Cloud Telephony Integration

A VoIP phone system allows you to communicate over the Internet, without any on-site equipment or a traditional private branch exchange (PBX) box. With Cloud telephony, everything is consolidated under one user interface to support remote working, operate more efficiently, and avoid the extra cost of running multiple systems for different purposes.

 Let’s get into the details…

First, we need to take into consideration that more complex PBX requirements can still be quite tricky to work with in the Microsoft architecture. Cloud telephony, on the other hand, offers a wide range of solutions packed with many features, plus they’re easier to manage and more robust. For example, one of these features is Call Recording, which is often included with Cloud Telephony but doesn’t come as standard with Direct Routing.

One of the main differences is that Direct Routing is more complex to operate in order to fully benefit from all its functions. With Cloud Telephony integration, everything can be managed in one place making it an easier option for user adoption, training and other enhancements. On the contrary, with Direct Routing you will need an IT professional to make these types of changes which can be costly and time-consuming.

In terms of costs, Direct Routing can be more cost-effective, especially if you’ve already adopted Microsoft Teams and you’ll be using a communication system that everyone is familiar with. With Cloud telephony integration, you can acquire fixed handsets with the inclusion of allocated telephone numbers provided by the SIP trunking platform.

Make the right choice

We understand that choosing between Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and Cloud Telephony integration can be a challenge. When weighing up your options, it’s important to focus on your business priorities, what specific features you’re looking for, budget and technical expertise.

At Everyday Communications, we will work with you to understand your needs, offer open advice, and assist you in deploying your solution. If you’re not sure which solution is suitable for your business, or have a specific question, then get in touch with our expert team.