What are UCaaS Platforms?
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) software acts as a communication and collaboration hub for organisations and teams. Providing features such as VoIP, instant messaging, video conferencing, and other collaboration tools in a singular cloud-based platform, UCaaS platforms can connect an entire business. Whilst the U in UCaaS stands for unified rather than universal, the UCaaS platforms still aim to bring all corporate person-to-person communication methods together.
UCaaS platforms can potentially supply features such as VoIP software, video conferencing software, internal communications software, and other team collaboration software types in a single package. Users can monitor and receive alerts for these software types via one medium through the integrated nature of the UCaaS platforms.
Some users choose to integrate UCaaS platforms with outside content management systems or contact centre software, depending on the intended use for the organisation, but UCaaS products provide extensive functionality themselves. However, it is unusual for UCaaS to provide discrete email capabilities as the email system the business uses for messaging and coordination is typically used.
To be categorised as a UCaaS platform, a product must:
- Be a cloud-based collaboration and communication platform
- Be flexible enough to incorporate new communication channels as they are developed
- Offer additional collaboration and communication tools
- Provide cross-channel functionality
- Supply VoIP, video conferencing, business messaging, and file sharing.
Top 5 UCaaS Platforms:
TechRound has compiled a list of the top 5 UCaaS platforms for businesses to use in 2021.
1. GoToConnect (formerly Jive)
Combining Jive’s VoIP phone systems with GoToMeeting’s web, audio, and video functionalities, GoToConnect is a simple, unified communications platform. Starting at $19.95 per month, GoToConnect has an extensive range of features such as virtual voicemail and video conferencing.
2. Nextiva
Nextiva helps businesses to communicate and build deeper connections with their customers by bringing together communications, business applications, intelligence, and automation. Starting at $19.95 monthly, Nextiva combines all communication channels such as voice, video, SMS, chat, collaboration, and surveys together. This enables businesses to access the information they need to provide fantastic customer service and drive business results. To illustrate, Nextiva has had zero outages since 2018 whilst serving more than 100,000 customers with over 1 billion conversations per year.
3. Zoom
Zoom’s video-first unified communications platform brings teams together to be more productive in a secure video environment. Zoom provides video meetings, voice, webinars, and chat across all devices and spaces.
4. Dialpad Talk
Created using Google Cloud Platform, Dialpad Talk is a business phone system that provides for over 62,000 over the world’s most innovative businesses. Starting at $15 per month paid annually, Dialpad Talk includes native voice intelligence features such as real-time transcription and action items based on post-call summaries generated. Dialpad Talk directly integrates with other imperative apps for your business such as G Suite and Salesforce.
5. Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber brings together presence, instant messaging, audio, video and web conferencing, enterprise voice, and visual voicemail into one to empower employees to work together efficiently from anywhere.
Why Should I Use a UCaaS Platform?
UCaaS software enables easy communication and collaboration between members of a team or organisation. Many UCaaS platforms offer added features such as VoIP software, video conferencing software, and internal communications software to bring together all corporate person-to-person communication methods.
How Much Does a UCaaS Platform Cost?
As with all software packages, UCaaS platforms vary in price starting from free. However, many free UCaaS platforms will have limited capability, requiring an upgraded (and more expensive) package to utilise full functionality.
Can I Get a UCaaS Platform Free Trial?
Many UCaaS Platform software offer a free trial for users to test out the features on offer before committing to paying for the service.
