8×8, Inc., a leading integrated cloud communications platform, today announced that the global 8×8 Open Channel Program was awarded a 5-Star rating by CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide provides a conclusive list of the most distinguished partner programs from leading technology companies that provide products and services through the IT Channel. The 5-Star rating is awarded to an exclusive group of companies that offer solution providers the best of the best, going above and beyond in their partner programs.

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.@8×8 Awarded 5-Star Rating in the 2021 @TheChannelCo @CRN Partner Program Guide

Given the importance of IT vendor channel programs, each year CRN develops its Partner Program Guide to provide the channel community with a detailed look at the partner programs offered by IT manufacturers, software developers, service companies, and distributors. Vendors are scored based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication.

“Through trusted long-term client relationships, the channel is helping to guide the digital transformation efforts of organizations around the globe as they move off legacy, on-premises communications and customer engagement systems,” said John DeLozier, Senior Vice President & Global Channel Chief at 8×8, Inc. “Our channel-first strategy with the 8×8 Open Channel Program has been built on the efforts of our fantastic partners. It is an honor to achieve a 5-Star rating in the prestigious CRN Partner Program Guide as it demonstrates that our channel investments are successfully driving momentum for the best-of-suite 8×8 integrated cloud contact center and communications platform.”

8×8 Open Channel Program

The 8×8 Open Channel Program ensures that every member of 8×8’s channel community, from Master and Sub Agents to VARs, has the necessary resources to thrive. The partner program offers tiered levels of dedicated resources for lead generation and conversion, as well as highly customizable, white-glove marketing campaigns to reach prospects. The program also includes activities such as blitz days (8×8’s channel pipeline generation initiative), account planning, product demonstrations and custom co-branded prospect events. In addition, 8×8’s best-in-class partner portal, PartnerXchange, allows partners to manage all customer needs, as well as access deal information, certifications and marketing content.

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The 8×8 integrated cloud contact center, voice communications, team chat and video meetings product provides channel partners with a single-vendor solution that helps organizations move off legacy, on-premises systems to the cloud, enabling employees to connect, collaborate and engage from anywhere with colleagues and customers. In addition, the increasing usage of Microsoft Teams for collaboration presents a major growth opportunity for the channel. With 8×8’s integrated enterprise-grade voice communications direct routing and contact center solution that is certified for Teams, partners can deliver to organizations a single solution that allows their employees and contact center agents to interact with colleagues and customers from any Teams endpoint.

“As innovation continues to fuel the speed and intricacy of technology, solution providers need partners that can keep up and support their developing business,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “CRN’s 2021 Partner Program Guide gives insight into the strengths of each organization’s program to recognize those that continually support and push positive change inside the IT channel.”

Caution Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Readers are directed to 8×8’s periodic and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a description of such risks and uncertainties. 8×8 undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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