Partner Stories

Why SMEs are Replacing Legacy Phone Systems with Microsoft Teams Phone

Published by 360 Visibility

Landlines and traditional PBX systems are going extinct and for good reason. Today’s businesses need more than just voice calling. They need a unified, secure, and cloud-native platform that scales with hybrid work and doesn’t drain IT resources. That’s exactly why Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are increasingly recommending Microsoft Teams Phone System to their small ad medium enterprise (SME) clients.

According to Frost & Sullivan, more than 75% of organizations are planning to adopt cloud communications in the next 18 months. Showing the shift and necessity of survival in a fast-moving, remote-first world.

Why legacy systems are becoming liabilities

  • Hardware headaches: PBX systems are expensive to maintain, hard to upgrade, and vulnerable to failure.
  • Disjointed tools: Traditional systems don’t integrate well with collaboration platforms, requiring multiple tools for calling, meetings, and messaging.
  • Rising costs: International calling, hardware replacements, and support contracts add up fast.

Moving to Microsoft Teams Phone

Microsoft Teams Phone brings together calling, messaging, and video into one platform that is fully integrated with Microsoft 365. For SMEs, this means:

  • No on-prem hardware – all cloud, all managed via Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
  • Security and compliance – backed by Microsoft’s trusted security stack, including MFA, encryption, and conditional access.
  • Easier scalability – Add new users and numbers in minutes, not weeks.
  • Familiar interface – Clients already using Teams can start making calls with little to no training.

Real-World ROI: Florida Crystals decommissioned its on-prem PBX, switched 2,300+ users to Microsoft Teams Phone via Operator Connect, and reduced telecom expenses by 78%. The shift dramatically improved collaboration across remote and global teams.

How Businesses Benefit

  • Reduce client reliance on multiple vendors and siloed support contracts
  • Streamline user management across Microsoft 365
  • Enable BYOD and remote work with Teams mobile app
  • Offer value-added services like call analytics, training, and migration planning

Plus, Microsoft offers flexible licensing models including Calling Plans, Direct Routing, and Operator Connect, allowing tailored deployments to each customer’s needs.

Steps to Switch From Landlines to Teams Phone

  1. Assess the current setup – Audit PBX systems, usage, and telecom spend.
  2. Map out licensing needs – Choose between Calling Plans or Direct Routing.
  3. Plan deployment – Schedule porting, configure auto attendants, and set user policies.
  4. Train users – Get the most out of Teams with onboarding and support from a trusted provider.
  5. Monitor & optimize – Use built-in analytics to track adoption and call quality.

360 Visibility supports clients through every stage of a Microsoft Teams Phone implementation. Contact us for help on reducing telecom costs, simplifying communication, and future-proofing systems.