News in the Channel - issue #8

UCAAS

Unified front Unified communications as a service is rapidly gaining in popularity in the UK, boosted by hybrid working and the desire of customers to have the same communication and collaborative facilities wherever they are, meaning it is something resellers need to offer to customers.

By any metric, forecasts of 400% growth in a market in the next decade globally is great – and that is what is predicted for the unified communication as a service (UCaaS) market by Future Market Insights, which claims the sector will grow from $28.5 billion in 2023 to $112.6 billion in 2033. This means there has never been a better time for resellers to get involved in UCaaS, as growth is predicted to be strong in the UK too. ProVu group sales director, Craig Herrett, says that UCaaS has witnessed significant growth in the UK in recent years. “This has been primarily driven by the rise of hybrid working models and the increasing need for seamless communication and collaboration regardless of location,” he says. This growth is set to continue, he adds. “We are seeing customers demanding more comprehensive UCaaS solutions that provide a unified experience across various communication channels, such as voice, video, messaging and file sharing,” he says. “In voice, they are also looking to share this across various devices such as headset, desk phone and mobile phone therefore FMC (Full Mobile Collaboration) is now starting to gain traction versus OTA (Over the Top Apps). End users are seeking flexibility and scalability, allowing employees to seamlessly collaborate

from anywhere using any device. Additionally, there is an emphasis on integrating UCaaS with other productivity tools like project management platforms, document sharing services and customer relationship management systems. This integration helps streamline workflows and enhances productivity.” Mark Pillow, managing director at Voip Unlimited, adds that other trends in UCaaS revolve around increased demand for flexible and integrated communication solutions. “Over time, the demand for UCaaS has shifted from traditional on-premises solutions to cloud-based platforms,” he says. “This transition is driven by the need for scalability, cost effectiveness and the ability to support remote and mobile workforces. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the adoption of UCaaS as businesses sought reliable communication tools to enable remote collaboration.”

Craig Herrett group sales director

provu.co.uk

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As the cloud computing landscape continues to evolve, we can expect further integration and convergence between UCaaS and other ‘as a Service’ offerings to provide comprehensive and integrated

Increasing integration As UCaaS becomes more ubiquitous,

then it will be increasingly integrated with other ‘as a service’ offerings, he adds. “The convergence of various cloud-based services and technologies is driven by the desire for streamlined workflows, improved productivity and enhanced user experiences,” he says. “This ultimately gives businesses a more holistic and unified approach to their communication and collaboration needs. It offers seamless data and workflow integrations and enhanced user experiences, while enabling organisations to leverage the benefits of multiple cloud-based services together. “As the cloud computing landscape continues to evolve, we can expect further integration and convergence between UCaaS and other ‘as a Service’ offerings to provide comprehensive and integrated solutions to businesses.” Stephen McIntyre from Nimans agrees, adding that customers are increasingly demanding seamless communication tools, better connectivity options and intelligent

solutions to businesses.

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