Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• What is UCaaS? Unified communications as a service guide

  Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) is a cloud delivery model that offers a variety of communication and collaboration applications and services. Continue Reading

• Office hoteling pros and cons for hybrid work

  As hybrid work gains traction, companies must rethink how they want to allocate their offices. Office hoteling offers some advantages, but be careful of the pitfalls. Continue Reading

• How to evaluate top UCaaS providers and vendors of 2023

  In a growing UCaaS market, there are many considerations to make when evaluating which providers best suit your business communications needs. Continue Reading

• SIP trunking vs. VoIP: What's the difference?

  SIP trunking and VoIP share some similarities, but they have key differences in origin and functions. Learn how together they form the cornerstone of IP telephony. Continue Reading

• Top 7 UCaaS features to enhance productivity

  UCaaS continues to evolve as more companies use the platform to support meetings, calls and messaging. New features, among them generative AI, could make UCaaS even more important. Continue Reading

• Top 6 UCaaS benefits for businesses

  More organizations are recognizing the benefits of the cloud and making the jump to UCaaS. Learn the six business benefits of UCaaS -- and the potential drawbacks.Continue Reading

• CPaaS brings cloud contact center features to on premises

  Organizations with on-premises contact centers don't need to make a full cloud migration to modernize their systems. CPaaS can enable cloud features and drive key business metrics.Continue Reading

• Absorb, acclimate and aspire at Enterprise Connect 2023

  Innovation was the highlight of Enterprise Connect 2023, with advancements in interoperability, AI and CRM. But the conference also stressed where vendors must widen their reach.Continue Reading

• Microsoft and Cisco certification deepens interoperability

  These UC blogs review Microsoft's and Cisco's latest integrations and the business strategy driving them, as well as how to ensure collaboration security in the workplace.Continue Reading

• 5 video conferencing trends to eye in 2023

  We live in a video world now, and businesses are focused on improving the experience for their employees. Check out the video trends driving the market in 2023.Continue Reading

• How generative AI for business enhances collaboration

  Generative AI has become a leading technology topic. Digital assistants and idea generation are two ways the technology could increase employee productivity.Continue Reading

• Recap Enterprise Connect hybrid work trends, generative AI

  Analysts discuss the top trends from Enterprise Connect 2023, including generative AI and how to make hybrid work more inclusive.Continue Reading

• Extend collaboration tools with 'Google Workspace User Guide'

  Collaboration tools are key as businesses shift to hybrid work. Google Workspace supports productivity with Google Classroom, Marketplace apps and Google Assistant.Continue Reading

• Collaboration tools help and hinder workplace accessibility

  Cloud-based collaboration tools have improved workplace accessibility for people with disabilities. But IT leaders must examine where collaboration tools still fall short.Continue Reading

• Meeting room hardware supports hybrid employee experience

  Meeting room hardware must evolve to support the hybrid employee experience. Meeting Owl 3 and Owl Bar are two devices aiming to create a more equitable meeting experience.Continue Reading

• Enterprise Connect 2023 highlights Microsoft Teams, ChatGPT

  The annual unified communications conference once again spotlights current and future industry trends as IT leaders weigh their business and technology investments.Continue Reading

• Cisco hybrid work bundle enhances employee experience

  This series of UC blogs examines Cisco's hybrid work bundle, Neat's new Neat Pulse offering and how Zoho Workplace increases work productivity.Continue Reading

• How the UC market is addressing corporate ESG initiatives

  More organizations are adopting ESG initiatives, and UC vendors have begun to offer new programs and capabilities in response. But how much of a priority is ESG in the UC market?Continue Reading

• How do you build a CPaaS business case?

