If you’re searching for a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform for your company, there are plenty of options in the cloud phone system marketplace. As you consider which software makes the most sense for your business, it helps to see how they compare side-by-side. That’s why in our “versus” blog series, we’ll illustrate how leading UCaaS solutions stack up against each other with objective matrices.
In this blog entry, we’ll look at how Avaya Cloud Office (ACO) compares with Cisco Webex as a UCaaS supplier. Before you take a look at the matrix, here’s a brief overview of each company.
UCaaS profile: Avaya
Based in Silicon Valley, CA, Avaya has over 130 million unified communication lines. Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral – part of the Avaya OneCloud portfolio – is an all-in-one solution for calling, messaging, meetings and more. The software offers an intuitive unified communications experience across all devices, promoting productivity whether end users work from home, on the go, or in the office.
If you’re choosing between RingCentral alone or ACO by RingCentral, the latter makes sense if you’ve already invested in Avaya J Series phones since they’re compatible with the ACO platform. Additionally, opting for ACO by RingCentral is advantageous if you already have an on-premises Avaya phone system and would like to connect it to your UCaaS software for a hybrid setup.
On top of that, you’ll benefit from deploying a solution from a forward-thinking provider: Avaya CEO Jim Chirico has told CRN that the company now has a “cloud-first” mindset and is focused on breaking records as a leading enterprise communications supplier.
However, if you’ve already invested in telephony infrastructure that isn’t compatible with Avaya, it might be best to pass on ACO.
UCaaS profile: Cisco
Cisco, based in San Jose, CA, is a leading networking, collaboration, security, and cloud computing solutions provider. Cisco Webex has earned recognition as a top collaboration application for calling, messaging, meetings and more. The secure and reliable software supports productivity from anywhere in today’s era of hybrid and remote work.
While you can obtain Webex directly from Cisco, we recommend considering managed service providers (MSPs) because they frequently deliver the same solution with superior SLAs and back-end guarantees. Engaging with one of these Cisco service providers can give you access to exceptional wraparound services, additional consulting, and ongoing solution management.
| Provider | AVAYA Cloud Office by RingCentral | Cisco Webex | |
| HQ | Supplier’s headquarters | Durham, NC | Cisco Webex |
| # of Employees | Size of supplier by employee count | 7,900 | 76,000 |
| Public / Private | Privately owned or publicly traded | Public: AVYA | Public: CSCO |
| Seats in Service | Number of licenses deployed | 2M | Confidential |
| Gartner Magic Quadrant 2022 | This provider’s placement in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for the industry | Leaders (RingCentral) | Leaders |
| Sweet Spot | Ideal opportunities for the provider | 5-5,000 seats | 250-1,000 seats |
| Key Acquisitions | Companies acquired and integrated into the supplier’s offering | Avaya Cloud Office powered by RingCentral | Broadsoft |
| Datacenter Locations | Location of supplier’s data centers APAC: Asia-Pacific EMEA: Europe, Middle East, Africa LATAM: Latin America NA: North America | NA: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, San Jose, Toronto, Vancouver, Vienna (VA) EMEA: Amsterdam, London, Zurich APAC: Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo LATAM: Rio de Janeiro | NA: Chicago, Council Bluffs (IA), Dallas, Los Angeles, New York EMEA: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London APAC: Melbourne, Osaka, Sydney, Tokyo |
| Compatible Handsets | IP phones supported and/or resold by supplier | Avaya J-series, B199 | Cisco |
| Platform | Does provider leverage a proprietary/native platform or leverage a platform via third-party partnership? | Proprietary | Cisco Broadcloud |
| Compliance | Regulatory compliances the supplier meets | Cyber Security, FINRA, GDPR, HIPAA, HITRUST CSF, PCI, SOC 2, SOX | CS, GDPR, HITRUST, ISO 27001/27017/27018, SOC 2/3 |
| GDPR Compliance | Ability to comply with new EU standard | Yes | Yes |
| Contact Center | Contact center solutions the supplier offers | Avaya OneCloud CCaaS | Cisco UCCE, UCCX, Webex CC |
| Key System Emulation | Can imitate Key Phone System functionality | Yes | No |
| SIP Trunking Available | Does the supplier offer SIP trunking services for onpremises PBXs? | Roadmap (2022) | Yes – Cisco offers PSTN services sold through Cisco VARs |
| CRM / ERP / Ticketing App Integration | 3rd-party SaaS solutions with which the supplier has pre-built integrations | Salesforce, Bullhorn, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Oracle Sales Cloud, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Zoho | Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, ServiceNow, SugarCRM, Zoho |
| Productivity App Integration | 3rd-party mail/collaboration solutions with which the supplier has pre-built integrations | Google Workspace, Microsoft/Office365, Slack, Microsoft Teams | Google Workspace, Microsoft/Office365 |
| Microsoft Teams Integrations | Supplier’s capability with Microsoft Teams | Direct Routing for PSTN access Bot integration Embedded Softphone Dialer (Teams webversion) | Embedded Softphone Dialer |
| SD-WAN Offerings | SD-WAN technologies that these providers offer and manage themselves. | none | available via providers |
| Circuits Offered | Do these suppliers offer Dedicated Circuits for UCaaS traffic only, Internet circuits, and/or SIP trunking?If yes, please specific which ones. | yes; dedicated voice circuits and SIP trunking | n/a |
| Bring Your Own MPLS | If MPLS is supported, can the client bring any MPLS provider? Additional cost likely to apply. | yes | n/a |
| Notable Clients | Key customer wins (references available upon request) | Available Upon Request | Cisco Case Studies |
| Top Customer Verticals | Verticals in which supplier has historically had the most success | Healthcare, Public Sector, Retail, and Financial Services | Education, Healthcare, Technology |
| On-Site Implementation / Training | Does the supplier charge extra for these services? | Yes | Partner-driven |
| Implementation Overview | Description or link providing further detail | Available Upon Request | Partner-driven |
| Downdetector | Collection of reports offering real-time status and outage information | Downdetector: Avaya Cloud Office (RingCentral) | Downdetector: Webex |
| Collaboration Solutions Available | Native and/or 3rd-party resale options offered by supplier | Avaya-branded RingCentral Video | Cisco Webex App |
| Differentiators | Unique features of the provider | Avaya only PBX features and service, Avaya OneCloud CCaaS and CPaaS – Proprietary to Avaya | Webex Calling is covered by Cisco’s Flex software subscription and supports Cisco 68xx/78xx/88xx handsets as well as the Webex App softphone Not purchased directly from Cisco; must source through Cisco partners/VARs or service providers Flex agreements are 3-year minimum terms If sourced through Cisco VAR/partner, Cloud Connected PSTN (CCP) vendors Intelepeer, OneStream, and NTT can provide PSTN calling plans If sourced through service providers, service providers connect Cisco Call Control to their SIP core for PSTN calling Webex Calling does support local gateways, opening opportunities for Trusted Advisors to sell circuits and SIP trunks |
As a trusted partner of both Avaya and Cisco, Stratosphere Networks can help you determine which UCaaS provider best fits your business. Our technology advisors have experience deploying both suppliers’ solutions and can identify the ideal option for your organization after conducting a thorough assessment of your current needs and goals.
Additionally, because of our price parity guarantee, working with us won’t cost you any more than going straight to the supplier. Explore our advisory process today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
