There are a lot of acronym buzzwords when it comes to cutting-edge communication technology. From CPaaS to UCaaS to SIP and more, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest terms.
However, there is one more acronym you should know to improve your collaboration strategy: BYOC or Bring Your Own Carrier. BYOC has many benefits as companies transition away from PSTN networks to communicate using a digital environment. It is becoming more popular as organizations grapple with the most effective way to move to the cloud without hurting their operations in the short term while accommodating the flexibility companies require.
Here is what you need to know about BYOC, including how it works and how to tell if it is right for your business.
How BYOC Works
Many companies are turning to SIP trunks to collaborate over the internet instead of traditional PTSN. SIP offers a number of advantages, such as efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effective coverage worldwide. The SIP trunk is what transports the call and works as the infrastructure in the technology stack.
For communication technology to work correctly, though, companies need additional layers on top of it. First is a private telephone network (PBX), either on-prem or in the cloud. Second, companies need a UCaaS solution for functionality purposes, such as call recording or conference calling.
Many providers offer a streamlined full stack bundle for all three layers. These vendors provide infrastructure, logic, and communication stacks as an all-in-one solution. However, the Bring Your Own Carrier approach allows organizations to “unbundle” the stack to choose different providers for each one. Companies supply their own PTSN solution and add the carrier they choose to the communication environment. They pick the SIP trunking provider to connect to the web. By doing this, they have more control over the infrastructure of their communication system.
In short, BYOC enables companies to pick the SIP trunk carrier instead of an off-the-shelf calling plan from their vendor that provides UCaaS service.
There are several benefits that attract companies to BYOC. It is a do-it-yourself approach that enables some organizations to access all of the layers in their stack. It provides more control and flexibility, allowing them to decide how their communication environment works and use a best-in-breed provider structure.
BYOC is typically most suitable for large companies with specific needs and requests. For smaller companies that need a streamlined and straightforward solution, full-stack UCaaS and CPaaS provide them with more support and a simplified way to move to the cloud.
Larger organizations often face various hurdles in their transition to the cloud. For example, companies may be tangled in a multi-year contract or require specific carriers to maintain compliance. In many of these cases, BYOC might help overcome them.
The flexibility of BYOC is also attractive for enterprises with locations globally. They can handle the transition from legacy systems to the cloud more efficiently. It also reassures them that they can always roll back if a part of the transition doesn’t go according to plan.
For organizations that require an extra level of control and flexibility, the BYOC approach can provide peace of mind. Even though the move to the cloud is essential for every corporation, not every company can transition at the same pace or use the same technology. Some businesses opt to go through their own carrier to keep the benefits and discounts they have with their current provider; it may also help maintain compliance by controlling their call routing and services entirely.
Moving to the Cloud with BYOC
For a while, most small to medium-size businesses opted to move to the cloud because bundled full-stack UCaaS and CPaaS platforms provided them with a convenient solution. However, large enterprises shied away from moving to the cloud for the very same reason. Multinational organizations with multi-year contracts and compliance concerns needed more flexibility and control over how they moved to the cloud. Bring Your Own Carrier structure helps enterprises overcome these hurdles.
BYOC offers companies many advantages, including lower costs, more control, and consistent high quality. It provides a more flexible solution for larger companies that need to transition to the cloud at their own pace. However, it is not for everyone. Smaller companies and those who do not have to juggle multiple requirements may benefit from the simplicity of a bundled solution.