Unified communication platforms have become essential for modern business as they allow for simpler management, enhanced collaboration, and reduced total cost of ownership.
But with the numerous UC platforms available in the market, picking the right one for your business can be confusing. You need to assess your business needs and analyze the platform’s offerings to make the right decision.
To save you the trouble, we’ve curated a list of the 8 best unified communications solutions currently available that are sure to improve your business communication and boost your team’s productivity. Moreover, we’ll also guide you on choosing the best one that suits your organization.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Unified communication solutions are platforms designed to unify communication channels for improving work efficiency and productivity.
- Some of the best Unified communication platforms are Microsoft Teams, Zoom, RingCentral, 8×8, Vonage, Dialpad, GoTo Connect, and Cisco Webex.
- To pick the right UC provider, ensure to assess your business needs, evaluate the essential UC features, allocate a proper budget, and compare your options.
What is a unified communication?
Unified communications is the integration of different real-time communication tools and services into a single unified platform. It brings together features like voice, video, messaging, and file sharing in one place to streamline workflows for better efficiency.
With streamlined communication channels, businesses gain the flexibility to communicate from anywhere, save costs via multi-channel integrations, get faster problem resolution with omni-channel access, etc. Ultimately, this helps improve productivity and operational efficiency.
Top 8 unified communications platforms for your business
With the right unified communication platform, companies can streamline communications, enhance collaboration, and enhance remote/hybrid work environments. We’ve gone through numerous UC platforms in the market and compiled the top 8 currently available.
1. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is among the most popular unified communications platforms, all for the right reasons. It is known for its excellent messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and project collaboration features seamlessly integrated into a single interface.
Moreover, as it is also a part of the Microsoft 365 suite, businesses can seamlessly integrate the platform with applications like Word, Excel, and Outlook to enhance operational efficiency.
Key features
- Microsoft 365 app integrations.
- High-definition video conferencing support.
- Well-organized communication channel.
- Strong data security compliance and encryption protocols
Pricing
- Microsoft Team Essentials: $4 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month
Best for
Businesses that need a reliable unified communication platform and already rely on the Microsoft ecosystem.
2. RingCentral
RingCentral’s unified communication platform offers an all-in-one solution for keeping business communication consistent. It combines voice, team messaging, video conferencing, online meetings, and faxing in a single interface, helping teams stay connected across the globe.
Moreover, RingCentral’s RingEX enhances your team’s collaboration efforts with its AI-powered features. E.g., call notes, call transcription, message translation. The numerous features, deep integration support, security, and reliability make RingCentral one of the best UCaaS companies in the market.
Key features
- HD-quality audio and video conferencing.
- Team management and collaboration features like file sharing, real-time document editing, and meeting scheduling.
- Wide range of business app integrations.
- Strong security systems to protect sensitive data.
Pricing
- Core: $30 per user per month
- Advanced: $35 per user per month
- Ultra: $45 per user per month
Best for
Large enterprises that require a secure and reliable unified communication system for their distributed teams operating globally.
3. Zoom
Zoom is one of the most popular business communication companies, known especially for its convenience and simplicity. It provides a one-stop shop for all your communication needs, such as voice calling, video meetings, team messaging, and more.
All of Zoom’s features focus on keeping things user-friendly, allowing users to access any features within a few clicks, whether it’s VoIP calling, hosting meetings, or sending team messages.
Moreover, the platform also offers other advanced tools like whiteboards, doc sharing, call or video escalations, and supports over 2500 integrations to maximize collaboration and improve work efficiency.
Key features
- High-quality audio and videos with advanced built-in collaboration tools.
- Flexible cloud communication phone system supporting seamless video escalation.
- Zoom rooms for better collaboration with hybrid teams.
- Built-in AI companion that maximizes productivity and work efficiency.
Pricing
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $16.99 per user per month
- Business: $21.99 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact sales
Best for
Businesses looking for an intuitive communication platform for seamless conferencing and meeting experience.
