Communication & Messaging

Overview

Communication platforms enable real-time team collaboration through messaging, video conferencing, voice calls, and asynchronous communication. They have become the digital backbone of modern workplaces, especially in hybrid and remote work environments.

Market Size

The unified communications and collaboration market exceeds $60 billion annually.

Top Players

Microsoft Teams

• Company: Microsoft (USA)
• Market Position: Market leader with 320M+ monthly active users
• Key Strengths: Deep Microsoft 365 integration, comprehensive platform (chat + video + files + apps), Copilot AI, enterprise governance
• Key Features: Channels, meetings, phone system, Power Platform integration, Loop components
• Typical Customers: Enterprises using Microsoft 365

Slack

• Company: Salesforce (USA, acquired 2021)
• Market Position: Pioneer in channel-based messaging, beloved by developers and tech companies
• Key Strengths: Best-in-class messaging UX, 2,600+ app integrations, Workflow Builder, Huddles, Slack Connect (external collaboration)
• Key Features: Channels, Threads, Canvases, Automations, Slack AI
• Typical Customers: Tech companies, startups, digital-first organizations

Zoom

• Company: Zoom Communications (USA)
• Market Position: Leader in video conferencing
• Key Strengths: Best-in-class video quality, ease of use, Zoom Workplace (unified platform), AI Companion
• Products: Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone, Zoom Team Chat, Zoom Rooms, Zoom Contact Center
• Typical Customers: All organization sizes, education, healthcare

Google Workspace (Meet, Chat, Spaces)

• Company: Google (USA)
• Market Position: Strong in SMB and education
• Key Strengths: Tightly integrated with Gmail, Docs, Sheets; Gemini AI integration; competitive pricing; strong in education
• Products: Google Meet, Google Chat, Spaces
• Typical Customers: SMBs, education institutions, Google-centric organizations

Discord

• Company: Discord Inc. (USA)
• Market Position: Leader in community communication
• Key Strengths: Voice channels (always-on voice rooms), communities and servers, developer tools, bots ecosystem, free for core features
• Typical Users: Developer communities, gaming, open-source projects, community-driven organizations

Key Trends

• AI assistants: Built-in AI for meeting summaries, message drafts, and information retrieval
• Async-first communication: Video messages, threaded discussions, and recorded updates
• Platform consolidation: Communication merging with project management, knowledge bases, and workflows
• Interoperability: Cross-platform communication (Slack Connect, Teams external access)