Work with Microsoft, Zoom, and Webex and not against them is some key advice offered to partners comparing their options in this exclusive UC Partner Summit discussion.
In a conversation with executives from Evolve IP and AudioCodes, the three communications platforms are compared to one another to uncover their relative strengths and weaknesses.Β
The initial debate focussed on the possibilities these platforms could offer partners.
Scott Rixon, Technical Account Director at Evolve IP, said: For us atΒ Evolve IP, most of the challenges are similar to what they have always been in understanding the customer requirements and then working out what the best technology is to apply to them.Β
βAt Evolve IP, we have Microsoft Teams and Webex offerings. We launched Webex 12 months ago now in the UK.Β
βThe advantages with Webex for our customers are huge. Certainly having that balance and understanding of what is best for the client, why Microsoft Teams might be better, and why Webex might be better as the trusted advisor to really help people through this wave.
βIt is going to be harder and harder for the proprietaries to survive as they are going to have to fight more with the big powerhouses.Β
βWhen youβre able to complement those applications and those big organisations, then youβre just going to get benefits from it.βΒ
The pair spoke not only about the direct benefits of using Teams, Zoom, and Webex but also their advantages through the lens of their own company offerings.Β
Jasper Maters, a regional sales director at Audiocodes spoke about the number of minutes available on a Microsoft Teams package is a big plus about using its platform. He observed that there is big market for Teams in Benelux, the Nordics, and the UK.Β
He believes it is AudioCodesβ operating business, however, which is adding so much revenue for partners.Β
Jasper Maters, Regional Sales Director, Benelux & Nordics at Audiocodes, also spoke about what his company are looking for in a partner: βWhat we as a family are looking for are partners who are trusted advisors to their end customers.Β
βAnother important factor is moving the business on and finding value to add on top of [Microsoft, Zoom, Webex]. There is plenty of space for innovation and value to add to all these applications.Β
βThe major threat is doing nothing,Β being stagnant and not moving the business along.Β
βThe base of innovation and the base of market development is only doing one thing: it is accelerating.Β
βIf you are sticking to your guns and thinking about things you are not sure of, you are moving too slowly.βΒ
Rixon made no bones about being an advocate for Webexβs platform. He said 650 million calls are being via Webex, which isΒ higher than Microsoft Teamsβ figuresΒ
Although Teams is more popular than Webex as it has a greater desktop βlandgrabβ, Rixon tells us that the big enterprise players are still usingΒ Webex.Β
He goes on to say that Microsoftβs road map is not very mature, and it does not focus much on the calling aspect of its platform.Β
Microsoft has an excellent advertising and branding campaign but, Rixon believes, many companies do not want to buy in to the total license coverage with Teams.Β
For those companies with workers who will need to use calling services, companies may have to pay forΒ a further package to support them.Β
In spite of this, Rixon says ultimately when they are speaking to customers who want to upgrade from their legacy systems, they will talk through both Microsoftβs and Webexβs value propositions.Β
Some AudioCodes partners will also be providing Microsoftβs services which makes it gives a share of ownership and profits from its success.Β
Matthew Holloway, VP of UCC Strategy at Audiocodes spoke about voice in the hybrid paradox at the UC Partner Summit 2022.Β
Evolve IP also spoke about powering partners at the UC Partner Summit.Β
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