Three Companies to Launch CloudFuelTM Program
to Accelerate Transition from Legacy On-Premises Business
Communication Systems to Leading Cloud Technology Platform and
Equipment
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 CloudFuel™, 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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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191030005368/en/
8x8 Investor Relations: Victoria Hyde-Dunn, 669-333-5200
victoria.hyde-dunn@8x8.com
8x8 Media: John Sun, 408-692-7054 john.sun@8x8.com
Poly Media: Shannon Shamoon, 831-201-9142
Shannon.Shamoon@poly.com
ScanSource Media: Jason Weidman, 864-283-3066
jason.weidman@scansource.com
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