The Week's Top News: CCaaS Leaders, Technology Diversity Hiring, RingCentral Integration

Technology leaders need to think more about diversity hiring.

We talked about workplace diversity in the last week of channel news. Our editorial team also covered a number of personnel-related stories. Two video conferencing integrations and a CCaaS leaderboard also crossed our news wire.

Check out the seven mini-recaps below before you start your weekend.

7. PlanetOne Taps Masergy Veteran for Executive Team

PlanetOne’s Chris Werpy

It’s investment time, according to PlanetOne’s new chief operating officer.

Chris Werpy, who recently joined the Arizona-based company, said his new employer is building its business at a time when many firms are cutting back. Werpy spent the previous 13 years at Masergy, where he interacted frequently with PlanetOne.

“It has always been a company that I’ve been attracted to from a culture perspective,” Werpy told Channel Partners.

Werpy talked about PlanetOne and tech tech trends in an interview with us.

6. The CP List: 20 Top CCaaS Providers You Should Know

Contact center as a service is hot right now. So we’ve listed the hottest vendors in the space.

Analyst and master agent advisers helped Edward Gately compile names of top CCaaS providers. The rundown features 8×8, Aspect and Evolve IP.

Check out the list.

5. Comcast, AWS Business Partner Around Amazon Chime Conferencing

Comcast Business customers can add Amazon’s video conferencing service to their bill.

Executives say the expanded partnership gives SMBs an additional option to handle remote work. For instance, U.S. businesses can score two free months of Amazon Chime Pro if they transact through the cable company.

See the details of the partnership.

4. Workplace Diversity: A Matter of Principal or Principle?

“Does workplace diversity drive innovation or, instead, does a company that promotes innovation also promote diversity?” Buffy Naylor asks in her thoughtful article about technology diversity hiring.

The column explores the data of affirmative action and workplace demographics. The results are clear; we have a long way to go. Moreover, businesses probably need to rethink why they’re pursuing a more diverse workforce.

Read Naylor’s blog for a deeper explanation.

3. RingCentral Rooms for Poly Allows Anywhere Collaboration

RingCentral is integrating its Rooms service into Poly video bars.

Poly Studio X30 and Poly Studio X50 will include RingCentral Rooms for Poly. The goal is to give help customers achieve an “any location, any device” communications experience, one executive said.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

2. Being a Woman of Color in Tech — Why Representation Matters

Mayka Rosales-Peterson asked readers to imagine workplace life as an underrepresented minority.

Rosales-Peterson, who works for Telesystem, shared statistics of how few women of color (WOC) hold jobs in the technology industry. More importantly, she illustrated how under-representation negatively impacts individuals and companies.

“The lack of representation in the tech industry can leave WOC without role models, mentors or support systems to help them grow,” she wrote. “As a result, many leave tech and take their talents to other industries where representation is shown.

Read her blog.

1. Channel People on the Move: Vonage, CenturyLink, Masergy, More

Sandler Partners, TPx Communications and Twilio recently hired new employees.

Craig Galbraith’s monthly assemblage of personnel changes is back on the menu. The gallery covers hiring, departures and promotions.

Check out Galbraith’s collage.