Collaboration is often at the heart of a successful business. In the past, this used to mean making sure that people could regularly get together in person to discuss ideas and projects. Now, as we move into a more digital landscape, the team experience is growing increasingly virtual.
Driven by trends like remote working and globalisation, team collaboration software is more valuable today than ever before. With the right collaboration tool, companies can ensure that teams are constantly connected. These solutions come with convenient instant messaging services, state-of-the-art video conferencing, and file-sharing tools.
Today, we’re going to be looking at two of the biggest collaboration solutions from a pair of market leaders in the space: Avaya and Microsoft.
Microsoft Teams is one of the world’s favourite collaboration tools for the current remote work environment. The service works perfectly with Microsoft Office and offers plenty of advanced features. Avaya Spaces is a powerful collaboration tool with access to amazing communication heritage and leading features.
So, which is best?
Microsoft Teams Features
Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular collaboration tools in the current landscape. Part of the Microsoft 365 family of productivity tools, Teams is a convenient tool. It ensures that business leaders and professionals can communicate whenever and however they choose.
If you’re already invested in Microsoft technology, like Outlook or Office 365, logging into Teams will feel completely natural. At the same time, Microsoft’s simple and intuitive approach to collaboration services makes it a great choice for complete beginners too. Microsoft Teams is constantly upgrading with new features and solutions to explore. Capabilities include:
- End-to-end integrations with Microsoft 365
- High-performance video and audio conferencing
- Excellent search performance
- In-line translation and transcription
- Background blur and virtual backgrounds
- Screen and file sharing
- Instant messaging and channels
- High-level security and privacy
- Business phone and direct routing
Thanks to Microsoft Teams business phone and direct routing features, companies can even link their Teams experience to their UC or UCaaS environment. Business phone and collaboration can exist in the same place.
Avaya Spaces Features
Like Microsoft, Avaya is a name with a lot of heritage and respect. Avaya has an extensive history in the communication landscape, often making the company a natural choice for UC solutions. Avaya’s recent journey into the cloud means that the company can now offer a range of extra functionalities to clients, including cloud communications, and collaboration.
Avaya Spaces is the all-in-one collaboration environment for today’s teams. Within Spaces, employees can create meetings and instant-message their colleagues whenever they choose. Avaya’s technology is convenient and easy to use, with the option to launch from chat conversations to video meetings with state-of-the-art audio in seconds. What’s more, all of Avaya’s technology is secure and compliant. Features include:
- Video and audio conferencing
- Task management and workforce management
- Instant messaging and file sharing
- Broadcasting capabilities
- Recording for calls and videos
- Integrations with huddle room technology
- Integrations with a range of SIP video systems
- Mobile and browser access
- Integrations with third-party tools
- User administrations through IP Office
Microsoft Teams vs. Avaya Spaces: Experience
Both Microsoft Teams and Avaya Spaces are similar in their ability to provide a comprehensive collaboration and communication environment. With both of these tools, companies can connect their collaboration stack with their unified communication environment. However, with Microsoft, the best way to get business phone is through direct routing. Avaya can provide the all-in-one package.
Microsoft Teams is one of the most user-friendly tools on the market, however. It’s a comfortable upgrade into web-based conferencing for people who know the Microsoft Office 365 ecosystem. You can launch meetings from outlook and share your files in real-time. Microsoft also offers fantastic security and end-to-end support.
Avaya also designed Spaces with user experience in mind. This convenient tool makes it easy for employees to stay connected; however, they choose. The communication landscape is built on a heritage of excellent communication tools, and great security. Plus, Avaya ensures that launching meetings or video conversations is as quick as clicking a button.
For people who already feel comfortable with Avaya technology, Spaces will be the perfect way to leap into the future of team collaboration.
Microsoft Teams vs. Avaya Spaces: Integrations
Today’s employees need a wide selection of tools to remain productive and efficient in their chosen environment. Unfortunately, it can often be difficult for teams to stay efficient when these tools don’t play nicely together. Both Microsoft Teams and Avaya are aware of the growing need for integration and flexibility.
Microsoft Teams offers a wide selection of ways for companies to expand their Teams environment. There are plenty of great hardware options that offer specialist support for Microsoft Teams. Plus, companies can use the app marketplace for Microsoft to add new apps and plugins into the Teams landscape too.
Avaya is also making an effort to ensure that its collaboration environment is extensible. The technology is compatible with most AV tools in the huddle or meeting room. Additionally, companies have the option to link Avaya Spaces to things like Outlook and Google cloud. Avaya doesn’t have as many integrations available as Microsoft yet, but the platform is still growing.
Which is Right for You?
So, should you choose Avaya or Microsoft for your team?
There’s no easy answer here. The perfect collaboration tool is the one that makes your team feel as productive as possible in any environment.
For Microsoft users who already have a vast ecosystem of tools in their business from the Microsoft portfolio, Teams is an excellent choice. Microsoft Teams is a convenient and intuitive tool for collaboration and communication in the transforming digital environment.
On the other hand, if you’re comfortable with Avaya technology and you want to take it to the next level, then you can easily accomplish great things with Avaya. Spaces makes it quick and easy for companies to give their teams a powerful hub in the cloud.
Which tool will you be using? Let us know in the comments!
