Access4 Acquires Channel UC to Expand Cloud Communications Capabilities

Access4, a SaaS provider specialising in unified communications solutions, has announced its acquisition of Channel UC. This move unites two key players in the Australian tech industry, combining their strengths to create a more comprehensive product portfolio that meets the evolving demands of businesses.

Access4 plans to leverage Channel UC’s expertise in omni-channel contact centre solutions, Ai product development, professional services, and proprietary Session Border Control as a Service (SBCaaS). This will complement Access4’s existing portfolio of UCaaS, analytics, messaging, and security products, positioning the company to offer a broader range of cloud communications solutions.

The acquisition increases the reseller base to over 600 partners and adds more than 300,000 services to the SASBOSS unified cloud communications and collaboration platform.

A Shared Vision for Growth

The acquisition brings the 22-strong global Channel UC team into the Access4 family, ensuring a seamless transition for staff and partners. Brad Milne and Matt Milne, Channel UC’s Managing Director and Director, respectively, will join the senior leadership team at Access4. They will continue to shape business strategy, deepen partner and vendor relationships, and help drive the shared vision of both organisations.

Brad and Matt Milne’s extensive industry experience will support Access4’s plans to expand into the European market, enhancing the company’s ability to deliver on its growth strategy.

Tim Jackson, Managing Director at Access4, highlighted the benefits of this partnership. “For both Channel UC and Access4 partners, this acquisition represents a ‘better together’ story,” he said. “By combining our strengths, we are positioned to deliver greater innovation, expanded support, and enhanced business opportunities.”

Enhancing Product and Service Offering

This acquisition significantly enhances Access4’s product portfolio, particularly in four key areas:

• Omni-channel Contact Centre Solutions: Enhanced multi-channel communication capabilities to meet the needs of businesses, complementing the CCaaS connectors that Access4 launched earlier this year.
  
  
• Ai Integration: Vendor-agnostic Ai tools to optimise partner and customer interactions, streamlining operations in communication platforms.
  
  
• Professional Services: Expanded services to help partners deploy and optimise complex solutions, especially in the contact centre space.
  
  
• Session Border Control as a Service: Virtualised, self-managed SBCs that allow partners to connect third-party UCaaS or CCaaS solutions globally to Access4’s ecosystem.

Jackson emphasised the value this acquisition brings to partners. “Our innovation-first approach, combined with Channel UC’s solutions, allows us to fast-track the integration of these technologies into SASBOSS and provide scalable, automated communication solutions.”

Benefits for Partners

For partners of both companies, the acquisition promises several advantages:

• Improved Product Offering and Automation: Access to a wider product portfolio that addresses various business needs, with opportunities to scale through Access4’s SASBOSS platform.
  
  
• Consolidated Support Resources: Enhanced support capabilities, including follow-the-sun services for faster issue resolution, as well as additional marketing resources, enablement, and thought leadership.
  
  
• Seamless Business Continuity: A flexible transition program for Channel UC partners, allowing them to migrate to the new environment at their own pace.

Brad Milne of Channel UC highlighted the potential of the combined company, saying, “As we integrate our operations, our focus remains on supporting our partners and delivering value. We’re excited to offer our partner network access to the combined strengths of both organisations, helping them thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

A Continued Strategy for Growth

This acquisition follows Access4’s previous purchase of Perth-based Novum Networks in December 2022. The acquisition of Novum led to the integration of its network and platform into Access4’s voice and unified communications environment.

Channel UC, which was previously a division of Mia Distribution, became an independent business when Mia was acquired by Bluechip Infotech in 2022. Now, as part of Access4, Channel UC is positioned to contribute to the ongoing evolution of cloud communications in Australia and beyond.

About Access4

Access4 delivers cloud communication and collaboration tools with advanced PBX features to businesses across ANZ. The company’s multi-tenanted solution offers automation, invoicing, and integrations with global vendors, supporting partners in transforming business communications.

About Channel UC

Channel UC provides advanced communications solutions, including omni-channel contact centre services, Ai-driven tools, and professional services. Known for its focus on customer-centric solutions, Channel UC has built a strong reputation in the cloud communications industry.

Last Updated on September 16, 2024 by Nick Ross