Connected Education: Driving Transformation and Safety Through Modern Communication

Author: Beth Schultz, VP of Research and Principal Analyst

Not available for licensing.

As is the case in other industry verticals, the education sector in North America, encompassing both K-12 and higher education, is increasingly adopting unified
communications as a service (UCaaS) to address their digital transformation goals. In fact, educational organizations studied by Metrigy are ahead of the curve on full migration to UCaaS-only setups.

In the case of education, the shift toward hybrid learning models, personalized student experiences, and digital-first administration is rapidly redefining the
communications and collaboration landscape. No longer confined to physical classrooms, the modern learning environment is a distributed ecosystem that
demands seamless connectivity for students, faculty, staff, and parents alike regardless of location.

IT decision-makers face the strategic imperative of unifying disparate communication tools—from aging phone systems to multiple video conferencing and messaging platforms—into a cohesive whole that is highly secure and readily scalable as needed. The pressure is on within education as elsewhere to support diverse communication needs, enhance safety with robust emergency response capabilities, and ensure operational efficiency, often against tight budgetary constraints. This is where the adoption of the right cloud-based solution becomes not just an upgrade, but a critical driver of an institution’s digital transformation.

Table of Contents

• Learning Environments Today: Demand for Seamless Connectivity
• A Stepped Approach to Unifying Communications
• 4 Ways UCaaS Addresses Budget Concerns
• Messaging, Meetings, Calling, AI: UCaaS Use Cases
• School Safety and Emergency Preparedness: Are You There?
• 9-1-1 Compliance: Your Attention Needed, Now!
• How UCaaS Platforms Can Help with School Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Connecting UCaaS to CCaaS for Improved Experiences
• 3 Ways Higher Ed Can Benefit from Platform Integration
• Keeping Ahead on Security and Data Compliance
• Don't Be Left Behind on AI
• Conclusions and Recommendations