MetaDesign Solutions
MetaDesign SolutionsMetaDesign Solutions developed a feature-rich Outlook Add-in for ReachUC, integrating their telephony systems with desktop and online Outlook platforms. This streamlined communication for users by enabling voice calls, SMS, and fax functionalities directly within emails
Overview
MetaDesign Solutions partnered with ReachUC to enhance their unified communications offerings by developing a powerful Outlook Add-in. This Add-in integrates ReachUC’s telephony systems into both Outlook desktop and Outlook 365 Online platforms, allowing users to make calls, send SMS, and even schedule meetings from email messages. Utilizing technologies such as ReactJS, Office Web SDK, and VSTO SDK, MetaDesign Solutions successfully delivered a solution that simplifies business communications and streamlines workflow management for users across multiple devices.
about the client
Founded in 2018, ReachUC is a provider of cutting-edge unified communications solutions. They specialize in products that integrate telephony systems with mobile and desktop devices, helping businesses manage communication processes more effectively. ReachUC’s flagship Mobility app enables businesses to connect their PBX (Private Branch Exchange) to mobile devices, offering a range of functionalities including voice and video calls, SMS messaging, and voicemail management.
Another key product in ReachUC’s portfolio is the ReachUC Connector, a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) solution that integrates popular CRM systems with telephony platforms. The company’s software is available across multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, ensuring broad compatibility. Through ongoing product innovation and integration with more than 350 business applications and CRM systems, ReachUC remains a leader in the unified communications industry.
Industry Domain
Advertising and Marketing
Service Category (Service-line)
Outlook Plug-in Development / Office Plug-in Development / Digital Product Development
Technologies Used
ReactJS
HTML5
CSS3
Office Add-in SDK
Challenges
Seamless Integration with Outlook Desktop and 365 Online: The key challenge was to integrate the add-in across multiple Outlook platforms, including desktop, Outlook 365 Online, and mobile, while maintaining consistent functionality.
API and Authentication: The integration required smooth interaction with the customer’s API for telephony and CRM systems, along with a robust authentication mechanism for user accounts.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: The Add-in needed to work effectively across Windows, macOS, and mobile devices without performance discrepancies.
User Experience and Functionality: Ensuring that the Add-in provided a seamless experience, including clickable phone numbers for calls and SMS, contact-saving options, and softphone features within the email interface.
Publishing to Microsoft AppSource: Another challenge involved preparing the Add-in for Microsoft’s AppSource, which demanded adherence to stringent guidelines and rigorous testing.
Solution Scope and Services
MetaDesign Solutions developed two versions of the Outlook Add-in for ReachUC: one for the desktop version of MS Outlook and another for Outlook 365 Online. The Add-in enables users to click on phone numbers within email messages to initiate calls, send SMS, or schedule meetings, making business communication faster and more efficient.
For the desktop version, we leveraged ReactJS for the front-end user experience, Office VSTO SDK for desktop integration, and Office Web SDK for online compatibility. The Add-in supports both Windows and macOS operating systems, with future updates in progress to publish the Add-in on Microsoft AppSource. Our team also integrated ReachUC’s API and ensured smooth authentication, ensuring that the Add-in works seamlessly with various CRM systems.
Cross-Platform Add-in Development for Outlook
We focused on ensuring the Add-in works flawlessly across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Outlook 365 Online. By leveraging technologies like Office Web SDK and VSTO SDK, we ensured that the same core functionality was preserved regardless of the platform being used.
Leveraging ReactJS for Enhanced User Experience
Using ReactJS as the front-end framework allowed us to create a highly responsive and intuitive user interface. This enabled users to initiate calls, send messages, and manage meetings directly from their emails, with minimal clicks and a familiar interface.
Integration with ReachUC API for Streamlined Communication
Our team integrated ReachUC’s telephony services with the Add-in, allowing users to seamlessly connect with their PBX systems. The Add-in supports multiple communication actions, including calls, SMS, and scheduling, all within the Outlook interface, making it an indispensable tool for modern businesses.
Results
MetaDesign Solutions successfully enhanced ReachUC’s suite of communication tools by integrating their telephony services with Outlook through the development of a versatile Add-in. This project not only improved communication efficiency for ReachUC’s users by enabling them to make calls and send SMS directly from their email interface, but also aligned with modern business requirements by incorporating features like scheduling meetings and saving contacts to PBX.
The development efforts by MetaDesign Solutions ensured that the Add-in functions across multiple platforms, including desktop, web, and mobile, thereby broadening its accessibility. The outcome of this project has led to improved user satisfaction and a more streamlined communication workflow for ReachUC’s clients.