Gartner defines communications platform as a service (CPaaS) as a cloud-based platform used by developers, the IT team and other nontechnical business roles to build an array of communications-related capabilities using APIs, SDKs, documentation and no-code/low-code visual builders. The CPaaS tools facilitate access to multiple communications channels spanning voice, SMS, email, messaging apps, video and conversational capabilities, along with security. The purpose of CPaaS is to enable enterprises to improve communications workflows by providing simplified access to multiple communications capabilities. CPaaS enables enterprises to shorten time to market for new products and services, personalize communications, and orchestrate customer journeys across multiple channels. It delivers digital engagement and operationalizes customer experience, while also driving business efficiencies at scale with digital service delivery. It’s modular/composable in design and can expand from initial single-use cases to many others as additional business units learn of its value. CPaaS capabilities can also be consumed in a wholesale model, powering third-party cloud vendor offerings such as contact center, CRM, multichannel marketing and ERP. There are also wholesale use cases in which CPaaS providers wholesale to each other and telcos.
Gartner defines the enterprise conversational AI platform market as the market for software platforms used to build, orchestrate and maintain multiple use cases and modalities of conversational automation. The enterprise conversational AI platform consists of: A capability layer providing runtime capabilities that include: Natural language understanding (NLU), Dialogue management, Channel integration, Back-end integration, Access control for platform users, Life cycle management; A tooling layer geared toward business users that includes: A no-code environment for building and maintaining, applications, Analytic tools for understanding dialogue flows, NLU intent and entity tuning tools, A/B flow testing tools.