In this episode, we explore one of the biggest shifts shaping today’s mission-critical communications industry: the evolution toward unified platforms. As public safety operations become increasingly data-driven, the line between voice, data, and multimedia continues to blur. This change is driving agencies to seek greater interoperability, flexibility, and—above all—choice.With the recent announcement of Zetron’s new end-to-end critical communications platform, Salus, we dive into how unified architectures can streamline emergency workflows without forcing agencies into vendor lock-in.We're joined by Scott French, President & Executive General Manager at Zetron, who brings more than 35 years of experience across global leaders including Motorola and Panasonic. Scott shares his perspective on what next-generation platforms mean for public safety, why timing and emerging tech (AI, cloud) matter, and how Salus has been designed from the ground up to support diverse operational needs. Top TakeawaysThe industry isn’t asking for fewer vendors—it’s asking for greater choice and interoperability.Unified platforms must be designed around operational workflows, not just technology layers.A shared UX across emergency response stages can reduce latency and error.Cloud-first strategies allow faster innovation, but hybrid + on-prem will remain essential depending on service and policy needs.Openness is key—platforms must integrate beyond their own vendor ecosystem.Agencies should shift away from assuming that “one vendor = best experience.” Get Involved:Have questions or want to join the podcast? Email us at critcommscircle@omdia.com