4. 8×8
8×8 calls their UC platform 8×8 Work, and it is especially designed for connecting remote teams and customers globally to enhance communication, improve productivity, and boost collaboration efforts. It’s smart business phone system offers enterprise-grade advanced features paired with machine-learning tech for better reliability.
8×8 empowers its UC platform with AI, allowing users to make the most out of their interactions and improve productivity. For instance, the platform enhances regular video meetings with features like real-time chats, polls, reactions, transcripts, noise suppression, summaries, etc. Combining these useful features with integration support and security compliance, 8×8 offers a compelling UC platform.
Key features
- Reliable call, video conferencing, and messaging.
- 8×8 Frontdesk feature to effectively handle large call volumes.
- Real-time analytics and AI-powered tools for better work efficiency.
- Integration with the most popular business tools for streamlining workflows.
Pricing
To get an accurate pricing and quotation of the 8×8 UC platform, you’ll need to contact their sales team.
Best for
Mid to large businesses needing a fully-featured unified communication platform for virtual team communication.
5. Vonage
Vonage’s VBC (Vonage Business Communication) is another great UC platform that makes engaging with customers and your team simple, convenient, and secure. It offers over 40 useful UCaaS features, including smart call routing, business inbox, video meetings, and cross-platform support, all designed to cater to the needs of modern businesses.
Vonage UC platforms are designed to enhance the performance and reliability of your business communication. They prioritize the service quality by adjusting the bandwidth across different communication channels. This ensures better connection quality and stability, better reliability, and minimal disruptions.
Key features
- A variety of call routing options that ensure you never miss a phone call.
- Advanced tools for voice and video conferencing (whiteboard, reactions, video privacy, etc) to enhance communication.
- Business inbox, which brings all texting channels (including SMS and social media chats) in a single place.
- VBC SmartWAN and VBC SmartWAN+ features prioritize and improve the quality of real-time communication channels.
Pricing
- Mobile: $19.99
- Premium: $29.99
- Advanced: $39.99
Note: The above pricings are subject to change depending on the number of active users.
Best for
SMBs need robots, flexible and affordable UC solutions.
Related Article 👉: Best Free Cloud PBX Providers for Your Business
6. Dialpad
Dialpad is a popular cloud unified communications platform known for its powerful AI-driven voice intelligence system. It offers high voice quality along with real-time features like call transcription, live coaching, and sentiment analysis.
It’s all-in-one communication solution has all the necessary communication channels that you can access from a single app, whether it’s VoIP calling, messaging, video conferencing, etc. Moreover, its excellent cross-platform capability allows you to easily access the platform, regardless of the platform.
Key features
- Cross-platform compatibility (desktop software, mobile app, web browser).
- Dialpad AI transcribes calls in real-time and generates summaries via advanced language processing models.
- Robust security features like removing participants, blocking screen sharing, muting participants, etc.
- Integration support with a wide range of business tools.
Pricing
- Standard: $27 per user per month
- Pro: $35 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact the sales team.
Best for
Small to large enterprises looking for a flexible UC platform with advanced AI features and real-time analytics.
7. GoTo Connect
GoTo Connect is an all-in-one communication platform that combines VoIP phone system, video conferencing, text messaging, and other collaboration tools in a single interface. It is designed to reduce the complexity of managing multiple communication apps, allowing teams to focus on collaboration and boosting productivity, whether in the office or remotely.
Key features
- Simple onboarding and an intuitive experience allow businesses to start using it immediately.
- Reliable voice calling with excellent quality and good customer service.
- AI-powered features like sentiment analysis and topic monitoring.
- Commuter mode for attending meetings on the go.
Pricing
The price of GoToConnect’s unified communication platform depends on the specific capabilities and add-ons you choose. So, contact the sales team for accurate quotations.
Best for
SMBs looking for enterprise-grade features and security with relatively cost-effective pricing plans.
8. Cisco Webex
Cisco’s Webex offers a unified communication platform that is well-known for its robust security system and comprehensive features. Its unified communication systems supports enterprise-grade telephony features along with HD video conferencing, video-messaging, texting, file sharing, polling, whiteboarding, etc., allowing teams to communicate effectively across different platforms.
