The Ultimate Guide to RingCentral

RingCentral, a leading cloud-based business communications solution, offers a wide range of features that can help organizations streamline their workflow,...

RingCentral, a leading cloud-based business communications solution, offers a wide range of features that can help organizations streamline their workflow, enhance customer experience, and foster real-time communication. This guide explores the nuts and bolts of RingCentral, showcasing its unique functionalities and how you can use it to power up your business communications.

How do I use RingCentral?

To get started with RingCentral, you need to create an account, choose your pricing plan, and set up your preferred communication channels - phone calls, SMS, messaging, or video conferencing. Once done, you can assign a toll-free or local phone number to your account. You can use RingCentral on your desktop, Android, or iOS mobile device through their app.

The RingCentral phone allows you to manage phone calls, call handling, call forwarding, voicemail, and call recording. Besides, it lets you view call logs and caller ID, ensuring an efficient and organized communication workflow.

For messaging and team collaboration, RingCentral offers team messaging where team members can engage in real-time conversations. The RingCentral app also supports the sharing of files, templates, and notifications to keep your team in sync.

To facilitate video meetings and conference calls, RingCentral video comes handy. It allows you to host and join video meetings, offering an intuitive and reliable solution to remote communication.

What is RingCentral best for?

RingCentral shines as a comprehensive cloud communications platform ideal for small businesses, startups, and large corporations alike. It is especially useful for organizations looking for a VoIP business phone system with robust telephony and omnichannel functionalities.

RingCentral is also great for teams working remotely, thanks to its powerful video conferencing and team messaging features. Its seamless integrations with popular CRM platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft products further enhance its effectiveness in managing customer relationships.

What makes RingCentral unique?

RingCentral's uniqueness stems from its ability to unify various communication channels into one platform. It goes beyond simple VoIP telephony, offering messaging, video conferencing, SMS, and even social media communication, all in real time.

RingCentral also stands out for its impressive integration capabilities. Apart from the common CRM integrations, it can blend with social media platforms and other productivity tools, making it a seamless addition to your existing workflow.

The RingCentral MVP (Message, Video, Phone) model offers a unique combination of communication services, making it a comprehensive communications solution for modern businesses.

What is the difference between Zoom and RingCentral?

While both RingCentral and Zoom offer video conferencing and messaging, RingCentral provides a broader spectrum of cloud communication services. Unlike Zoom, RingCentral incorporates an entire business phone system with call routing, SMS, voicemail, and toll-free numbers. RingCentral's integration with CRM tools and its powerful contact center solutions also set it apart.

What are some of RingCentral features?

RingCentral comes packed with numerous features. Key among these include:

• VoIP telephony with call routing, forwarding, recording, and call logs
• Real-time team messaging
• Video conferencing and online meetings
• SMS and MMS
• CRM integrations (e.g., Salesforce)
• Social media integrations
• Contact center solutions
• Toll-free, local, or international numbers
• Voicemail and voicemail-to-email functionality
• Mobile app for iOS and Android devices
• Customizable notifications

What do I need to use RingCentral?

To use RingCentral, you need a stable internet connection for cloud communications. You can access RingCentral on various devices - desktop, laptop, or mobile phone (Android or iOS). You also need to have a subscription plan, which comes in various pricing tiers to accommodate different business sizes and needs.

Top 8 RingCentral Alternatives

1. 8x8: An integrated voice, video, chat, and contact center platform offering a full suite of unified communications and collaboration tools. They also provide team messaging, video meetings, and a cloud contact center.
2. Zoom Phone: This is an enterprise cloud phone system by Zoom, a well-known video conferencing provider. Zoom Phone provides features like intelligent call routing, auto-attendants, and call recording.
3. Microsoft Teams Phone System: This option is particularly suitable for businesses already using Microsoft's Office 365 suite, as it's a cloud-based phone system with advanced capabilities.
4. Vonage Business Communications: They offer a robust cloud communications platform that provides voice, messaging, video, and data solutions.
5. Nextiva: Nextiva provides a VoIP phone service with features like voice and video conferencing, CRM integrations, AI-driven insights, and a mobile app.
6. Dialpad: This platform is unique for its VoiceAI technology, which offers real-time transcription and post-call summaries. Dialpad provides voice, video, messaging, and meetings solutions.
7. GoToConnect (formerly Jive): They offer a comprehensive cloud-based phone system with over 80 VoIP features, including auto attendants, find me/follow me, and visual dial plan editors.
8. Grasshopper: This is a good option for small businesses. They provide a range of features including extensions for departments and employees, call forwarding, voicemails via email, and the ability to use existing phones or devices.

RingCentral offers a world of possibilities for modern business communication. This guide should help you get the most out of this powerful cloud-based platform. Remember to explore their FAQs or contact customer support for any questions you may have about the platform.