What Is a Cloud Phone System (UCaaS)?
A cloud phone system – often called unified communications as a service, or UCaaS – delivers calling, video meetings, messaging, and voicemail over the internet as a monthly subscription, instead of from a phone system in your server closet. Your team can read voicemail instead of listening to it, see who's available before they call, make calls from a cell phone that show your office number, and move from a call to a video meeting in a click. An on-premises system (PBX) does the calling from equipment you own on site, and some organizations keep one by choice.
Signs It's Time to Replace Your Phone System
- Your phone system is end-of-life or out of support.
- You're paying for lines and features nobody uses.
- Staff working from home or on the road can't take office calls.
- Calls get missed, bounced around, or sent to the wrong person.
- Your locations run on different systems that don't talk to each other.
Cloud, On-Premise, or Hybrid: Which Fits?
|
Cloud (UCaaS) |
On-premise |
Hybrid |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Platforms Advent installs |
RingCentral, Zoom |
Avaya |
Avaya on-site, with users or locations on RingCentral or Zoom |
|
How you pay |
Monthly, per user |
Own the system, or Avaya subscription |
A mix of both |
|
Best for |
Remote, hybrid, and multi-site teams |
Organizations that need the system on site |
Phased moves to the cloud |
|
Who maintains it |
The provider runs the platform; Advent handles your changes and support |
Advent |
Advent, across both |
What Advent Delivers
- Contact center and AI – Customer-facing call handling on RingCX or Zoom Contact Center, added when you're ready (below).
- Paging and intercom – Valcom and Algo paging, speakers, and intercom, working with your phone system.
Contact Center and AI, When You're Ready
Not every organization needs a formal contact center, so we offer it as a separate solution that plugs into your cloud phone system whenever you need it. Advent deploys RingCX and Zoom Contact Center for teams that handle high call volumes, queues, and customer service lines. Some AI features come standard with our cloud platforms, such as call summaries and transcription, and more advanced AI can be added later as your needs grow.
How Switching Phone Systems Works
Changing phone systems doesn't have to interrupt your business. We build the plan, test everything before the switch, and stay with you after.
Step 1: Discover
- What happens: We map how calls flow today: who answers, where calls go after hours, and which numbers matter most.
- What you get: Recommended system and call-flow design.
- How long it takes: 1 to 2 weeks.
Step 2: Plan
- What happens: We set timelines, responsibilities, and the cutover date, and start the paperwork to move your numbers.
- What you get: A documented transition roadmap.
- How long it takes: 1 to 2 weeks.
Step 3: Prepare
- What happens: We build and test your new system while your current phones keep working.
- What you get: A fully configured system, ready to go live.
- How long it takes: 2 to 6 weeks
Step 4: Transition
- What happens: We coordinate the cutover with your team and minimize disruption.
- What you get: A managed go-live, with Advent on hand.
- How long it takes: 1 to 3 days.
Step 5: Support
- What happens: We train your staff, fine-tune call routing, and answer questions.
- What you get: Ongoing support and a list of improvements.
- How long it takes: Priority improvemetns identified and implemented within the first 30 to 90 days.
Support After Go-Live
When something breaks, you have a team to call – not a ticket number to chase. With Cloud Managed Services, Advent handles the work most providers leave to you:
- Remote programming updates
- Changes to IVR attendant menus, call routing, and voicemail
- Submitting and escalating service issues with the hosted provider
- Ongoing training for your staff
- Unlimited access to our Help Desk
That's the difference between buying a cloud phone system online and buying it through Advent: a local team that knows your setup and makes the changes for you.
25+ years
in business
~2,000
Active Customers
RingCentral
Diamond Partner
Zoom
Certified Delivery Partner
RingCentral (Diamond Partner) · Zoom (Certified Delivery Partner) · Avaya · Valcom · Algo
Platforms We Install and Support
Advent's certifications and partner designations give our team current training, direct escalation paths, and product specialists at the manufacturer, so you get local expertise backed by the companies that build the platforms.
Business Communications for Organizations Like Yours
Healthcare
Route patient calls to the right department the first time, and keep care teams reachable across locations.
K-12 & Higher Education
Phones, paging, and intercom that work together for daily announcements and building-wide communication.
Legal
One number that follows attorneys from the office to home to mobile, so clients reach the right person.
Hospitality
Dependable lines for the front desk and back of house, with paging across the property.
Results From Our Communications Customers
We've worked with Advent for many years, and they've consistently delivered the support and expertise our organization needs. When we upgraded our old phone system to the cloud, the entire process was seamless. The project team kept us informed every step of the way, and the transition was professionally managed from start to finish. The platform is easy to use and has made communication much more flexible for our staff.
On the IT managed services side, Advent has provided a cost-effective solution backed by a knowledgeable and responsive team. Whenever we need assistance, I know there is someone available to help. Their technical staff has been excellent to work with, and they've given us confidence that our systems are being properly managed and supported. What stands out the most is the peace of mind. Whether I'm on vacation, away from the office, or unavailable, I know Advent is there to support our organization and keep things running smoothly.
I would absolutely recommend Advent to any organization looking for cloud communications or managed IT services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we choose a cloud or an on-premise phone system?
Can we keep our phone numbers?
How long does a migration take, and will we lose service?
How much does a business phone system cost?
Do you still support Avaya?
Do you offer a contact center and AI features?
Who makes changes after the system is live?
Works Best With
Office
250 Meadowlands Blvd.
Washington, PA 15301
Hours
M-F: 8am – 5pm
S-S: Closed