Beyond the Buzzwords: Making AI Work for UC скачать в хорошем качестве

Beyond the Buzzwords: Making AI Work for UC

In this episode, host Scott Kinka sits down with Shane Cleckler, Director of Sales Engineering, and Jeff Martis, Senior Director of Product Management at Sangoma, to explore why hybrid deployments are the real differentiator in unified communications, how to meet customers where they actually are (not where vendors want them to be), and the key strategies for solving survivability and resilience without forcing migration to cloud. Whether you're rationalizing your post-pandemic collaboration spend or building a UC roadmap that actually works for your business, this conversation cuts through the noise with practical frameworks for evaluating cloud, on-premise, and hybrid options—plus why the most successful vendors are thinking like integrators again. What you will learn: Why hybrid UC deployments are a permanent "flavor" rather than a temporary stopgap measure How to think about site survivability and network redundancy beyond just dual internet circuits The real-world use cases where cloud-only solutions fail (hospitals, manufacturing, schools, law firms) Why UC is about to annex adjacent domains like digital signage, video surveillance, and environmental sensors The consultative approach to replacing outdated RFPs with business-outcome-focused solutions How the industry has come full circle from product sales to integration to SaaS and back to solutions engineering Why simplicity beats feature bloat in collaboration tools—and why 50 features means 45 you'll never use Sangoma's partner-first strategy and why they meet partners "nine-tenths of the way" About the Guest: Shane Cleckler is the Director of Sales Engineering at Sangoma, bringing over 25 years of VoIP and unified communications expertise from the Dallas area. Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, Shane has been deeply embedded in the evolution of voice technology—from the days when people couldn't spell VoIP to today's integrated, cloud-native UC platforms. His philosophy centers on consultative selling: understanding business problems first, then architecting solutions that often combine multiple platforms rather than forcing customers into rigid product boxes. Outside of work, Shane is pursuing an unexpected passion: becoming a hot air balloon pilot. Jeff Martis is the Senior Director of Product Management at Sangoma, representing the Philadelphia area with nearly 25 years in telecommunications. His career spans the entire arc of the industry's transformation, and he's worked across diverse customer segments—from large dealer partners to mom-and-pop bakeries, hospitals, schools, retail chains, and manufacturing plants. Jeff's product philosophy is refreshingly contrarian: he believes the industry needs fewer features, not more, and that simplicity leads to less regret and doubt. His reading list includes The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle, and his preferred productivity tool is decidedly analog: a physical notepad where he can experience the satisfaction of checking items off by hand. To find out how Bridgepointe Technologies helps businesses make IT decisions faster with world-class engineering support and ongoing guidance, head to https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/ Episode Timeline: [0:00] Introduction [01:27] Meet Shane Cleckler and Jeff Martis [02:50] Current Trends in Remote and Hybrid Work [04:08] Utilizing Existing Tools for Digital Transformation [06:51] The Sangoma Differentiator: Cloud, Hybrid and On-Prem [09:32] Why Local Survivability Matters [12:43] Moving Beyond AI Buzzwords [16:11] Advice for CIOs on Rationalizing Tech Spend [20:54] The Importance of a Partner-First Strategy [22:58] Bold Predictions: The Future of UC Integration [24:11] Contrarian View: The Case for Tech Simplicity [25:19] Lightning Round and Final Leadership Advice Episode Resources: Scott Kinka on LinkedIn:   / scottkinka   Bridgepointe Technologies Website: https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Also, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, we appreciate all feedback from our listeners. 👉 Fame: https://bit.ly/3YXy9ET 👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4lRJAHZ 👉 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4iIe2lj