  No matter how big or small the deployment, building a business case for CPaaS is essential to creating a more flexible and controlled communications environment.Continue Reading

• The state of PSTN connectivity: Separating PSTN from UCaaS

  UCaaS isn't for everybody. Some organizations are keeping their phone systems on premises to maintain control over PSTN access, cut licensing costs and ensure service reliability.Continue Reading

• Slack workflow automation enhances Shipt productivity

  After Shipt deployed Slack's workflow automation tools, the company saw greater productivity and communication with its employees and shoppers.Continue Reading

• Understanding UC interoperability challenges

  The growth of remote and hybrid work has driven demand for better interoperability among collaboration tools. But supporting interoperability isn't without its challenges.Continue Reading

• UC vendors extend mobile telephony capabilities

  UC providers like Cisco and Microsoft are expanding mobile voice services in their platforms, enabling employees to use native dialing and more advanced mobile features.Continue Reading

• Microsoft's OpenAI investment to boost work productivity

  This series of UC blogs examines Microsoft's investment in OpenAI, Amazon Chime's advancements that increase productivity and RingCentral DaaS.Continue Reading

• Compare Microsoft Teams Operator Connect vs. Direct Routing

  As more companies migrate their telephony to Microsoft Teams, IT departments have two options to bring their current PSTN provider to the Teams platform.Continue Reading

• Can Microsoft Teams send text messages?

  As more companies move to remote work, IT teams can enable sending text messages through Microsoft Teams for quicker and easier communication among users.Continue Reading

• Evernote and Notion take aim at enterprise collaboration market

  Notion and Evernote -- best known as personal note-taking apps -- are pivoting to serve as enterprise collaboration tools. Are they viable options yet?Continue Reading

• Top UC and collaboration news of 2022 highlights 4 key trends

  Review the 2022 UC and collaboration news highlights to learn about the trends that drove the market, and discover how these trends will influence the market in 2023.Continue Reading

• Weighing the pros and cons of asynchronous collaboration

  UCaaS vendors are developing tools that let remote workers collaborate on their own time. That flexibility can reap benefits, but what does it do to the value of teamwork?Continue Reading

• Understanding hot desking pros and cons for the hybrid office

  Hot desking is one way to manage workspaces in a hybrid office. Learn some hot desking pros and cons to decide if it's the right approach for your company.Continue Reading

• 5 UC and collaboration trends reshaping the market in 2023

  An uncertain economy is forcing companies to plan carefully as they prepare their 2023 unified communications strategies. Here are five key trends to watch for.Continue Reading

• Comparing Microsoft Teams free vs. paid plans

  While Teams is bundled with some Microsoft 365 licenses, it does offer a free plan. Learn the difference between Teams free vs. paid plans and which is right for your organization.Continue Reading

• How to approach a Webex-Teams integration and make it work

  Cisco and Microsoft are finally breaking down the interoperability barriers between Webex and Teams apps. Companies will be able to soon reap the benefits.Continue Reading

• Carrier UCaaS services extend cloud communication benefits

  UCaaS is becoming more popular as carriers roll out more sophisticated and integrated packages to users. Learn why it might make sense to consolidate your vendors.Continue Reading

• Are Microsoft Teams calls encrypted?

  Microsoft Teams calls are encrypted at rest and in transit. But organizations that want an additional layer of security can enable end-to-end encryption for one-on-one calls.Continue Reading

• Desktop video conferencing hardware now built for hybrid work

  Desktop video hardware offers organizations hybrid work benefits, including high-quality video for home workers and simplified IT management. But getting buy-in can be a challenge.Continue Reading

• 5 steps to manage desktop phone systems for hybrid work

  Even as hybrid work gains traction and video communications grows, some employees still prefer using desktop phones. Supporting these devices means making sure they're up to date.Continue Reading

• 3 UC user scenarios influence hybrid work budgets

  As IT decision-makers evaluate their hybrid workplace budgets, three end-user scenarios lay the foundation for UC and collaboration technology investments.Continue Reading

• Integrated Microsoft Loop, Teams boost virtual collaboration

  As most organizations now have hybrid workers, virtual collaboration is a priority. Here's how integrating Microsoft Teams with Loop components can enable effective collaboration.Continue Reading

• Virtual whiteboard vs. ideation system: Which is best for you?