The platform’s strong security system, scalability, and reliability, as well as integration support across various business tools, make it one of the best unified communications vendors suited for large industries with a hybrid work environment.
Key features
- Excellent cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Web SDK) with Cisco Jabber.
- Webex Meetings for making online meetings seamless and intuitive.
- Integration support with CRM, productivity, and business tools.
- Enterprise-grade security with strict data protection compliance.
Pricing
For detailed pricing, visit the Cisco Webex pricing page.
Best for
Large enterprises need a highly secure, reliable, and scalable platform for hybrid work.
How to choose the right unified communication provider?
To ensure you get the benefits out of the unified communication platform, it is crucial to choose the right one suited to your business needs. Here are some of the key things that you should be aware of:
1. Align your business needs
The first step for selecting the right platform is to assess your needs. You need to have a clear understanding of your existing communication system and the goal or objectives you’re trying to accomplish via implementing the unified collaboration solutions.
For instance, evaluate your team’s size, location, and most used communication channels (voice, video, messaging, etc.) in your business. Then, with this insight, you can analyze the things that are needed for improvement.
2. Analyze the essential UC features
Next, you’ll need to pick the essential UCaaS features and functionality that directly align with your business needs. Ensure that the unified communications software offers all the core features like voice calling, video conferencing, team messaging, file sharing, and supports integration with popular CRMs and business tools.
Later, you can look for extra features and tools that make your team’s work process more efficient and convenient.
3. Set your budget
After gaining insight into the essential features for your UC platform, you’ll have to allocate resources based on their priority. Meaning, prioritize your budget on features based on the usage and what benefits you the most. This allows you to focus on core features first (that benefit your team directly) and then look for the extra add-ons.
Allocating your budget properly on essential features ensures that you get the most value out of your UC platform.
Note: Also, consider the total cost of ownership, including the additional hardware equipment, software, and maintenance.
4. Choose Unified Communications Providers
Once you have the proper idea of what your business needs and the essential UCaaS features are, you can move on to select UCaaS providers. Do proper market research and analyze the unified communications service providers credibility, market reputation, customer reviews, customer support, etc.
Compare the platform’s features, pricing plans, contract terms, and support quality to pick the most suitable one for your business. Some unified communications services also offer free trials and demos. You can use this opportunity to test them out for making a sound decision.
Related 👉: How to Choose a Business VoIP Provider: 9 Essential Tips
Benefits of unified communication solutions for businesses
A unified communication solution mainly aims to simplify workflows and improve communication for better productivity and efficiency. Some of the most notable benefits of UC solutions are as follows:
- Improve productivity: UC solution streamlines communication by integrating various communication channels in a single platform. Unifying communication eliminates the need to switch between platforms, saving time and improving the team’s productivity.
- Better customer experience: Businesses can also review detailed call history and call logs to understand customer interactions and improve service quality. This allows for better call flow, faster response time, and problem resolution time, ultimately improving the customer’s experience.
- Flexibility and scalability: Most UCaaS platforms rely on cloud communication services for better flexibility and scalability. It allows teams to stay connected from anywhere across the globe, while growing businesses can easily adjust their users based on their needs.
- Lower operational cost: As the UC platform combines multiple communication channels, businesses do not have to subscribe to various services or rely on legacy systems for voice calls, video calls, messages, etc. This helps to lower their communication expenses significantly.
- Increase ROI: Reducing the expense tied to various communication channels and the improvement in productivity directly helps to improve the ROI.
Wrapping Up!
Picking the right unified communication for your business is crucial, as it can completely overhaul the effectiveness and efficiency of business communication. Whether you’re looking for a small business phone system or one that is suited for large enterprises, the eight UC platforms above are suited for different businesses’ needs.
By choosing the right UC solution that aligns with your business goal, you can enhance communication, improve your team’s productivity, and create a more seamless experience for your customers.
