“Being the First DOT-Licensed VNP, We Offer Affordable and Efficient Services” Says Vidhu Nautiyal

A Private Business Exchange, particularly one that is cloud compatible is a must-have to ensure seamless communication but the matter of fact remains that the current Cloud-based PBX systems are not 5G compatible. With 5G around the corner, it only happens for farsighted visionaries to be a step ahead of their contemporaries. One such cloud-based PBX company is CloudConnect Communications co-founded by Vidhu Nautiyal. In an exclusive interview with Analytics Insight, he says CloudCommunication is more than just India's first PBX on Mobile for SMBs.  

1.Kindly brief us about the company, its specialization, and the services that your company offers

CloudConnect is India's first Business to Business DOT-licensed Virtual Network Operator (VNO) that provides more than just India's first PBX on Mobile for SMBs. The brand offers comprehensive and secure mobile-first Business Communication Systems, including a cloud PBX system, Business IP phone service, and Unified Communications and Collaboration for small businesses. 

The company currently has a full-stack cloud digital solution to meet all Business Communication requirements. The solutions include an engagement-enabled digital presence, a uni-platform control console, sales-force management, and intelligence-embedded processes to help businesses run smoothly – the "21st century way".

As a business telecom provider, CloudConnect offers a fully operated and managed cloud-based mobile-first platform that is remarkably feature-rich, flexible, and easy to use. The service includes virtual mobile and fixed-line, full EPABX feature-rich telephony, secure instant messaging, multi-file attachment, video conferencing, audio conferencing, remote collaboration, and other contact center solutions; ensuring better productivity & business continuity.

2.With what mission and objectives, the company was set up? In short, tell us about your journey since the inception of the company.

Ans.- Cloud Connect Communications Private Limited (CCPL) aspires to be one of India's most valuable B2B technology and communication service provider start-ups in the coming years. CCPL's mission as India's first VNO is to enable and provide strong and innovative "New Ways to Communicate and Collaborate through Mobile Unified Communication (UC)" for exceptional business acceleration.

Founded in 2018 by Raman Singh, Gokul Tandan, Rajendra V Kulkarni, and Vidhu Nautiyal. India's first Business to Business DOT-licensed Virtual Network Operator (VNO) is poised to revolutionize and redefine Mobile First Business Communication and Team Collaboration. The company gives access to 21st-century enterprise communication systems such as PBX on Mobile, CloudConnect Center, IP Phone Solutions, Unified Communications, and Customized Business Communication Solutions to enterprises. 

The company, since its inception, has acquired big clients across verticals, including e-commerce, education, healthcare, pharma BFSI, Ed-tech, Health-tech, Logistics, IT/ ITES, and others.

3.What makes CloudConnect different from its competitors?

Ans.- One of the major USPs is that our services are unique in the market. Being the first DOT licensed Virtual Network provider in the country, we offer affordable and efficient services. Even after having the same license as the other VNO-providing companies, we cater to the business side of the market, providing solutions to small and medium enterprises/brands. Additionally, we are the only ones compatible with the 5G spectrum.

4.With the rollout of 5G, can you define the roadmap for cloud services in India?

Ans.- The upcoming 5G technology will cause a significant change in the cloud services provided by virtual network operators, affecting how industries from various sectors communicate internally and externally. The entire process will be transformed and optimized to run at high speeds on the 5G network. The newly launched 5G network will revolutionize the network and communications industries by providing ultrafast transmission rates that are expected to be at least 100 times faster than the current 4G.

Sectors such as healthcare, automotive, smart homes, smart cities, and beyond will benefit from 5G features, enabling applications that 4G could not support.

The technology also opens up new possibilities for communications, cloud hosting, IoT, AI, and other 5G-beneficial applications. As a result, it is a welcoming force for both cloud-dependent and independent industries. In addition, the widespread application of fifth-generation technology to various innovations will accelerate cloud business investment. This will enable network carriers to provide competitive services, effectively rendering non-cellular IoT network providers obsolete and unable to compete, and these innovations will create new investment opportunities.

5.How has the adoption of cloud services in India evolved over the last few years

Ans.-  The new cloud era will be defined by near-real-time cloud computing capabilities, allowing both consumers and enterprises to seamlessly access relevant data. This necessitates the use of high bandwidth in conjunction with the low latency benefits provided by edge clouds. All of these advantages work together to address today's centralized cloud deployment challenges. 

Given the abundance of complex opportunities in a cost-effective and infrastructure-friendly environment, the country's tech behemoths have increased their demand for cloud-skilled talent. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), 60-70% of IT sector companies and nearly 70% of all infrastructure, products, and applications have begun to use the cloud, resulting in an increase in demand for cloud computing engineers in India in recent years. While the global market for cloud computing is expected to reach $927.51 billion by 2027, Southeast Asian developing countries such as India play an important role in making Asia-Pacific a key region for cloud computing services.  According to Brandessence market research, the Unified Communication as A Service Market is expanding at a CAGR of 14.63%.

6.How do you see the company and the industry in the future ahead?

Ans.- Businesses and services are becoming increasingly virtual. The Covid-19 pandemic boosted businesses' online presence even more. This has resulted in massive amounts of data that require security and upkeep, paving the way for cloud computing services to become essential to everyone's life.

India, too, threw its hat into the ring of cloud computing, recognizing its enormous potential ahead of the recent pandemic. In addition, the Covid-19 crisis accelerated the use of the cloud for the government as well as various enterprises to provide XaaS ('anything' as a service) using cloud computing. 

With that said, the upcoming opportunities open up a new faucet of avenues for the company with different sectors to do business with while experimenting with various use case scenarios for innovation in the sector. So, we are well-positioned and prepared for what comes next.

Also, as per IDC, UCaaS and hosted voice grew 26.1% year over year and 6.8% sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2020. UCaaS revenue increased by around 21.2% year on year. Grandview Research predicts that the industry will grow at a rate of 23.6% between 2021 and 2028.