  Digital whiteboards are useful when tackling short-term needs, but a full-featured ideation system might be the best option for more sophisticated and mission-critical projects.Continue Reading

• How do you measure ROI for virtual events?

  Businesses and industries are using virtual events to reach customers. Determining ROI of these events isn't as easy as it was for physical conferences, but it can be done.Continue Reading

• Contact centers evaluate CPaaS vs. CCaaS benefits

  The contact center-as-a-service market is ripe for growth as businesses move to the cloud. That's inviting a new crop of vendors -- among them CPaaS providers -- to pitch products.Continue Reading

• How end-to-end encryption supports secure team collaboration

  End-to-end encryption provides secure collaboration but limits certain productivity features. Learn how end-to-end encryption fits in a team collaboration security strategy.Continue Reading

• Room video conferencing interoperability critical for hybrid work

  Vendors are beginning to take solid steps to make sure their video conferencing apps are interoperable with whatever meeting apps employees want to use.Continue Reading

• Social collaboration tools create hybrid work water cooler

  Traditional collaboration tools have struggled to replicate casual office conversations. New social collaboration tools could help reduce the isolation of remote and hybrid work.Continue Reading

• How do you evaluate UC applications for frontline workers?

  UC offerings differ depending on business goals and intended users. When evaluating tools for frontline workers, consider factors based on communication, endpoints and workflows.Continue Reading

• 3 use cases highlight AI and speech recognition evolution

  The combination of AI and speech recognition has driven innovation for more advanced capabilities. Explore three applications that highlight the future of speech technology.Continue Reading

• UC, employee experience management offer complex insight

  New research shows that many organizations are rethinking the employee experience amid remote work. Here are the methods, platforms and tools to consider in your evaluation.Continue Reading

• Hybrid meeting technology helps AV teams address equity

  AV teams are challenged in providing remote and in-room meeting attendees the same experience. Hybrid meeting technology for speaker framing is the first step to meeting equity.Continue Reading

• How do you enable a Teams-contact center integration?

  Explore the three ways Microsoft supports integrating a contact center with Teams to enable more advanced calling and collaboration features for agents.Continue Reading

• Why a distributed cloud architecture could be a boon for UC

  Some organizations are more comfortable in keeping their unified communications on premises. Distributed clouds might be a more attractive alternative.Continue Reading

• How will VR collaboration transform meetings?

  It may be too soon for virtual reality to play a role in how companies conduct business meetings, but it's not too early to understand its benefits.Continue Reading

• UCaaS vendors take on cloud contact center market share

  As the UC market matures, vendors are looking for new ways to attract customers. Some vendors have set their sights on CCaaS, but getting executive buy-in could be a challenge.Continue Reading

• As user ranks grow, governance of collaboration tools is a must

  Even as companies evaluate more unified communications tools, they aren't keeping pace with ways to effectively govern how these applications are managed and deployed.Continue Reading

• Assessing intelligent speakers for Microsoft Teams

  Companies are exploring Cortana to beef up their Microsoft Teams meetings as more workers are brought into the office. The virtual assistant has some unique features.Continue Reading

• UCaaS explained: Guide to unified communications as a service

  Check out this one-stop UCaaS guide to find out how this cloud-based service works, how to buy and implement it, as well as best practices and insight into its evolutionContinue Reading

• Virtual event platforms for conferences race to bolster features

  Even as the pandemic ebbs, virtual events will remain a primary way to reach employees and customers -- but make sure you're getting what you need before you deploy a platform.Continue Reading

• As large-room video conferencing ebbs, firms gird for future

  As companies evaluate return-to-office strategies, they are also taking a look at the role video conferencing will play when they reassess how meeting rooms should be designed.Continue Reading

• What are types of virtual events and can they be improved?

