One of the issues most people face in the business world is choosing a better platform in either Skype for Business or WebEx.
In reality they are both great platforms, and one cannot be deemed as better than the other. They both have qualities that set them apart and make them ideal for different purposes, but can still co-exist in the business world perfectly.
Both platforms are great for video calls and conferencing, and they both offer quality and speed to meet the ever rushing and fast-paced needs of the business world.
However, there are differences between the two that make them ideal for different needs and purposes.
Let us now take a look at the differences and the special features that make each of these two preferred by many business organizations.
Being The Existing Infrastructure And Service
The more familiar a business organization is to a particular service, the more chances that service has to stay with them in the long run.
An organization that has been used to the services of Microsoft for a very long time would most definitely want to stick to their services for all the upgrades and services they would irrespective of the advances of the technological environment.
This is the basis of which one would say Microsoft’s Skype for Business and Cisco’s WebEx cannot compete, due to the loyalty of their respective customers.
The fact that most companies want to keep things in the family is one major reason their collaboration portfolio would favor the brand that has been serving them for a long time.
Although, one other reason for loyalty is because it would be easier to integrate their services and management would be easier if all of their equipment is under a single brand.
This is because issues would arise sometimes if one tries to integrate two different brands, like Skype and WebEx, to serve a common purpose.
One can also state that the presence of some particular individuals as key decision makers would influence the presence of the services of some brands.
It is no news that people with a strong IT background would most definitely go for Microsoft, while those with communication and networking background would go for Cisco.
This shows a clear picture that both brands are not the same, and one cannot be placed above the other. It all depends on the interest of the user.
Ease Of Access Irrespective Of Location
In our world today, using videos is the most preferred way of communicating. It gives you the chance to communicate in ways that texting cannot express, and you get to see the person you are talking to as if you are seeing them in person.
So, everyone is clamoring for ease of access to video communication, irrespective of their location.
With this strong desire for video communication, video calls have now been integrated to serve business purposes also. One can easily connect to a client or business partner on the go, anywhere, at any time.
But the sad thing is that both Microsoft’s Skype for Business and Cisco’s WebEx have different ways to meet this need, and it depends on the preference of the user.
WebEx has the ability to dial-in and dial-out to access any member on the go, irrespective of location, and also has direct computer-based IP access.
Skype for Business on the other hand does not have a telephony access, and access to this feature comes with an added cost.
It can be accessed by Microsoft’s Telephony Services, which means that you cannot use the calling plan of your organization for this feature.
Instant Messaging And Video Features
Microsoft’s Skype for Business and Cisco’s WebEx strike out a big difference here. Skype for Business has the feature of instant messaging which allows you to text the party at the other end, with the option of switching to video calling at will.
Cisco’s WebEx does not allow for instant messaging, and is known for its sole features of calls and video calling.
The step ahead that Cisco’s WebEx took is the ability to link WebEx and Spark to form a very good instant messaging interface and gives you the presence you feel when instant messaging.
This ability to inter-operate makes WebEx the preferred option in situations like this. Cisco’s WebEx would connect to and with other standards-based endpoints regardless of the vendor; just like an iPhone would connect to an android phone.
Usability Of The Service
The major thing that makes a particular technology useable is its acceptability. People tend to use services that are generally acceptable, despite the pros and cons.
That is why we have hundreds of social media today, but only a few are commonly seen used around.
A Business organization would consider the usability of a particular form of technology by its employees before it adopts it into usage for the organization as a whole.
An organization that has members that are on the go, clients all over the environment, and also needs to communicate changes and plans to the clients and members that are far away and on the move, would definitely go for a service that can be accessed by the members and clients on the go.
For example, presence of mobile apps.
Employees on the go would most definitely have their mobile smartphones with them. The company would therefore consider if the communicating medium they are about to employ can be accessed via mobile device.
Platforms with ease of access are most times preferred over those with sophistication, not ignoring the fact that people want something easy to use, simple to understand, and improve the efficiency of their work.
So comparing Microsoft’s Skype for Business and Cisco’s WebEx is like a wild goose chase, because each platform has its peculiarities that grabs the interests of different people.
They are both good and top class means of communication for businesses, but they cannot be compared to each other; just like an apple cannot be compared with a pear.