Cut Costs & Stay Resilient: How Cloud Phones Help Businesses Navigate Tariff Instability

The United States of America has dealt with tariff instability before. But never at this scale. While people are panicking and prices are rising, let’s take a moment to breathe. Now is your chance to see where a strategic shift in your business can help you become almost tariff-proof. Specifically, in a continually changing world, businesses can weather storms much easier if they divest themselves of hardware and invest in Cloud solutions and softphones.

Even if you are a business that relies on telecom hardware for daily operations, and everything is working smoothly now, remember nothing stays the same. Things break. Your business is (hopefully) growing. As soon as you need a phone replacement or additional phones, you’re going to experience the pain of the tariff-related cost increases Mitel, Poly, and Yealink have already increased their prices at the time of this writing.

Steve Leaden, a leading Communications Technology Consultant, provides this insight about the cost savings of going to cloud (starts at timestamp 30:11):

No Special Hardware

One of the biggest costs for a phone system is the edge devices. The phones are the things that fall off the desk, get coffee spilled on them or get ripped out of the wall. Replacing them can be a serious operational expense. Some of our customers spend thousands, even millions(!) of dollars a year, just replacing these devices due to normal wear and tear. And now regular hardware costs have the added expense of tariffs.

One way you can reduce your ongoing OPEX costs is by reducing your physical phones in use. You already have everything you need: your smartphone and laptop both support applications that turn them into a softphone. Additionally, running your communications in the cloud without physical phones helps you avoid the tariff implications and you won’t be suddenly caught with an increase in maintenance or replacement costs.

Software isn’t subject to Tariffs

Transitioning your communications from PBX to the cloud enables access to a tariff-resilient environment. Unlike hardware-based systems, cloud technology is software-driven, reducing the need for frequent replacements and associated costs as well as completely side-stepping the effects of a fluctuating global tariff landscape.

Work from Anywhere, Anytime

Shifting your communications from PBX to entirely Cloud helps you break the physical restraints of a traditional office. Without all the fancy footwork of setting up VPNs, getting through multiple levels of firewalls and the regular maneuvers with a PBX, Cloud already assumes you’re remote. You no longer have to imagine the possibilities of real-time collaboration from anywhere in the world; the technology is here, now, and waiting for you.

Not only does this level of accessibility empower businesses to hire talent without geographical considerations and break free from the office model while maintaining smooth running operations, there’s a real cost reduction possibility by closing legacy office space. Vertical saved over $1.2 Million in annual OPEX doing this.

One Virtual Building, no matter where everyone is

Doing business across borders is becoming more difficult. Cloud makes it easy. You can travel, have offices in other countries, and you’re still connected as if you were in one place. Even in the same country, Cloud solutions are the perfect solution to businesses with multiple locations. Even a retail chain of 500+ stores can operate like one with a cloud communication solution. Listen to Vertical CEO Kevin Butler’s insights on this (starts at timestamp 8:13):

Seamless Integration with Current Tools

Today’s platforms don’t exist in silos – they integrate with your existing business tools. CRM systems, helpdesk platforms, project management tools and calendars – everything can be connected to a single workflow either right out of the box or with a well-built API. Imagine a world with fewer apps to switch between, less friction in your day-to-day operations, and more time for your team to focus on what matters. Plus – data and reporting with a broader view to really help your business streamline and grow effectively.

Always Up to Date and Secure

Unlike traditional systems that require manual upgrades and on-site maintenance, cloud platforms are continuously updated in the background. That means you always have access to the latest features, security patches, and performance improvements. And with built-in security, features like end-to-end encryption, 2FA, and compliance support (HIPAA, GDPR, etc), you have peace or mind without a dedicated IT department.

Conclusion

In a rapidly changing tariff landscape, all businesses will benefit by divesting themselves of hardware and moving their communications to the cloud.  Whether a solopreneur or part of a global team, cloud communications mean you’re ready for whatever comes down the line.

If you’re ready to hear more about how cloud communications can revolutionize the way you do business, Vertical Experts can guide you through what’s next. Fill out the form to get the conversation started: