Node4 today announces the launch of a new cloud based unified communications offering based on the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform. As one of just a small number of HCS providers in the UK, Node4 is enabling channel partners to offer an enterprise-class /unified-communications/ucaas solution to the mid-market – with all the features of Cisco HCS, including voice, video, instant messaging and presence, conferencing, voicemail and integrated messaging, mobility and contact centre – at an attractive price point. Node4 is now seeking additional partners to bring this solution to market.
Node4’s new UC solution addresses a clear market need: A recent Node4 survey of 200 UK IT Decision Makers showed that cost was the number one complaint regarding UC in the mid-market. What’s more, mid-market companies feel that their UC deployments are not reaching their full potential. A mere 18% of mid-market companies rank their UC deployments as being in the top quartile in terms of functionality, and just one in five claims to be ‘very satisfied’ with their UC. These, and other findings have been published today in Node4’s most recent report ‘Mid-market UC deployment in 2017.’
Node4 will offer its Cisco HCS-based solutions to the channel at wholesale prices, providing the opportunity for attractive margins to aid business growth. Channel partners will be able to sell licences at a significantly reduced cost compared to direct mid-market sales, and white label the service with their own branding and a powerful self-provisioning tool.
“In the last year we’ve sensed real hunger within the mid-market for the kind of advanced, fully-featured UC systems that, until recently, only the largest enterprises have been able to afford,” commented Simon Herbert, Cloud Solutions Development Specialist, Cisco. “There’s an enormous opportunity here. It’s only right that more advanced functionality should start to migrate down the chain via a UcaaS model. We’re delighted to see that Node4 enabling this transition and offering its partners a clear route to addressing this need.”
Andrew Wilson, Director of Channel Sales, Node4, comments: “Our focus is on new customer acquisitions in the mid-market and our channel partnerships form a critical part of our strategy. With the expansion of our UC proposition to incorporate Cisco HCS, accessing market-leading collaboration solutions is no longer a privilege for the large enterprise. For the first time Node4 is giving its partners the opportunity to offer a UC solution based on HCS to market at a price to suit mid-sized businesses.”
All of Node4’s hosted UC solutions are delivered through the Node4 Cloud and utilise Node4’s recently-upgraded national MPLS network and UK Data Centres, with carrier-grade connectivity and leading performance. Disaster recovery and advanced data security tools are provided as standard.
Node4 offers a wide range of connectivity options in order to enable users to connect into its Cloud solutions. Customers can connect into its HCS UC solution via SIPLink, carrier grade SIP trunks provided by Node4. SIP trunks can be installed quickly and easily, starting with a single trunk, often with just a software upgrade to an existing PBX. They can also be easily scaled up to meet the needs of businesses from single office to multi-site, as well as call-intensive customer contact centres. In addition, Node4 can provide seamless number porting as well as the provision of UK geographic, non-geographic, and international numbers.
Cisco is widely recognised by analysts the world over (including recently Gartner) as the leader in the UC field. Cisco both provides, and offers support for, an extremely wide portfolio of hardware, (including desktop phones, meeting room monitors and other end-point equipment). It is also known for delivering an extremely consistent user experience regardless of device and location, and for its strong abilities in videoconferencing; a function that is increasingly desired by mid-sized enterprises.
Node4’s new HCS-based UCaaS offering is available for the channel to trial from today, and will be demonstrated in public for the first time at UC EEXPO, 17th-18th May, London.
About Node4
Node4 is a UK-based Cloud, Data Centre and Communications specialist that is dedicated to serving its customers to ensure that they benefit from the most effective and flexible application of technology. Since 2004 Node4 has achieved great success and growth based on its focused customer service, market leading customer retention and comprehensive service offering.
