Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is among the top trends in business communication for 2022. Gartner forecasts that 75 percent of enterprises will rely on cloud-based systems by 2024, replacing on-premise equipment like desk phones.

UCaaS combines the convenience of multiple channels like voice, video, and messaging with the flexibility of the cloud to provide a converged, modular solution. What if organizations could enjoy networking and connectivity services built into a UCaaS product without requiring a separate license? That is precisely what Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral enables. It expands the potential of UCaaS by bundling networking support to cloud-based communication.

Unpacking Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral

Global business connectivity provider and mobile carrier Vodafone first announced a partnership in December 2020. At that time, the two companies noted that they would create a cloud-based and co-branded service deployed across Vodafone’s ecosystem, starting with the UK sometime in 2021. In February 2022, the duo announced a new offering called “Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral” that pushes the envelope of what organizations can achieve with UCaaS.

Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral offers RingCentral’s Message Video Phone platform along with the carrier’s expertise in 5G and mobility to support distributed workforces. It addresses connectivity and productivity needs with a single license, and developers can use thousands of APIs to tailor the solution according to their needs.

Speaking on the launch, Giorgio Migliarina, products and services director at Vodafone Business, noted that the offering would aid digital transformation for small and large companies. It would streamline the move from legacy infrastructure to the cloud, a foundational aspect of UCaaS adoption.

Notably, Vodafone provides business customers with various connectivity solutions across broadband services, 5G, SD-WAN, and mobility. The new product adds RingCentral’s cloud-based communication platform to the mix.

Key Features of Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral

Voice calls

The offering includes business phone numbers that work on any device, including desk phones and softphone clients on PCs, tablets, and phones. Users can record calls, set up overflow call queues, and enable call whispering – essential capabilities for support functions. As a result, Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral addresses both internal and customer-facing communication use cases. Calling plans will factor in Vodafone’s existing rates, and in the UK, customers can benefit from mobile and landline minutes.

Video meetings

Users can conduct HD video meetings and audio conferences using Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the meeting experience. The AI engine performs essential optimization functions like background blur and meeting transcriptions. Users can also dial in from a telephone, and the solution features a no-download meeting join-in process.

Collaboration

Integrated collaboration is a crucial feature of UC, and RingCentral’s Message Video Phone platform enables seamless collaboration experiences. Users can chat, share files, exchange emails, and send messages from a single, optimized interface. The product will generate analytics insights to ensure maximum adoption among employees.

Integration

Not only does the solution pre-integrate Vodafone’s infrastructure with RingCentral’s UC platform, but users can further extend its capabilities. Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral supports integration with hundreds of applications and services, including popular technologies like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. In addition, developers can use the API library to connect the solution with other business systems such as customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and help desks.

Security

The platform is fully encrypted to protect communication channels from unauthorized access. It also supports single sign-on (SSO), allowing users to leverage a set of highly secure credentials to log in. SSO also makes the experience more convenient as there is no need to remember multiple passwords and credentials for different apps and services.

Networking

Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral includes the connectivity provider’s extensive networking capabilities. Customers will get an inclusive bundle of geographic and mobile call minutes so that they can reach numbers in all of their relevant territories. Vodafone’s 5G network will power the solution (where available) to free communications of any interference. Eventually, the bundle will see a global rollout, allowing organizations to support remote employees with UCaaS, no matter their location.

Key Benefits of the Solution

It is among the first solutions in the industry to combine connectivity and mobility with UC. This unlocks the following benefits:

  • Reliable networking infrastructure – Vodafone is a leading carrier, with robust networking infrastructure in most countries and territories, providing 99.99 percent service uptime
  • Greater scalability is a cloud-based solution, which means that it can quickly scale up or down as per organization needs. Further, Vodafone’s global presence will make it easier to scale to new regions
  • A single license for multiple services – IT managers and procurement teams can benefit from the convenience of a bundled solution. One gets calls, meetings, landline minutes, messaging, collaboration, and security within a single license
  • Easy transition to UCaaS – The product simplifies UCaaS by providing ready-to-use infrastructure and a unified platform. Customers do not need to work with multiple vendors or stitch together a UC landscape

Who Can Use Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral?

The solution will be available to organizations across the UK, Europe, and Asia, notably in Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden. Businesses operating out of Vodafone-supported locations in these regions can adopt the product. It primarily targets mid-sized companies with 100-499 users and enterprises with 500+ users. It can address UC use cases across multiple industries such as travel, non-profits, retail, technology, governments, and the service sector. As mentioned, predictable per-seat pricing makes Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral sufficiently affordable for all.

 



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