The Cloud-Hosted Comms Trend Continues: Wildix’s VoIP PBX UC&C System Delivers Secure, Browser-Based Communications

TL; DR: Wildix’s VoIP PBX UC&C system, available through certified partners and MSPs, helps companies streamline and grow their businesses. The WebRTC-powered, cloud-hosted solution allows users to manage internal and external communications across multiple channels via a single browser. With offices in Europe and the United States and plans for expansion across the APAC region, Wildix helps users worldwide eliminate communication bottlenecks that slow down operations.

Between voice, video, chat, instant messaging, and SMS, businesses have multiple communication channels they can use to share information internally and externally.

But logging into five or six different services is less than ideal for today’s employees, especially when they’re working from remote or home offices and may have limited access to corporate resources.

Fortunately, there’s one tool that nearly everyone with a computer and internet connection has access to — a web browser. Having recognized these truths long before the pandemic, the telecommunications provider Wildix has already fine-tuned a business communications solution fitting of our current times.

The company’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) meets Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) system enables real-time interaction on any device via a single, browser-based interface.

More than 1.4 million users from 135 countries across the globe now use this integrated and universally accessible communications solution to optimize business processes, increase internal and external engagement, and boost productivity.

“It’s an all-inclusive platform that businesses can use to manage all of their communications — voice, video, chat, fax, SMS, conferencing — all within the browser,” said Robert Cooper, Managing Director Americas at Wildix. “Some companies are using a different platform every time they do something as simple as host a meeting, but that’s cumbersome and clunky. We build our technology around ease of use and simplicity.”

The WebRTC-based solution, available to businesses through certified partners and MSPs, is so easy to adopt that no end-user training is necessary.

“Our CEO is fond of saying that usage is a by-product of usability,” Robert told us. “And he is adamant about maintaining a user-friendly platform.”

Wildix was established in Italy by brothers Steve and Dimitri Osler more than 15 years ago. While pursuing his IT degree in the early 2000s, Dimitri Osler became fascinated with communications systems.

After experimenting with software like Asterisk, SER, and Kamailio, he participated in the development of the open-source PBX software CallWeaver (formerly known as OpenPBX.org). The idea to create Wildix based on WebRTC — technology that enables voice and video communications through a browser — was born out of this experience.

“Dimitri Osler began working with WebRTC very early on, so he had a firm understanding of not only the capabilities of the technology but also its potential — where it could go and what it could bring to users in the future,” Robert said. “So he took the WebRTC technology and decided to weave it into the fabric of a unified communications platform.”

The result was the first sales-oriented, browser-based unified communications solution designed to optimize the core of a company’s operations while saving time and maintaining security.

“We use the browser as a user interface, which gives the technology extreme power,” Robert said. “We run in the browser in a secure socket using HTTPS for all of our communications. And WebRTC is inherently encrypted, so all of our communications capabilities are secure by design, whereas, with most UC platforms, you have to bolt on security.”

Rather than working with distributors, Wildix leverages a network of certified regional business partners to deliver its product to end users.

“We train and certify professional business partners, who are an important piece of the solution,” Robert said. “We rely upon them to wrap their services, integration capabilities, and experience around the platform.”

Secure, cloud-hosted communications technology is now critical for business continuity, which has become top-of-mind for many leaders.

While numerous businesses were caught off guard when the pandemic first hit, they’ve learned their lessons the hard way and are seeking solutions that will keep them agile moving forward. As a result of this accelerated digital transformation, Wildix has seen tremendous growth in the past year.

“There’s always opportunity in the midst of turmoil and disruption,” Robert said. “The good news for Wildix is we were built for the future of work long before the concept of the remote workplace became fashionable.”

While many companies are focused on setting up external offices within the homes of their employees, the Wildix team takes a different, more sustainable approach.

“Some organizations want to take the infrastructure that’s in the office, put it in your home, and call that remote work,” he said. “We believe in smart working — where you work from wherever you are on whatever device there is. That’s what we bring to the table. Open a browser, log in, and you have full and communication and collaboration capabilities both internally and externally.”

In times of financial strain, Robert said the right communications system can also help boost revenue. According to the Wildix website, the company’s secure, web-based UC&C system can increase web sales by up to 52% and save more than 25% of the time spent on everyday operations while providing total security coverage.

“When organizations’ doors first closed last year, the first thing that many business owners said was, “We have to establish communications internally and externally,’” he said. “Today, communications are back at the forefront of the conversation; part of a core capability that helps businesses grow.”

Wildix’s cloud-hosted communications solutions offer wide-ranging value, from improved efficiency and operational agility to more robust security. But Robert said that the company’s greatest strength lies in its ability to help businesses grow.

“So often you see collaboration and communications suites viewed as internal tools,” he said. “The reality is business is done externally. You have to be able to meet customers where they are, whether it’s chat, voice, video, or a shared desktop, and do so without asking them to download anything.”

Wildix developed a product called Kite that enables external website visitors to contact businesses via a simple link. The idea is to provide a communications presence directly through an organization’s website.

“A customer’s first impression no longer comes from walking through a storefront — 99% of the first impression is your website,” Robert said. “The way you communicate with your customer in that setting has never been more important.”

Businesses can add Kite as a contact button on websites and in email signatures. Wildix’s Kite APIs also allow users to display user images, geolocation, and presence status.

“We’re really focused on the business aspect of the communications capability and how it helps your business succeed, grow, and attract customers,” Robert said.

After establishing a North American presence two years ago, the Wildix team is turning its attention to expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

As for what’s next on the product side, Robert said users can expect enhancements in the platform’s sales benefits.

“It will be more closely tied to applications and CRMs — much like Salesforce,” he said. “So not only will we help bring them into your organization through the browser, but we will also provide customer data management solutions. We’re excited about that next evolution of this product.”