  Video conferencing software has helped companies connect with their employees and customers, but it hasn't quite filled the bill when it comes to supporting virtual events.Continue Reading

• UCaaS and CCaaS unite as organizations embrace the cloud

  The UCaaS and CCaaS markets are converging as vendors and end-user organizations alike integrate cloud-based contact centers with communications platforms.Continue Reading

• How to mesh video conferencing, video calling devices for home

  Giving remote employees the chance to use their Amazon Echo Shows or Facebook Portals when logging in to meetings has advantages, but security and performance concerns remain.Continue Reading

• The evolving role of email in business communication

  Email has been around for decades, but its role in business communications will change as collaboration apps become more predominant and open.Continue Reading

• How secure is Zoom video conferencing?

  Companies can take some simple steps to protect their Zoom meetings, but they should also consider ways to better educate their employees on how to use the software.Continue Reading

• Weighing video conferencing options for small businesses

  Businesses of all sizes are enabling video rooms as part of their collaboration strategy. Here's how small businesses can choose the right video conferencing tools.Continue Reading

• UCaaS for frontline workers poised for adoption 'explosion'

  The unified communications and collaboration market has historically neglected customer-facing and field workers. But experts suggest a frontline UCaaS boom could be on the horizon.Continue Reading

• Understanding the 4 hidden costs of working from home

  While remote work offers cost savings, there are hidden costs of working from home that affect both employees and businesses. Learn four hidden costs and how to address them.Continue Reading

• Discover the benefits of a video content management system

  Video is everywhere. Organizations that want to reap its benefits need a strategy that supports video creation and provides a central location for security, management and storage.Continue Reading

• How can UC tools create a virtual water cooler experience?

  Even in a hybrid work environment, the water cooler remains a valuable way for remote employees to communicate and stay engaged -- thanks to UC.Continue Reading

• Intelligent virtual assistant market takes shape as it grows

  Explore the growing enterprise use of intelligent virtual assistants to facilitate tasks and enhance the meeting experience.Continue Reading

• Teams vs. Webex vs. Zoom: Comparing collaboration features

  When organizations compare Teams vs. Webex vs. Zoom as their primary UCaaS platform, the deciding factor may be how each vendor approaches collaboration.Continue Reading

• UC user adoption training must evolve for hybrid work

  Learn why industry leaders at Enterprise Connect said user adoption training is key to UC success in the hybrid workplace -- and how employee experience platforms can help.Continue Reading

• How virtual whiteboard collaboration supports remote teams

  Virtual whiteboard collaboration software can help organizations replicate the in-person ideation experience. Learn how Thoughtworks used Mural's software to support remote teams.Continue Reading

• Hybrid meetings, virtual whiteboards clash with outdated rooms

  As companies look to integrate virtual whiteboard software into their conference rooms for hybrid meetings, they should start investing in meeting room hardware.Continue Reading

• Hybrid work strategies fuel Enterprise Connect 2021 topics

  Navigating the post-pandemic workplace is challenging. Enterprise Connect 2021 will explore UC's role in supporting ongoing remote work and the hybrid workplace.Continue Reading

• The enterprise guide to video conferencing

  The video conferencing guide helps enterprises navigate collaboration in a hybrid work environment and includes best practices for implementation and user training.Continue Reading

• Weighing personal video conferencing endpoints for hybrid work

  Deploying video conferencing endpoints solely in meeting rooms ignores the needs of remote workers. Learn why desktop and home environments must be included when evaluating endpoint options.Continue Reading

• Popular video conferencing APIs to weigh for app integration

  Video conferencing APIs can simplify integrating video with business applications. Learn the benefits of video APIs and best practices to follow when evaluating API providers.Continue Reading

• 5 hybrid video conferencing tips for collaboration equity

  Experts say the fate of hybrid work may depend on collaboration equity in hybrid video conferencing sessions. Learn how to support in-office and remote meeting participants.Continue Reading

• What to consider before buying video conferencing technology

  Learn about the different types of modern video conferencing architectures and how enterprises can best implement these products into their current workforce.Continue Reading

• AI in video conferencing opens a world of features

  AI in video conferencing will result in useful features for businesses. Learn how AI capabilities improve meetings and what to ask conferencing vendors about their products.Continue Reading

