Zoom Capabilities – Unlike We Know!

Zoom, You beauty! A hidden UCaaS Gem.

In this podcast interview with Srini Kilambi, Global GSI Technical Business Development at Zoom, we discussed about Srini’s Personal Journey, Zoom’s solution & Collaboration Trends, Analytics, AI, ROI, Total Cost of Ownership, Automation Benefits, UC Trends & Work Life Balance.

**Quick recap**

Srini and Ronak discussed the rapid pace of innovation and its challenges in balancing work and personal life. They highlighted the trend of cloud-based innovation and the potential of AI to help manage this pace. They also discussed the shift from on-premise to cloud-based systems and the need for a single application to unify different communication modalities. They emphasized the importance of mobile and unlocking its potential through apps built on Zoom’s robust system of SDKs and APIs. They also discussed the potential of AI in enhancing human productivity and Zoom’s strategic partnership with Twilio for video routing. Towards the end, they discussed the importance of considering total cost of ownership when selecting a vendor and the advantages of Zoom’s approach to AI.

**Chapters**

Innovation, Cloud, and Future Trends

Srini, with over 25 years of experience in the industry, discussed the rapid pace of innovation and the challenges it poses in balancing work and personal life. They highlighted the trend of cloud-based innovation and the potential of AI to help manage this pace. When asked about future market trends, Srini pointed out the shift from on-premise to cloud-based systems and the need for a single application to unify different communication modalities. They also mentioned the evolution of Zoom from a simple meetings app to a company offering a range of communication solutions.

Zoom’s Evolution and Future in Unified Communications

Srini, who works for Zoom’s Channels department, shared their role of being a technical evangelist to partners, ensuring they understand how to use Zoom’s platform messaging to add value for their customers. They also discussed the challenges of balancing personal and work life due to the fast pace of innovation in the industry. The discussion then shifted to the future of the industry, with Srini noting the trend towards unifying different communication modalities into one application, and the potential of AI to enhance productivity. Srini also mentioned Zoom’s evolution from a meetings app to a core engine for communications and collaboration, and their strategy of developing other ancillary platforms on top of that.

Srini and Ronak discussed the evolution and future of unified communications, with a focus on the potential of Zoom. Srini emphasized the importance of mobile and unlocking its potential through apps built on Zoom’s robust system of SDKs and APIs. They also discussed Zoom’s journey to be the core engine for communications and collaboration, with ancillary platforms like Zoom Revenue Intelligence and mail and calendar services. Srini highlighted the role of AI in enhancing human productivity and Zoom’s strategic partnership with Twilio for video routing. Ronak shared their personal experience with Zoom’s AI companion for generating show notes. The discussion concluded with Ronak inquiring about the challenges Srini faces in their job and how Zoom helps solve those challenges.

Cloud Migration Challenges and Zoom’s Unique Approach

Srini highlighted the challenges customers face when migrating to the cloud, particularly those using on-premise systems. They emphasized Zoom’s pace of innovation, releasing over 700 features in less than two years in the contact center space, and its scalability and elasticity, which are built into their cloud platform. They also pointed out the issues customers face when dealing with vendors who have grown through acquisitions, leading to fragmented user interfaces and administrative portals. Srini also discussed Zoom’s hybrid approach, which allows certain workloads to be moved on-premise for improved security and bandwidth. Lastly, they differentiated Zoom from its competitors by focusing on ease of use, hardware choices, total cost of ownership, and a licensing structure that doesn’t nickel and dime customers for every feature or license.

Total Cost of Ownership in Vendor Selection

Srini and Ronak discussed the importance of considering total cost of ownership when selecting a vendor, emphasizing the hidden costs associated with some unified communications services. Srini highlighted the advantages of Zoom’s approach to AI, which uses a federated model to integrate various models and provide a superior user experience at no additional cost. The conversation also underscored the significance of assessing the impact of AI on productivity and efficiency, as well as the potential cost savings from reducing the number of calls handled by human agents. The need for a comprehensive vendor that offers a broad range of services and integrates with other applications was also stressed.

Zoom’s Bundle and Marketing Efforts Discussed

Srini and Ronak discussed the benefits of Zoom’s bundle, Zoom One Enterprise Plus, highlighting its wide range of features such as translation, summaries, AI, and Zoom Rooms. Srini emphasized the simplicity of Zoom’s licensing compared to Microsoft’s, particularly regarding the AI Co-pilot feature. They also discussed Zoom’s marketing efforts and its new positioning statement, focusing on its broader application offerings beyond just meetings. Srini underscored the importance of a seamless flow of work, which Zoom aims to provide through its integrated applications.

