Cisco Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing 2020 Vendor Assessment

Why Cisco is a Leader in the 2020 IDC MarketScape

For the fifth consecutive year, Cisco has been identified as a leader in the IDC MarketScape! We are extremely proud to receive this recognition and while we strive to achieve for the benefit of our customers, it always feels good to be recognized for our hard work, especially in a crowded market among notable competitors. Cisco’s continued standing as a Leader in the 2020 IDC MarketScape Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing report is a strong indicator that customers continue to believe in the Webex vision and strategy. As the IDC MarketScape report points out, our “focus on enterprise-grade security, scale, and management functionality are selling points for customers.”

IDC MarketScape studies companies’ recent paths, investigate where they think the company is going, connects with the company’s customers, and comes up with a positioning based on these parameters.

Our Approach to Collaboration

I see our position as a leader in this year’s IDC MarketScape as a validation of our approach to collaboration: We believe in tools that are easy to use and let users be productive from anywhere; that is integrated with the workflow and decision-making process; that have security built-in, not bolted on; and are inherently flexible, manageable and adaptable for scale and innovation. And for many of our customers, the best part is you can get it all from one place.

“Cisco’s one-stop vendor approach and broad portfolio of video collaboration solutions and endpoints that are integrated with its extensive UC&C portfolio can be key benefits for customers, whether you are a small, a midsize, or an enterprise organization,” said Rich Costello, IDC analyst. “This can be even more beneficial especially if you already have an existing investment in Cisco networking infrastructure or leveraging cloud-based services.”

MarketScape Vendor Analysis

We work hard here at Cisco to give customers the tools they need to be successful. Whether you are working from the Cloud, from an on-premise device, from your mobile, desktop, or tablet, we want to ensure that we’re providing you with the products and experiences you need.

Let me tell you more about why Cisco continues to be recognized as a leader by the IDC MarketScape and other industry watchers.

SOURCE: IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing 2020 Vendor Assessment, by Rich Costello, July 2020, IDC Doc# US46691620.

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. The Capabilities score measures vendor product, go-to-market, and business execution in the short-term. The Strategy score measures alignment of vendor strategies with customer requirements in a 3-5-year timeframe. The vendor market share is represented by the size of the icons.

Making the Workplace Experience Better 

We understand that the tools you use every day need to make your life easier, not harder. Webex combines calling, meetings, messages, and devices into one single unified experience, so you can work better, faster, smarter. While you are scheduled for back to back video meetings from home, you can see who is already waiting for you in the next meeting, and if you are running late, just send a message in your Team space to let them know while they wait in the security lobby, or attach a file from your Enterprise Content Management system for them to review in the meantime. And if you have a few extra minutes before the next meeting, you can video call a colleague for a quick discussion with a single click. The ease of use of Webex makes connecting and collaboration simple and frictionless. It combines both hardware and software to fit today’s workstyles, workflows, and workspaces.Our unified platform provides all the collaboration tools needed – with just one, modern, unified application.

Our Customer’s Needs are our Top Priority – Simple Buying Model 

This is an unprecedented era, where remote working collaboration tools — video conferencing, devices, phones, headsets — have become the lifeblood for businesses to stay connected and productive. That is why we have formulated a simple purchasing model.

HaaS: offers industry-leading collaboration endpoints with a more affordable payment plan and a better user experience through our Webex® unified platform. Set up your remote office with devices such as the DeskPro.

Flex plan: use Cisco collaboration tools with one simple subscription-based offer. It helps with transitions to the cloud, and investment protection, by including cloud, premises, hosted, and hybrid deployments, with the flexibility to use them all.

You have an easy way to access the tools you need. Our repeat recognition as a Leader means that we’ve demonstrated a seamless, intelligent portfolio for every type of workspace that meets market demand. Remote work is the new normal way to work and the Cisco Webex portfolio was purposefully designed to make interacting and collaborating with your teams effortless.

Increase Market Coverage

Our team has a focus on making Webex available to companies of all sizes.

The IDC MarketScape also notes that our recent acquisition and integration of BroadSoft has expanded our global carrier partnerships with a large base of cloud calling users who can now “create a compelling calling and meetings bundle with an integrated experience”. I am proud to say that we are a leader in cloud calling – with over 30M users served through our cloud calling platforms by over 400 carriers worldwide. We are working diligently with our partners to bring the complete Webex collaboration experience to all these cloud calling customers.