• Cortana for enterprise Teams has promise but faces hurdles

  Microsoft has rebooted Cortana as the enterprise version of Alexa or Siri for Teams. The play is promising, but technical and privacy concerns mean its success is not yet certain.Continue Reading

• Branded, custom video conferencing enhances meetings

  Custom video conferencing can make meetings feel more engaging, and third-party tools can take these features even further. But hybrid work can create challenges.Continue Reading

• Understanding CPaaS market growth, trends and providers

  The CPaaS market is maturing as increased demand for digital communications drives new use cases. Learn about the trends and providers fueling CPaaS market growth.Continue Reading

• Compare Teams guest access vs. external access vs. Teams Connect

  Microsoft has a few options to connect Teams to outside users. Compare Teams guest access vs. external access vs. Teams Connect to decide which suits your external collaboration needs.Continue Reading

• What technologies are essential for effective telework?

  Some form of remote work is likely here to stay, even as the worst of the pandemic seems to be over. But employees need the right technologies if they are to remain productive.Continue Reading

• As workers return, virtual assistant tools get a new look

  People are familiar with using Siri and Alexa to control TVs and listen to playlists. Now, businesses are examining how these tools can help protect employees coming back into the office.Continue Reading

• Explore 12 virtual whiteboard software options for group work

  With enterprise workers now based in many locations, these 12 leading online whiteboards help recreate the in-person brainstorming experience with newly enhanced features.Continue Reading

• Zoom Phone system offers flexibility, simplified infrastructure

  The Zoom Phone system offers simplicity and flexibility to support remote and hybrid work. IT leaders at Enterprise Connect Virtual discuss their Zoom Phone migration strategies.Continue Reading

• Guide to building an enterprise unified communications strategy

  IT needs a unified communications strategy for voice and video conferencing, chat and other tools. This step-by-step guide helps you implement, evaluate and manage UC in the enterprise.Continue Reading

• Top 10 must-have unified communications features in business

  UC priorities changed dramatically due to the pandemic. Read our list of the features made for this new era of remote collaboration.Continue Reading

• Companies must rethink video conferencing usage in 2021

  In the coming months, the issue facing organizations is not cutting back video conferencing; it's determining how best to manage its use and minimize video fatigue.Continue Reading

• How could BYOD support touchless meeting rooms?

  Organizations have a few options to approach low-touch and touchless meeting rooms. BYOD and employee smartphones are one method to support social distancing and meeting room access.Continue Reading

• 10 essential business benefits of unified communications

  How can unified communications tools benefit your business? Explore these 10 unified communications benefits to make the best deployment decision for your needs.Continue Reading

• Choose between Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom for conference needs

  Weigh the pros and cons of Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom, and focus on ease of use, pricing, market share, video and telephony capabilities, and security requirements.Continue Reading

• Will video fatigue drive users back to voice calls?

  The strain of being on camera all day is beginning to make its mark. Companies are reevaluating the role telephony may play as workers return to the office.Continue Reading

• Enterprise AR a vital component of Microsoft's UC strategy

  Enterprise AR is ready for prime time as organizations look for ways to make their remote meetings more productive by combining physical and virtual spaces.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Teams partners extend phone system capabilities

  While the Microsoft Teams phone system can meet most needs for organizations, connecting Teams to third-party partners can provide additional features, resiliency and support.Continue Reading

• Ultimate guide to team collaboration platforms

  This in-depth team collaboration platform guide examines how to create a virtual environment that promotes secure user engagement, productivity and innovation.Continue Reading

• Salesforce-Slack deal heralds the future of collaboration

  Deeper platform integrations, widespread communications tools and a dash of workflow automation are some of the elements that shape the future of team collaboration.Continue Reading

• What are the challenges of using multiple team collaboration apps?

  Companies are already using a variety of collaboration platforms, but managing them is hard. What should companies know when juggling multiple team collaboration apps?Continue Reading