Access4 has acquired Channel UC to extend its enterprise communications product portfolio.
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The advanced communication solutions specialists, Channel UC, contributes its omnichannel contact centre, AI product development, professional services, and cloud Session Border Control (SBC).
Access 4 adds these capabilities to its cloud communication and collaboration tools, which include UCaaS, analytics, messaging, and security technologies.
Tim Jackson, Managing Director at Access4, outlined the acquisition benefits: “For both Channel UC and Access4 partners, this acquisition represents a ‘better together’ story.
“By combining our strengths, we are positioned to deliver greater innovation, expanded support, and enhanced business opportunities.
“With an innovation first approach, the combined team plans to fast track integration of Channel UC’s solution into SASBOSS and provide a scalable and automated approach to communication in different regions.”
‘Better Together’
Channel UC’s team of 22 will be integrated into the Access4 business, helping to ensure a seamless transition for customers and partners.
Brad Milne, Channel UC’s Managing Director, and Director, Matt Milne, will be stepping across to senior leadership posts at Access4, delivering a ‘wealth of industry knowledge’ and proven results, to help the company achieve it drive for profit growth.
Channel UC’s contact centre has multi-channel communication to support Access4’s existing CCaaS connectors launched earlier in the year.
The addition of Channel UC’s advanced AI tools will improve customer and partner communications, streamlining operations across current and future communication platforms.
Professional services are expected to ease deployments and solution optimisation, particularly related to CCaaS technologies.
Finally, Session Border Control as a Service (SBCaaS) will enable partners to connect third-party UCaaS and CCaaS solutions into Access4’s product ecosystem.
Partner Benefits
Reword: The combined entity is well placed to deliver enhanced value to partners and customers through Access4’s leading SASBOSS® unified cloud communications and collaboration platform. The acquisition now grows the combined transacting reseller base to over 600 partners and over 300,000 services on the platform.
According to Access4, the acquisition will benefit partners via improved product offering and automation, consolidated support resources, and seamless business continuity.
Milne shared his view of the future: “The merger marks a new era in cloud communications.
“As we integrate our operations, our priority remains focused on supporting our partners and delivering exceptional value.
“With months of behind-the-scenes preparation we are excited to offer our partner network access to both organisations combined strengths to deliver innovative solutions that empower meaningful partnerships and outcomes that solve problems for customers and to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
Channel UC had been a stand-alone division of Mia Distribution, but it was made a separate business entity when Mia was acquired by Bluechip Infotech.
In December 2022, Ribbon selected Channel UC as a distributor of Ribbon Connect for Microsoft Teams Direct Routing in Australia and New Zealand.
The agreement also covering appliance and software-based session border controllers (SBCs).
Previously, Access 4 acquired Novum Networks in December 2022, which saw the Australia-based systems integrator consolidate its platform, network, and brand into Access4.
