How cloud solutions transform communication in academic environments

21/02/25 Wavenet
How cloud solutions transform communication in academic environments placeholder thumbnail

Academic institutions are going through a large-scale change in the way they communicate. Yet, many institutions still rely on outdated systems that struggle to cope with these demands. The solution is a cloud-based communication system that works with institutions to improve processes.

The benefits of cloud platforms in education

Cloud platforms enable students, faculty and staff to access communication tools and educational resources from any location with internet connectivity. This flexibility supports remote learning and ensures continuity in various scenarios.

Key features of cloud communication include:

  • Real-time messaging facilitates instant communication among students and faculty.
  • Video virtual classrooms enhance remote learning experiences with interactive sessions.
  • Collaborative editing tools promotes a more connected and immersive learning experience.

Meeting seasonal demands in higher education

Managing communication in a higher education setting is far from simple. Rising student expectations, increasing administrative complexity, and seasonal spikes like UCAS Clearing put immense pressure on universities and colleges to maintain seamless, effective communication.

Cloud services offer scalable computing resources, allowing institutions to adjust capacity based on seasonal needs, such as during enrolment periods or exam seasons, ensuring smooth application performance.

Challenges of communication during peak periods

During peak periods, the need to support students, staff and stakeholders intensifies. Managing multiple channels while ensuring fast, accurate information delivery becomes increasingly challenging with:

  • High enquiry volumes as surges in calls, emails, and chats strain support teams.
  • Fragmented systems across disconnected platforms hinder response times and consistency.
  • Security risks where safeguarding sensitive student data across channels is critical.
  • Administrative burden is compounded by growing demands and complexity.

Without the right infrastructure, institutions risk missed opportunities, delayed responses, and dissatisfied students. Staff can spend valuable time switching between systems rather than focusing on student needs.

Cloud-based contact centres: a smarter communication solution

Modern contact centre solutions remove these pain points by providing a scalable, integrated and secure approach to communication.

A platform like 8x8 Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) provides numerous advantages:

  • Scales on demand.
  • Adapts instantly to seasonal peaks like Clearing without compromising performance.
  • Ensures institutions can handle fluctuations in call and message volumes efficiently.
  • Enables omnichannel communication.
  • Supports students across voice, chat, email and social platforms.
  • Assists in managing high enquiry volumes with AI-powered automation.
  • Integrates seamlessly.

Why choose Wavenet?

Institutions need a partner that understands their challenges. Wavenet, in partnership with 8x8, provides future-proofed solutions built for the education sector:

  • Trusted by more than 150 further and higher education providers.
  • Our expert education team digitises systems tailored to you, delivering results with expertise in handling Clearing and student support.
  • We hold positions across multiple technology and service frameworks, including RM6100, RM6068, RM6098, YPO 1126, RM3764 Cyber Security Services, and RM6116 Network Services 3, spanning a wide range of lots across cloud services, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and technology products.
  • 999% uptime SLA, ensuring uninterrupted communication.

The bigger picture: building a resilient institution

Effective communication is a long-term investment in student experience, operational efficiency and institutional growth. By adopting a cloud-based contact centre, universities and colleges lay the foundation for:

  • Improved student engagement through faster, more personalised responses.
  • Greater efficiency with automated workflows and integrated systems.
  • Future-ready infrastructure, capable of adapting to new innovations.

Taking the next step towards transformation

Forward-thinking institutions are already embracing cloud-based communication to stay ahead. Whether streamlining Clearing or improving day-to-day operations, Wavenet and 8x8 can help transform your institution’s communication strategy. 

 

If you would like to talk about how Wavenet can help address your challenges or achieve your wider education institutions' goals, visit here https://www.wavenet.co.uk/further-education and get in touch today - 0344 863 3000 or email us at enquiries@wavenet.co.uk 

Contact Centre, Education, 8x8, Frameworks

Latest blogs

See all posts
managed soc
What is a Managed SOC? Key benefits and how it protects your business

With cyber security threats evolving at an unprecedented pace - businesses face constant challenges in safeguarding their data and systems. Managed Security Operations Centres (SOCs) offer a solution to these challenges. They provide round-the-clock monitoring and management of security incidents. This service is crucial for businesses aiming to protect their assets.

Read more
colocation-services
Major business benefits of colocation: cost, efficiency, security & continuity

Managing servers and infrastructure can be costly and complex. Colocation services offer a strategic solution.

