That’s where Unified Communications as a Service ( UCaaS ) comes in.
This single platform consolidates business phone, email, chat, and more, streamlining collaboration and boosting productivity. But with several UCaaS providers on the market, choosing the right one can be daunting.
This article breaks down the top 8 UCaaS players, comparing features, pricing, customer experience, support, and security to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
What Is Unified Communications?
Unified Communications refers to the integration of various real-time communication services and applications into a single platform or interface.
When offered as a service (UCaaS), Unified Communications companies consolidate and leverage cloud platforms to integrate workflows and simplify collaboration, driving significant productivity gains and flexibility.
Here are some key benefits UC solutions offer:
Flexibility to communicate and collaborate from anywhere. Access communication and collaboration capabilities on any device from virtually anywhere through the cloud. Unified communications platforms support flexible and remote work arrangements.
Ability to scale with cloud-based platforms. Most UC solutions leverage the scalability and flexibility of the cloud. The ease of adding/removing users helps scale capabilities up or down based on evolving needs.
Cost savings from reduced infrastructure. Unified Communications companies reduce legacy systems needed and provide predictable subscription costs rather than large hardware investments. They simplify administration too.
Productivity benefits. UC platforms streamline workflows, cut switching between apps, and integrate communication modes. Features like presence and unified messaging save users time. This improves productivity across individuals and teams.
8 Top Unified Communications Companies in 2024
1. Nextiva
Nextiva is an all-in-one UCaaS solution that offers voice, video, messaging, email, workflow automation, and integrations in a single platform. You can also set up a self-service help desk for customers to get answers to their questions without needing to reach a human support rep.
Nextiva partnered with Five9 , the leader in contact center technology, to bolster its cloud communications offering. It also has more than 4,000 partners in the U.S. to give companies the communication tools they need to be successful.
Nextiva features
Here are some top UC features inside Nextiva’s platform:
Business phone system : Cloud-based VoIP phone service with call routing, auto attendants, extensions, and advanced call analytics.
Video conferencing : Face-to-face video conferencing for up to 100 participants with screen sharing and recording capabilities.
Team chat : Group and private messaging with @mentions, GIFs, threads, and file sharing.
Integrations : Connect popular business apps like Salesforce, Zendesk, Office 365, and G Suite to sync communication data.
Contact center : Omnichannel customer service with call handling, IVR, advanced routing, CRM integrations, and real-time analytics.
What users love about Nextiva
Nextiva is praised for reliability, call quality, easy-to-use interface , and breadth of features for the price. Customers highlight video meetings, team chat, and workflow automation as valuable.
Areas where Nextiva can improve
Because Nextiva’s UCaaS platform runs through VoIP, some customers say they have issues accessing the platform if they’re in a location with spotty internet connectivity.
Support, reliability, and security
Nextiva prioritizes network uptime and security. It features geo-redundant data centers, SSAE 18 compliance, and encrypted calling and messages. The platform has a 99.999% uptime — the gold standard in the UCaaS industry.
Support is available 24/7 via phone, email, chat, community forums, and online knowledge base.
Nextiva pricing
Essential plan offers core features like unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail to email transcription, 24/7 customer support, and more — all for only $18.95 per user/month.
Professional plan at $22.95 per user/month builds upon the Essential features and offers extras like expanded 40-person conference calling, 250-person video meetings, unlimited business SMS capabilities, and special integrations.
Enterprise plan offers unlimited conference calling, video conferencing, call recording, advanced analytics, voicemail searchability, SSO options, and expanded integrations for $32.95 per user/month.
All plans emphasize robust digital communication tailored for business success and seamless collaboration.
