8x8, Poly and ScanSource Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Communications Industry's First Comprehensive "Move to Cloud" Program
Today three leading technology providers -- 8x8, Inc. (NYSE: EGHT), Plantronics, Inc. ("Poly" ? formerly Plantronics and Polycom) (NYSE: PLT) and ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC) -- announced they are joining forces to help companies easily move away from legacy on-premises business communication systems to true cloud-based communication solutions. The joint global program, named CloudFueltm, will accelerate the process of ensuring organizations have proven cloud technology to meet all of their needs across unified communications, collaboration and contact center. This is the first time a comprehensive, frictionless hardware replacement/cloud migration program will be offered to the VAR channel, combining award-winning UCaaS and CCaaS solutions on 8x8's single technology platform, best-in-class equipment from Poly and powerful financial incentives for ScanSource resellers, who are the critical parties with the end customer relationships.
The cloud offers many advantages to organizations, including improving efficiency and lowering cost for IT, providing AI-driven data to enable actionable insights, maximizing uptime through reliability, security and resiliency, and providing modern communication tools to unify employees and contact center agents while improving productivity.
The move from on-premises systems to cloud-based communications is accelerating regardless of organizational size, with 82 percent of businesses surveyed recently by Frost and Sullivan reporting they have moved or plan to move part or all of their enterprise telephony solutions to the cloud. However, there are still more than an estimated 350 million on-premises seats globally, with less than 10 percent migrated, providing a huge opportunity to move businesses to the cloud as part of an overall digital transformation. In addition, for the period 2018 to 2023, Gartner forecasts contact center agents worldwide using CCaaS to grow at a 19.8 percent CAGR. The on-premises contact center infrastructure agent installed base is forecasted to decline by 7.5 percent over the same period.1
The CloudFuel program will be offered through the extensive ScanSource network of more than 35,000 resellers and will provide access through their direct relationships to hundreds of thousands of customers across the globe. The CloudFuel offering will include the full range of 8x8 X Series and standalone solutions, built on top of the best voice quality and reliability in the cloud, along with integrated analytics and data, frictionless migration tools and deployment services. As part of the full-service program, customers will receive incentives on Poly equipment including highly favorable leasing terms, pricing and a buyback program for current on-premises equipment. The companies will invest in joint marketing development, equipment buyback programs, special incentives, and migration tools to accelerate the transition to cloud.
"For many years 8x8 has been helping businesses replace their legacy on-premises solutions to modernize their communications and increase service quality, system resiliency, IT agility and performance visibility all with a single cloud technology platform," said Vik Verma, CEO at 8x8. "Today's announcement takes our relationships with ScanSource, a leading provider of technology products and solutions, and Poly, the leading phone equipment provider, to a new level, uniting industry leaders together with a joint purpose - to deliver cost effective, packaged programs that will enable countless organizations to easily and quickly take advantage of the cloud."
"Our previous on-premises telephony system could not provide the critical integrated contact center functionality we needed," said Bayard Carlin, Senior Director of Technical Operations at Colibri Group, a family of brands that provide learning solutions for licensed professionals in real estate, healthcare, and 22 other industries. "We moved to 8x8 for a single Unified Communications and Contact Center solution. I was impressed with how fast the switch-over took place and how seamless the project was from day one. We have realized 30 percent cost savings, and more importantly, we have less complexity and more functionality, including rich contact center analytics and an easier process for adding new agents or locations quickly."
"This strategic partnership between ScanSource, 8x8, and Poly enables our VARs to resell 8x8 cloud communication services aligned with their existing, preferred business model that allows them to own the customer relationship," said Mike Baur, Chairman and CEO at ScanSource, Inc. "This program will allow our VARs to manage the customer billings for the 8x8 and Poly solution, while also giving VARs the ability to add additional services that they provide."
"For years, Poly has been leading the charge helping our customers move from on-premises telephony to cloud-based communications," said Joe Burton, President and Chief Executive Officer at Poly. "With stellar partners like 8x8 and ScanSource, along with these new incentive programs, we will make the migration process to UCaaS as seamless as possible for our collective customers."
Availability
The new CloudFuel program will be available starting in December 2019. For more information, visit www.cloud-fuel.com.
1Gartner Forecast Analysis: Contact Centers, Worldwide, Sebastian Hernandez, Megan Fernandez, Daniel O'Connell, April 26, 2019
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements include, without limitation, information about the future strategic cloud migration program named CloudFuel between Poly, 8x8, and Scansource, including distribution through the ScanSource network of resellers, future financial incentives, introduction of new migration tools for on-premise customers, and frictionless hardware replacement opportunities. Such statements are predictions only, and actual events or results could differ materially, including the future availability of CloudFuel, from those made in any forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Readers are directed to the periodic and other reports of 8x8, Poly, and Scansource filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a description of such risks and uncertainties. 8x8, Poly, and Scansource undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. (NYSE: EGHT) is transforming the future of business communications as a leading Software-as-a-Service provider of voice, video, chat, contact center and enterprise-class API solutions powered by one global cloud communications platform. 8x8 empowers workforces worldwide to connect individuals and teams so they can collaborate faster and work smarter. Real-time business analytics and intelligence provide businesses unique insights across all interactions and channels so they can delight end-customers and accelerate their business. For additional information, visit www.8x8.com, or follow 8x8 on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
8x8, 8x8 X Series, and CloudFuel are trademarks or registered trademarks of 8x8, Inc.
About Poly
Plantronics, Inc. ("Poly" ? formerly Plantronics and Polycom) (NYSE: PLT) is a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration. Poly combines legendary audio expertise and powerful video and conferencing capabilities to overcome the distractions, complexity and distance that make communication in and out of the workplace challenging. Poly believes in solutions that make life easier when they work together and with our partner's services. Our headsets, software, desk phones, audio and video conferencing, analytics and services are used worldwide and are a leading choice for every kind of workspace. For more information, please visit: www.poly.com.
Poly, the propeller design, and the Poly logo are trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.
About ScanSource, Inc.
ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC) is at the center of the technology solution delivery channel, connecting businesses and providing solutions for their complex needs. ScanSource sells through multiple, specialized routes-to-market with digital, physical and services offerings from the world's leading suppliers of point-of-sale (POS), payments, barcode, physical security, unified communications and collaboration, telecom and cloud services. ScanSource enables its sales partners to create, deliver and manage solutions for end-customers across almost every vertical market. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, ScanSource was named one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in South Carolina and on FORTUNE magazine's 2019 List of World's Most Admired Companies. ScanSource ranks #643 on the Fortune 1000. For more information, visit www.scansource.com.
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