MS Teams Direct Routing

Direct Routing allows Microsoft Teams users to make and receive external phone calls on any device using Teams by connecting to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). External calling is made possible by configuring a supported Session Border Controller (SBC) to a Phone System. Direct Routing lets you set up on-premises PSTN connectivity with the Microsoft Teams client.

Direct Routing in Microsoft Teams offers several benefits for organizations:

Flexibility: With Direct Routing, organizations can leverage their existing telephony infrastructure or choose a preferred telecommunications provider that suits their needs and budget. This flexibility allows them to have more control over their communication setup.

Cost Savings: By integrating their existing telephony system with Microsoft Teams, organizations can avoid investing in new hardware or changing phone service contracts. Avoiding these investments can result in cost savings and efficient use of resources.

Centralized Communication: Direct Routing allows users to make and receive external calls directly within the Microsoft Teams application. This centralization of communication tools helps streamline workflows, reducing the need to switch between different applications for various communication tasks.

Enhanced Collaboration: Teams is a powerful collaboration platform, and with Direct Routing, users can seamlessly switch between chat, video conferencing, and calling, making it easier to collaborate with colleagues and external partners within one unified platform.

Global Reach: Direct Routing enables international calling through Microsoft Teams, facilitating communication with stakeholders worldwide without needing additional physical phone lines.

Advanced Calling Features: By connecting their telephony infrastructure to Teams, organizations can use advanced calling features such as call transfer, call forwarding, voicemail, call queues, and auto-attendant services, enhancing overall communication capabilities.

Improved Productivity: Integrating telephony into the Teams platform enhances productivity by allowing users to initiate calls quickly and switch between various communication modes seamlessly, all within the familiar Teams interface.

Compliance and Security: Microsoft Teams provides robust security and compliance features, and Direct Routing allows organizations to extend those security measures to their phone calls.

Scalability: Direct Routing is suitable for organizations of all sizes. Whether it’s a small business or a large enterprise, the solution can scale to meet the growing communication needs of the organization.

Seamless Migration: For organizations already using a telephony solution, Direct Routing allows for a smooth migration to Microsoft Teams without disrupting existing communication workflows. Users can retain their phone numbers and continue using familiar telephony features.

It’s important to note that while these benefits are generally associated with Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, the actual advantages experienced by an organization may vary based on their specific needs, infrastructure, and how effectively they implement and utilize the solution.

ZIRO makes it easy to assign and manage numbers. Through the ZIRO Platform for Microsoft, your helpdesk can easily manage end users, including assigning numbers to them with a few simple clicks.

Alternatively, you can give your helpdesk access to the admin center and perform the following: Go to Account General Information and choose Edit. Then, select Direct Routing from the Phone Number Type drop-down menu under Assign Phone Number. Enter the assigned phone number and its extension (if any), and click Apply.

Direct Routing allows for the integration of almost any PSTN application, feature, or carrier into Teams, giving you the ultimate flexibility to design the solution that best meets your needs. However, with Operator Connect, the number of approved carriers is limited, and you can only add applications and features offered by your carrier.

For example, assuming you use a specific Contact Center application, integration can be made direct to Direct Routing through the SBCs, but this is likely, not possible through any or all Operator Connect Partners.

Direct routing offers companies the ability to select packages or customize vendor solutions that meet their specific carrier and coverage requirements. This often translates into greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness over Microsoft’s limited choice of calling plans.