Zoom’s AI Integration and Cost-Effectiveness

Srini and Ronak discussion revolved around the integration of AI features into Zoom’s services and the associated costs. Srini and Ronak emphasized that Zoom includes AI features such as chatbots, meeting summaries, and whiteboarding at no additional cost, distinguishing it from other vendors who charge extra for these features. They also highlighted the benefits of having a unified platform like Zoom, which simplifies management and reduces costs. The conversation also covered Zoom’s total cost of ownership, comparing it favorably with competitors like Microsoft. The importance of a comprehensive platform that can seamlessly integrate AI, security, and analytics was underscored.

Zoom’s AI Potential in Unified Communications

Srini and Ronak discussed the potential of AI in the unified communications industry, with a particular focus on Zoom. They emphasized Zoom’s capabilities to integrate with other platforms such as Microsoft Tools and its potential to enhance human productivity by providing the right information at the right time. They also touched on Zoom’s potential for integration in enterprise migration journeys, specifically in areas like phone, meetings, and virtual agent. They also highlighted Zoom’s ease of use and its security measures, including customer-managed key.

Zoom’s Potential and Challenges it solves

Ronak and Srini discussed the challenges of disjointed workflows and the potential of AI to streamline processes. They emphasized Zoom’s capabilities, including its ability to integrate with other platforms like Microsoft and its potential for growth. They also touched on Zoom’s security measures and its commitment to user-friendly design. The conversation concluded with Srini encouraging listeners to consider Zoom for their communications and collaboration needs, and Ronak expressing appreciation for Zoom’s passionate team and innovative capabilities.

Zoom’s Growth, Competition, and Integration With Microsoft

Ronak and Srini discussed various aspects of Zoom, including its content production and the possibility of making contact details public for potential inquiries. Ronak highlighted the need for more detailed sessions due to the limited scope of current ones. Srini shared about Zoom’s competitive analysis team. They also discussed Zoom’s growth, particularly in the enterprise sector, and its plans for future growth in the contact center. Both agreed on the benefits of using Zoom in conjunction with Microsoft, citing cost and ease of use as key advantages. They suggested that customers might be better served using Zoom for communications and collaboration, and Microsoft for productivity.

Competition, Data Privacy, AI, and Microsoft Monopoly

Srini and Ronak discussed the competition among market vendors, the importance of data privacy, and the potential of AI. They discussed the potential of their AI product and the need for a blog post. They also shared a recent blog and other links for further reading. Towards the end, they confirmed the recording of their meeting.

**Links**

https://agarwalronak.com/unlocking-the-potential-of-zoom-beyond-video-conferencing/ https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-2023-gartner-magic-quadrant-ucaas-leader/ https://explore.zoom.us/media/zoom-ucaas-total-economic-impact-2022.pdf https://blog.zoom.us/total-costs-of-the-ucaas-lifecycle/ https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-total-cost-of-ownership/ https://blog.zoom.us/zoom-federated-ai-maximizes-performance-quality-affordability/ https://www.zoom.com/en/trust/legal-compliance/#certifications

SDK Whitepaper from Srini https://www.zoom.com/en/resources/video-sdk-performance-guide/

Zoom Pricing https://zoom.us/pricing

Zoom Blogs https://blogs.zoom.us/)

About Srini Kilambi

(https://www.linkedin.com/in/srini-kilambi/)

Global GSI Technical Business Development

Accomplished UC Solutions Architect with over 25 years of dedicated experience in designing and implementing innovative solutions for clients and channel partners. Adept at managing various facets of the business, with primary responsibilities encompassing Account Management, Channel/Partner Sales, Presentation, Training, Client Relations, and Team Supervision.

Demonstrated expertise in building and overseeing a substantial and diverse team of pre-sales solution architects specializing in networking, data center, cloud, UC, and wireless sales. Instrumental in charting the technical direction of the team, identifying skillsets necessary for expansion, and fostering crucial partnerships among internal, channel partner, and customer entities. Established a comprehensive vision, strategic plan, and management framework to empower solution architects to effectively scale and meet the accelerated growth demands of the business across diverse verticals.

About Ronak Agarwal

(https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronak-agarwal-14224494/)

Global Presales Lead | Blogger “agarwalronak.com” | Podcaster | ECB Level 2 Cricket Coach

Experienced Digital Workplace and unified Communication Consultant with 11+ years of experience in Strategy, Business Process Development and transformation, Consulting, Presales, Partner Management and channel Sales, Demand Generation, Revenue Growth (Farming and Hunting), and Customer Relationship Management. Currently leading HCL Digital Workplace Presales Team and Work Location is London, UK.

Additionally, I like to publish my views independently at “agarwalronak.com” for the whole community and love to network with people.

I am also a Permanent Committee member of Spelthorne Sports Cricket Committee, Sunbury on Thames.

I’m a results-driven professional with experience driving YoY revenue growth, providing global advisory services, leading presales teams, and creating/improving team strategy. Skilled in identifying market trends, defining go-to-market strategies, and fostering talent. A thought leader who works with influencers and decision-makers to provide innovative solutions to customers.

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