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5 Things You Need to Know about Webex Meetings

Webex has come a long way. We recently unpacked a lot of great innovation in the new meetings experience. The great thing about Webex Meetings is that it’s a full video and content-sharing cloud solution that you can join via desktop, mobile, browser, and video devices. Webex Meetings is more powerful than ever before. Bring meetings to the way you work, not the other way around.

We recently announced a whole new level of collaboration, bringing meetings and team collaboration together on a single platform. Now, everyone who uses Webex Meetings also has access to Cisco Webex Teams (formerly Cisco Spark), helping everyone collaborate, even after the meeting ends.

We’ve integrated the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning technologies into the meetings experience to keep participants engaged. Webex Meetings can automatically detect background noise to remove distractions. The video delivers optimal views of people and content. Core functionality like start/join a meeting, attendee rosters, and more are at your fingertips no matter how you join.

Simple to join on any platform

I appreciate being able to join a scheduled meeting simply by pressing the big green button on my desktop, mobile device, or Cisco video device. Cisco is the only vendor to offer a single, consistent one-button join across devices and apps. We’ve simplified things. You don’t have to figure out how to join — the green join button comes to you.

Webex has the most comprehensive, browser-based meeting experience on the market today. If you are invited to a Webex meeting, all you need to do is click the big green button in the invitation and it takes you right in. This is especially important for first-time users. There’s nothing to install, plug in, or download to join from Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari browsers. And joining from a browser doesn’t mean you have to compromise on features. Hosts and participants get the rich video and application screen-sharing of the desktop version. You have full control and can see everyone participating.

Plays well with others

We’ve also made sure that Webex works with your preferred collaboration tools. Webex not only works across our own hardware and software but also with third-party solutions. You can join or a start a meeting from Webex or do it from  Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Workplace by Facebook. It also works with calendars like Google Calendar. Support for Microsoft Office 365 is right around the corner. These integrations mean you do less switching between apps and have a more efficient workflow. You get the trusted, seamless, and reliable Webex features in the environment that you choose.

The best mobile meeting experience

Several enhancements make it easier be more productive and engaged – even on the road. For a long time, it was hard to see the other people in a meeting if you joined from a mobile device. Likewise, functionality like content sharing and scheduling weren’t options. We’ve turned the experience around and used the latest technologies to make significant improvements that help mobile users get an equal seat at the meeting table.

We’ve optimized the interface for better viewing. Pinch-and-zoom technology makes it easier to see who’s in the meeting and what they’re sharing. You’ll get native screen sharing and the easiest scheduling on the market. If you are an Apple user, you can now use voice commands, Touch ID, and Face ID.

Unparalleled speed and bandwidth

All Webex products use the Cisco network backbone, regardless of how attendees join. It’s a trusted, worldwide IP network built over the last 10 years with interconnects around the world. No other company can do this. Webex connects with both public cloud providers and our own data centers. Regardless of how you join, traffic hops off the Internet as soon as possible and enters the Webex backbone, minimizing latency, bandwidth, jitter, and packet-loss issues that happen so often on the public Web.

Grows with your business needs

Several options for using Webex let you mix and match between services as your business evolves. In addition to a free trial, there are several Webex Meetings subscription models for individuals, teams, departments, and, of course, companies. The offers are competitively priced and flexible so that you can choose a buying model based on your current requirements. Market-leading, secure, innovative Webex Meetings, plus team collaboration, unlimited VoIP, global PSTN audio services, technical support, customer success, and even analytics are all included so you always get the best features and services Webex has to offer.

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On-Premises or Cloud Video Conferencing? How About Both?

Traditionally, the video conferencing market has been very firmly divided into premises-based products and cloud-based products. Premises-based products still dominate, though there is significant growth in cloud-based solutions. With premises products, IT departments deploy servers that they own and operate. Those servers provide the bridging, mixing, and switching functions for voice, video, and content share that make the meeting happen. With cloud-based solutions, a similar server exists – but – it’s in the cloud, of course, and it’s owned and operated by the SaaS vendor.

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