IDC Analyzes Cloud Communications Companies in New Report

While the core of human communications may not have changed in thousands of years, the means by which we communicate have altered drastically in recent years. Communications are at the heart of business, whether it’s between coworkers sitting in adjoining cubicles, or employees or partners in offices at the other side of the world. To keep up, global business has turned to cloud communications for real-time communications. These solutions feature voice and SMS as well as as video and email notifications using a range of tools that includes a multitude of programming capabilities as well as global network gateways and access to local country markets.

Cloud communications platforms, sometimes called “communications platforms as a service,” or CPaaS, are being rapidly adopted because they are scalable, reliable, affordable and easy to use for a wide range of developers. The most dynamic and successful platforms nurture developers by providing cost effective networking and a stable platform with flexible support. In a recent industry report, analyst group IDC profiled eight key global cloud communications service providers: Avaya, Bandwidth, IMImobile, MessageBird, Nexmo, Plivo, Sinch, and Twilio.

These are companies that have moved beyond the delivery of basic API-functions to facilitating comprehensive integrated platforms offering a portfolio of digital capabilities both to developers and enterprises. The report outlines new innovations, including conversational APIs for omnichannel engagement, integrated contact center solutions that allow customer support to become customer-focused instead of transaction-focused, and menu-driven low code application flow building.

"The cloud communications CPaaS segment has gained the attention of enterprise developers and has exhibited a burst of rapid growth that will continue into the foreseeable future,” said Courtney Munroe, group vice president of IDC Worldwide Telecommunications, in a statement. "The next era of CPaaS will see the establishment of sophisticated multi-layered platforms that go beyond the provision of basic APIs to the provision of comprehensive digital innovation enterprise platforms."

The report is entitled, “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Cloud Communications Platform 2019 Vendor Assessment,” and is available on IDC’s website.