Read more
wavenet IT support
How we support our customers | Managed IT services UK

We support organisations by bringing together the core building blocks of modern IT - secure, resilient networking; flexible cloud and data platforms; and collaboration tools that help people work from anywhere. As the UK’s most trusted managed service and security provider, we combine a broad portfolio across connectivity, cloud, communications and cyber security with deep technical expertise to design solutions that fit each customer’s goals, not a one-size-fits-all template. From connecting people and places to applications and data, to optimising Microsoft services and costs, enabling AI-driven productivity, and protecting environments with proactive security and incident response, We help customers stay secure, agile and focused - while building the operational resilience needed to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disruption. Watch this video to find out more Transcript: 0:05 Wavenet is the UK's most trusted managed service and security provider with a broad portfolio in connectivity, cloud, communications and cybersecurity. 0:15 We employ 1700 brilliant people with over 950 of those being highly skilled technologists. 0:22 So how do we use our broad portfolio, market leading partnerships and deep technical expertise to support our customers? 0:30 Intelligent networks are the foundation upon which everything else is built. 0:34 If the network is not robust, secure and scalable then anything that's connected to it will be affected. 0:40 From supplying broadband to designing networks from scratch, we connect people and places to data and applications. 0:46 As an ISP, we know there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to network connectivity, so we take the time to assess the situation and goals before making a recommendation. 0:56 With the intelligent network in place, we make applications and data accessible. 1:00 These can reside anywhere within the Wavenet cloud, whether that be public, private, community or SAS based services unique to the market on demand. 1:09 Azure provides you with access to technical change and run squads for transformation, engineering and support, aligned with your own initiatives and priorities and as scalable as you need. 1:21 In public services such as Azure and Microsoft 365, financial management is a critical component and we have the tools that can effectively review consumption and make recommendations to streamline costs by effective use of licences, application of Azure services and 365 subscriptions. 1:39 Modern Workplace provides secure access for colleagues to the applications and data they need, regardless of location, whether they're in the office, at home, or working remotely. 1:49 They can access their apps and data from the Wavenet cloud, or they can be delivered as SAS services over the Intelligent network. 1:56 Our Copilot adoption and readiness packages unlock productivity, making your people more efficient. 2:02 Our Desktop as a service offering manages the full life cycle of consumer devices from provision, iMac management, recovery and recycle. 2:10 Bundled with complementary services such as End User Service Desk and Customer Site Tech Desk to support your staff and colleagues, ensuring that they're able to use the technology efficiently. 2:20 Our mobile services offer cost effective connectivity and airtime plans from all the UK's mobile network providers. 2:28 IoT services can be described as modern workplace with cameras, sensors, scanners and other devices providing data and insight over the foundation network. 2:37 Once we have connected users to your business applications and data, we help them communicate and collaborate with colleagues, suppliers and customers. 2:45 We empower sales and contact centre users with generative and agentic AI tools, pulling real time data information from your systems before, during and after customer interactions to deliver outstanding customer experiences. 2:59 We protect your environment with a range of proactive security services including security testing, managed detection and response. 3:06 Seem security awareness training and cyber certifications. 3:10 Providing reassurance in the event of an attack through fast and effective cyber incident response. 3:16 Underpinned by our highly skilled people, modern platforms and ITIL aligned processes. 3:22 Our advisory, monitoring, support and manage services simplify technology management, enhance user experience and control complex environments. 3:31 Helping you stay secure, agile and focused. 3:35 From supporting your in house IT teams to fully outsourced infrastructure and end user support across connectivity, cloud, communications and cybersecurity, we scale our services to support your business needs. 3:48 Wavenet has a long heritage in delivering operational resilience services and business continuity management consultancy. 3:54 With services that have evolved to meet the growing demands of UK organisations and new technology, we deliver the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events or challenges that could impact your operations. 4:09 The goal is not just to survive disruptions, but to be able to maintain critical operations and recover quickly when things go wrong. 4:16 This is especially important in a fast-paced, interconnected world where businesses faced increased vulnerabilities. 4:23 As you can see, using our economies of scale, diverse vendor relationships and cutting edge expertise, we empower customers to make their technology work smarter.

Read more
Did your cyber defences hold up during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Did your cyber defences hold up during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday and Black Friday have come and gone, with the UK consistently ranking second in global participation to what is the biggest online shopping event. Each year continues to set new records, Barclay’s predicted that UK shoppers would spend a whopping £10.2bn this Black Friday1.

Read more
building cyber resilience
Building cyber resilience with modern backup & DRaaS

Wavenet and Assured Data Protection experts come together for a practical, data-driven webinar exploring the critical importance of proactive backup and disaster recovery strategies. Demonstrating how immutable backups and instant recovery can protect your organisation from ransomware, outages, and compliance risks.

Read more
API Security
Mobile app security - a pen tester’s view

The real threat to mobile apps isn’t the app, it’s API security. Chris Watt, an experienced Wavenet penetration tester, discusses mobile security…

Read more

Stay service-savvy

Get all the latest news and insights straight to your inbox.