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UCaaS vs. CPaaS: Cracking the Acronym Code

This article was published on August 3, 2021

Acronyms are the shared language of cloud-based technologies: Add "aaS" after any letter, and chances are you've found another cloud solution. Sure, some of these niche solutions aren't game-changers for the enterprise, but when it comes to the communications showdown of UCaaS vs. CPaaS, it's worth cracking the code — especially since both offer measurable benefits for corporate connections. Let's break it down: What exactly is the difference between UCaaS and CPaaS? How do they work? And which comes out ahead?

The UCaaS vs. CPaaS discussion brings up advantages on both sides. Both solutions can connect companies with stronger communication — it's just a question of what you're looking for.

Unpack the Acronyms

Standing for "unified communications as a service," UCaaS is typically used to integrate multiple internal communication tools across the enterprise by leveraging cloud-based resources. CPaaS, or "communications platform as a service," lets developers add their own real-time communications features into cloud-based applications without the need to develop and build new back-end infrastructure.

If you're thinking these two offerings sound deceptively similar, you're right — both rely on the cloud to offload key communication functions and make it easier for companies to access high-bandwidth, low-latency tools and services. Despite their overlap, however, they each have distinct features and functions.

UCaaS vs. CPaaS: Functional Foundations

Both technologies are cloud-based solutions delivered through IP networks, and they both scale well to companies of all sizes. They diverge in their day-to-day functions. UCaaS tools bundle a wide variety of products and solutions together across a single platform, while CPaaS allows companies to customize APIs for their specific needs.

Think of it like one-size-fits-all versus made-to-order. UCaaS solutions include the traditional communication tools, such as conferencing and VoIP calls, while also incorporating collaboration tools and cloud-hosted solutions. There's something for everyone. But CPaaS is more of a blank slate: Companies can add whichever APIs and customizations they want to the communications platform, even embedding certain communications features into their customer-facing apps, but they have to decide which offerings best suit their needs.

There are also a few differences "under the hood" of each platform. Consider the cloud stack: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. UCaaS fits comfortably into the software-as-a-service category, since it's effectively a large-scale communications application that both unifies existing tools and adds new services. CPaaS, meanwhile, is part of platform as a service, as it requires more effort from enterprises to customize, modify, and implement.

But this isn't an either/or situation. The UCaaS vs. CPaaS discussion brings up advantages on both sides, and companies can benefit from combining the two.

Making It Work

Both UCaaS and CPaaS offer measurable benefits for enterprises, including:

  • Cost control: Since both technologies leverage the cloud, it's possible to scale up on demand. CPaaS layers on top of existing stacks, while UCaaS reduces the overall need for hardware investment and maintenance.
  • Ease of use: Implementing UCaaS and CPaaS solutions isn't complex. Users can access them the same way they access traditional communication tools.
  • Access to innovation: CPaaS and UCaaS solutions feature innovative technology, such as chatbots and mobile UC apps, that would be cost-prohibitive for companies to develop on their own.
  • Improved outcomes: Customizing APIs requires expertise, but far less time than developing back-end infrastructures. The unified nature of UCaaS makes it possible for employees to work seamlessly across devices and networks.

UCaaS and CPaaS require different organizational strategies. For example, to get the most out of customizable CPaaS deployments, companies must either hire in-house developers or partner with trusted third parties to create and manage API implementations. Additionally, companies must keep a running tab of which APIs are in use, which functions they support, and how they impact the communications stack as a whole.

For UCaaS deployments, the key is to manage and monitor use: How do staff and customers interact with the system? Are there areas where expectations don't match reality — say, for example, when it comes to mobile UC apps? Can existing bandwidth keep up with demands from multimedia, VoIP, and collaboration tools? Does the UCaaS platform enable integration with key business applications like the CRM and office productivity suite?

Why Choose?

CPaaS generally helps improve collaboration, while UCaaS better benefits internal communications. The customizable nature of CPaaS makes it naturally consumer-focused: With tech-savvy customers now demanding top-tier service from companies of any size and vertical, the evolving nature of CPaaS gives enterprises the ability to meet and exceed customer expectations. UCaaS is specifically designed to unify internal communications processes and provide user-friendly channels among corporate devices and platforms.

But this isn't an either/or situation. The UCaaS vs. CPaaS discussion brings up advantages on both sides, and companies can benefit from combining the two. You can deploy a UCaaS solution to consolidate your corporate communications, and then layer a CPaaS offering on top of new stacks to improve your customer communications. And since the cloud underpins both services, these solutions will work in unison.

So which comes out ahead? It depends on the metrics and your expectations. Your best bet? Leverage both technologies to maximize the impact of cloud communication for your business.

Vonage Staff

Written by Vonage staff

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