Comcast Business - Best Collaboration/Social Networking Solution

Company: Comcast Business, Philadelphia, PA
Entry Submitted By: Finn Partners
Company Description: Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, WiFi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories - Business Technology
Nomination Sub Category: Collaboration/Social Networking Solution

Nomination Title: Comcast Business' VoiceEdge

Comcast Business updated the phones, softphone only seat, virtual training and DX in the Fall and Winter of 2020.

Comcast Business’ award-winning voice-over-IP (VoIP) offering, Comcast Business VoiceEdge, is a cloud-based, hosted voice and unified communications (UC) solution. Comcast Business VoiceEdge eliminates the need for expensive on-site private branch exchange (PBX) equipment while providing a high-quality, cost-effective scalable solution that increases employee productivity and communications.

The solution delivers a full suite of UC features and HD voice quality, with the option of being supported by the largest private VoIP network in the country or using your own connectivity. The solution streamlines the management of communications services across multiple locations, helping today's multi-site organizations and mobile workforces communicate efficiently.

The Comcast Business App helps user's manage voice communications from any device, desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Users can seamlessly operate an audio conference, including sharing the link, starting the meeting, and managing the participants. Additionally, users can move an active phone call from their desk phone to mobile phone, check their business voicemail, access their company directory, and make outbound calls showing their business number.

VoiceEdge also provides click-to-call convenience from the Google Chrome™ browser, allowing users to launch calls conveniently from their Chrome browser. Users can also launch Business VoiceEdge functionality through simple commands like “Alexa, launch my audio conference.” Alexa commands function with the Comcast Business skill using Alexa enabled devices.

Since 2019, Comcast Business has added enhancements to the Business VoiceEdge solution, including:
-Updated Desktop App, which provides access to unified communications features like softphone, readable voicemail, and screen sharing
-Bring Your Own Connectivity, an option where customers can bring their own connectivity and are not required to use Comcast Business’ internet
-Virtual Customer Training, which includes public and private sessions, and on-demand training available 24/7
-Updated Admin Portal where customers can now design a simple call flow and perform user management
-New Equipment, which includes new desktop and conference phones. To add, customers are able to purchase a softphone only seat, eliminating the need for physical phone equipment
-Access via “My Account” App. Rather than navigating through two separate online sites, customers can now manage VoiceEdge through one portal

As more and more businesses look to support the expanding remote and mobile workforce, Comcast Business VoiceEdge allows users to seamlessly operate their business phone system from anywhere, at any time.

Recently, Comcast Business announced a collaboration with the Town of North Beach in Maryland, giving the municipality the agility to quickly shift to a remote-work environment without interruption during the pandemic. They even enabled remote access to municipal services and were able to hold virtual town council meetings.

Comcast Business also recently helped Center For Family Services (CFS), a nonprofit organization, continue providing essential services to those in need during the pandemic by ensuring a smooth transition to a remote workplace. Their Business VoiceEdge service allowed CFS to provide uninterrupted care by seamlessly redirecting calls to facilities across the region; changing its digital receptionist setting in the Comcast Business Portal; handling overflow calls from 211; and enabling staff to provide critical services such as video conferencing counseling sessions.

Comcast was positioned in the Leaders Category of the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide UCaaS Service Providers for SMB 2021 Vendor Assessment. The report noted, “Comcast has a long history of delivering network services to small businesses, so understands their unique needs as a market segment. By adding VoiceEdge Select to the Comcast UCaaS portfolio in 2018, Comcast Business has established itself as a one-stop shop for SMB communications and collaboration needs”

Additional customer testimonials include:
- “We sought to improve our ability to function as a borderless office allowing us to be more accessible to others. By working with Comcast Business, we’ve been able to create and train our employees on a next-generation phone system that has helped us reimagine the way we serve our customers.” - IT Manager of Financial Services
- “Business is a bit different right now. We’ve had to rely on managing day-to-day operations from home. Our Comcast Business phone service has been instrumental during this time, allowing us to keep in touch with our customers seamlessly through the VoiceEdge app..."- Marina Manager

The attachments and supporting materials include relevant and recent case studies to demonstrate how Comcast Business VoiceEdge is transforming businesses large and small, sales materials and the website to provide a summary of the solution’s features, and a list of all the new features that were made available in 2020.