Microsoft Operator Connect and Direct Routing: What's the difference?
Simply put, for those new to getting voice into Teams (or if you just need a quick refresh), Operator Connect and Direct Routing are two of the most popular ways of enabling voice in Teams. As it stands Direct Routing has a firm hold on the trophy for most enabled users, and for good reason, but with the Operator Connect Marketplace now boasting over 100 Operators it's quickly popping up on the radar for more and more businesses who want to fold their voice functionality into their favourite UCaaS platform. Not only this but Operator Connect is increasingly being seen as the more straightforward option out of the two, trading off with the increased flexibility of its alternative.
How does Direct Routing stack up vs Operator Connect in the modern communications market?
Direct Routing is as powerful as ever, and is the best option for a lot of Providers and businesses, but there are some reputable sources out there that see Operator Connect becoming the most dominant Teams Phone enabler in the next few years.
It's true, there are a few barriers to entry to Operator Connect that only the right Carrier can easily overcome. For example, as a Carrier you now have to go through an Operator Connect Accelerator to get onto the marketplace. On top of this, as this marketplace has grown exponentially over the past year or so you now need to bring something new to the table, either geographically or integration-wise to successfully place on the program. Because of this, and as the number of those who can officially help you onboard onto Operator Connect is heavily limited (there's only 5 of us!), there is also a lack of available content which accurately represents the very real upsides of using Operator Connect as a platform for success in Teams next to Direct Routing options.
Let's get one thing clear - This isn't a hard sell for either Operator Connect or Direct Routing. As one of the privileged few who have feet firmly placed in both camps, we simply feel that it's crucially important for you to know the key differences between the two solutions as a part of your initial decision process.
Make no mistake, even though on the surface they appear to give roughly the same end-result for users, there are a few nuances between Operator Connect and Direct Routing that both Providers and their customers should be aware of. So without further ado here are the key differences between the two options.
Are you a Provider looking to know more about Direct Routing or Operator Connect and where you can fit in? Get in touch with us today.