Despite the prevalent trend toward cloud-based solutions within the enterprise communications space, many organizations have yet to make the SaaS switch.
Typically, those include global organizations across banking, government, travel, and similar sectors.
These large enterprises typically find the traditional, fast-paced lift-and-shift migration across numerous global locations less appealing.
However, as they cling to their trusted on-premise platforms, many still want the benefits of a modern SaaS-based communications platform like Zoom.
Recognizing this, Alan Masarek, CEO of Avaya, has built a campaign around enterprises choosing their journey to the cloud.
The partnership with Zoom – announced during Enterprise Connect in March – underlines a new step in this journey, as the Zoom Meetings client now serves as a bridge to the Avaya Communication Manager.
So, when a user logs into Zoom, a dialer appears, enabling them to make calls that seamlessly route through the Avaya system.
“This setup offers significant benefits to the customer,” said Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst at ZK Research, in a video on his YouTube channel.
They can leverage Zoom’s features while continuing to use their traditional phone system, all without the headache of managing two separate platforms.
“[Also] it empowers customers to operate in the manner they prefer, without necessitating wholesale replacements or changes.
“This collaboration underscores the commitment to providing customers with flexibility and choice.”
However, there are also big benefits for Avaya and Zoom – alongside their customers. For the former, it can keep clients within the Avaya ecosystem for longer – as Avaya extends its cloud proposition.
Meanwhile, in Zoom’s case, it may aid the vendor’s ability to penetrate the large enterprise market and – in the long run – move these businesses across to the Zoom Phone.
In addition, by building robust relationships with Avaya’s large enterprise on-premise base, Zoom may have future aspirations to cross-sell its broader platform – including CCaaS, WEM, virtual agent platforms, and various other solutions.
Finally, the deal brings increased interoperability into the enterprise communications market – which Masarek championed during an interview with UC Today.
“This integration with Zoom is particularly significant,” he said. “With Microsoft Teams, we already have in-app integration, but now we’re extending our reach to be vendor-neutral, akin to Switzerland, welcoming collaboration vendors who wish to integrate with our premise-based solution.”
What Else Is New at Avaya?
Alongside announcing the Zoom partnership announcement, Avaya has simplified its product names to offer customers clarity of what’s available within its portfolio.
Moreover, the move aims to support channel partners in understanding where customers can leverage each product.
For starters, Avaya has listed its three central contact center offerings within the new “Avaya Experience Platform Portfolio”.
In addition, the vendor has renamed those three products as follows:
- “Avaya Call Center Elite” is now the “Avaya Experience Platform On-Prem”
- “Avaya Enterprise Cloud” is now the “Avaya Experience Platform Private Cloud”
- “Avaya Experience Platform CCaaS” is now the “Avaya Experience Platform Public Cloud”
Elsewhere, Avaya listed its UC products under the “Avaya Communication and Collaboration Suite” umbrella. That includes its tools for meetings, calls, chats, managing tasks, and sharing files.
Wish to learn more about Avaya’s core contact center offerings and its CCaaS migration philosophy? If so, read our article: Evolution, Not Revolution: A Cautious Approach to CCaaS Transformation
