Let’s be clear: business survival over the next several months depends on shifting from short-term adjustment to strategic transformation. Whether you’re a mom-and-pop shop, a midsize enterprise like 8x8, or a Fortune 500 company, we are all making the transition to a new way of working where more of us are unable to meet face to face. We continue to learn how to collaborate and communicate effectively, with each other and with partners and customers--regardless of location or device. And for those who make the transition successfully, we are finding new business opportunities to not just survive but to grow and thrive.

At 8x8, I have been inspired by the stories of our users connecting with and serving their employees, customers, and constituents. And we have learned many lessons along the way. Over the next 8 weeks, with your help, we are excited to share four essential guides on how to stay open for business:

Operate From Anywhere.

We have learned that work-from-anywhere is no longer just a nice-to-have perk, but needs to be baked into the fabric of almost every organization, and IT pros are primed to become business heroes. During this transformative period, being able to plan and execute effectively while remote is crucial. Agile strategies like those outlined in PI (Program Increment) Planning have proven vital, especially when implemented through adaptable online tools. An online PI planning board can help teams visualize and manage these plans efficiently, ensuring seamless collaboration no matter the distance. This essential 8-week guide will provide you with valuable insights to accelerate your organization’s shift to be more agile, resilient and customer-focused.

Connect Everywhere.

If there’s one thing impacting work productivity as much as screaming kids and needy pets, it’s a glut of communications tools that don’t work together. Learn how to reduce cognitive load and set Microsoft Teams users free with an integrated communications platform that bridges the divide between internal and external participants.

Build Your Experience.

Customers have learned to expect a unified experience when communicating with brands. Learn how successful organizations are going beyond those expectations with seamless SMS, video, RTC, and custom API integration services to delight their customers and reduce churn.

Open for Business.

Small businesses and eCommerce sites now live or die based on their responsiveness across channels, and making that a reality was previously limited to enterprise solutions. Learn the secrets of growing companies that have succeeded in accelerating customer connections.

Over the next 8 weeks we will be publishing polls and their results, and delivering new content as we discuss how business communications is evolving. Please join us as we uncover, share, and collaborate to refine these essentials over the coming weeks.

Best Regards,

Marge Breya

CMO