Innovation is everywhere in the UCaaS landscape today. The arrival of the pandemic in 2020 prompted the creation of a new, flexible workplace environment powered by agile communications. To stay aligned, efficient, and productive in this new world, businesses need access to a communication platform that can flex and adapt with them. 

To help companies thrive in this complex space, UCaaS providers have gradually implemented more tools and technologies custom-made to address the latest challenges teams face. Increasingly, we’re seeing the rise of new AI innovations to boost productivity, better collaboration tools embedded into the UC platform, and even the integration of UCaaS and CCaaS. 

While several notable companies out there make waves in the sector, some companies make more giant waves than others. Here are our most innovative UCaaS vendors to watch in 2022. 

This list is in no particular order

Bandwidth

One of the better-known names in the communications industry, Bandwidth has begun evolving at an incredible pace in recent years to support the companies trying to thrive in a post-pandemic environment. Bandwidth powers some of the major players in the UCaaS space, including Microsoft Skype for Business and Google Voice – two significant innovators are transitioning to hybrid work. 

In 2021, Bandwidth also introduced the “Duet” offering with RingCentral, a Bring-Your-own-Carrier solution for the RingCentral Message Video Phone (MVP) platform, which accelerates the migration of larger companies from legacy on-premises voices solutions into the cloud. In an environment where every company needs to be ready to transform digitally, Bandwidth ensures more prominent brands aren’t left behind to be more agile.

BlueJeans

A state-of-the-art communications innovator, BlueJeans (by Verizon) provides companies with a comprehensive environment for collaboration and communication in a digital world. The newly updated and upgraded version of BlueJeans video conferencing allows business leaders to access everything from real-time transcriptions to recordings to make conversations with the hybrid team more effective than ever. 

BlueJeans now offers a comprehensive portfolio of UCaaS tools, from BlueJeans Meetings, with added security for your video conversations, to Event sand Rooms (Intelligent workspace solutions). The company also supports cloud video interop, connecting rooms to Microsoft Teams through the BlueJeans Gateway. 

Zoom

Zoom changed the way we all think about communication in recent years by creating the first video-first environment for meetings. Though many companies started their transition into the Zoom ecosystem with simple and effective video meetings, they now offer a comprehensive UCaaS environment, complete with Phone technology, video conferencing, and instant messaging.

Zoom is now a “leader” in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS, providing state-of-the-art phone services and chat into one convenient app. Zoom’s solution is simple and easy to use, with clear-cut functionality on various devices so that anyone can get involved with crucial conversations. The Zoom ecosystem is also evolving to offer new functionality, such as scalable Zoom video webinars and events. Not to mention, there’s access to Zoom Rooms for meeting spaces.

Microsoft

Another vendor evolving the UCaaS environment in the age of hybrid work and post-pandemic productivity, Microsoft is a go-to name in the communications landscape right now. With the Microsoft Teams environment, companies can access a vast landscape for productivity, communication, and collaboration, which can adapt to suit their needs with convenient APIs and integrations accessible in seconds.

Microsoft Teams gives companies the freedom to build their entire UCaaS environment within Microsoft or connect their preferred phone system provider through operator connect or direct routing. The Teams ecosystem can even integrate with a range of CCaaS tools to provide a combined landscape for backend communications and customer service strategies.

Cisco

Cisco has stood as an innovator in the communications landscape for some time now. The company was one of the first to introduce cognitive collaboration to make team meetings more efficient with access to AI and automation. Today, Cisco’s Webex landscape provides a flexible workplace environment for hybrid and remote workers and traditional teams. 

The Gartner Magic Quadrant recognises cisco’s expansive environment as a UCaaS leader for 2021, and it’s one of the most flexible tools in the environment today. Companies can align their Cisco environment with their existing technology and hardware using integrations. Cisco’s environment is also ready to align the contact centre and UCaaS Webex suite for a more aligned communication stack. 

RingCentral

Masters in the ever-more-crucial cloud space, RingCentral is a natural leader and innovator for the future of UCaaS. The company supports many other companies in making the most out of their communication landscapes through the unique RingCentral MVP technology. The Messaging, Video Phone platform creates a convenient and aligned environment where staff members worldwide can access reliable and secure communications.

RingCentral’s UCaaS service can scale to suit the needs of any business and enable team members on any device, no matter their required communication channel. Even better, with RingCentral, you know you’re getting an ecosystem that can evolve with you. The technology is suitable for everyone, from small businesses to larger enterprises.

8×8

Widely regarded as one of the most innovative communication technology providers over the last few years, 8×8 offers a unique approach to unified communications. The company’s XCaaS platform aims to be the number-one space for video, chat, voice, and contact centre technology at once. 8×8 is on the front lines of the quest to combine multiple cloud environments into one easy-to-understand landscape for data management and success. 

With 8×8’s “XCaaS” technology, companies can provide their employees with everything they need to be productive and efficient in one app. You get a complete contact centre suite, business phone technology, video meetings, and team chat, all located in the same secure, compliant ecosystem. It’s ideal for companies making a complete transition into the cloud. 

 

 



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