CPaaS and UCaaS are easy to confuse since both of them aim to develop the modern communication stack. They both approach the process with access to flexible tools for growth in your collaborative communication systems, however, differ in the ways that they provide essential tools and services to their customers.

In many ways, UCaaS is similar to the traditional on-premise platform for communication. UCaaS combines everything you need into a single environment. It provides access to a fully-functional best-unified communication software landscape. It also provides business accessibility to unique platforms to employ video, phone services, and collaborative tools like call recording. UCaaS focuses heavily on cloud-based services delivered over the internet, unlike Unified Communication, which focuses on on-premise hardware. There’s no need for any data centers or servers since all the technology is cloud-hosted.

Unified Communication

Some of the best UCaaS software of 2020:

  • RingCentral Office. The leading UCaaS provider.
  • GoToConnect. The challenger UCaaS.
  • MiCloud Connect. The established UCaaS provider.
  • Dialpad Talk.
  • 8×8 X Series.

Some enterprise customers want to customize their communication platform by using the API integrations to unified communications and software development kits provided by cloud-based services companies. This is called the Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS). CPaaS, although similar to UCaaS, delivers a different kind of experience. Just like UCaaS gives the entire communication platform to its customer in one go, CPaaS allows business owners to develop a custom solution for their unique business requirements.

Some of the best CPaaS of 2020:

  • RingCentral Connect Platform. The leading CPaaS provider.
  • Twilio Flex. The disruptive CPaaS provider.
  • Brightlink CPaaS Platform.
  • Amazon Connect.
  • MessageBird.

The tools and interfaces available for UCaaS vendors such as RingCentral and 8×8 put together their subscription-based service packages. These sets are now being offered directly to large corporations that see the advantage of creating their unique blend of on-premises and cloud communication platforms. The packages combine various elements such as SMS, video, chat, and voice. For example, you might add voice calls, video collaboration, and instant messaging to the technologies that you already employ in your landscape. It is implemented by using Rest APIs, sample codes, in-depth documentation, and developer forums. 

Some service providers also offer communication software development tools that are specifically for CPaaS use. Businesses that are implementing a rich communication experience for their clients are also willing to build those next-generation services using a CPaaS vendor—for example, using Twilio, the communications backbone of the two top US-based ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft.

By 2024, UCaaS is predicted to reach a value of $79.3 billion. It is all about merging various components of your communication strategy into a flexible, reliable, and best-unified communication platform. UCaaS is driven by a selection of innovative technologies, new reseller models, and new strategies. While UCaaS began with things like online call management and VoIP, it quickly developed to incorporate a range of incredible tools. There’s a trade-off between an all-in-one UCaaS service provided by a vendor and one constructed from a toolset. But this is a trend that is gaining momentum as companies begin to see integrated communications as an advantage for their business sets. 

Why Not Both?

UCaaS and CPaaS, are both highly valuable to businesses when used correctly. With CPaaS, companies can grow and expand faster by employing tools like machine learning, artificial intelligence, video conferencing, and instant messaging, without complicated back-end.  UCaaS has its own value. It is excellent for simplifying internal communications and enhancing management strategies for the companies.

For the communication landscape, it’s less feasible for companies to have to pick one service or the other. It is possible to have a CPaaS strategy that operates with your UCaaS environment and vice-versa. As usual, the key is finding the right vendor.

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