The current work from home mandate imposed in many jurisdictions globally has created an increased need for cloud-based unified communications. Companies that hadn’t already implemented UCaaS solutions to create flexible work environments for their mobile workforces, remote employees, and to generally accommodate any situation that might arise, quickly realized they were ill prepared to handle crisis situations as the COVID-19 pandemic spread and businesses were directed to keep employees at home.
Before this emergency started impacting businesses across the globe, technology distributor AVANT Communications saw a need to evolve its communications to enable its workforce to function more effectively as the company’s business grew. It saw a need to modernize its own communications capabilities – much as it offers its customers the ability to modernize their IT infrastructures and services.
“Our employees need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively and productively, whether in the office or remote from home, to enable our growing ecosystem of Trusted Advisors and technology partners to help companies navigate change and solve their business and technology challenges,” said Ron Hayman, AVANT’s COO.
The company deployed 8x8’s X Series UCaaS solution in is Dallas office to enable its teams to function effectively, based on an evaluation of multiple vendors – presumably many of those it partners with and offers through its Trusted Advisor platform.
“We chose 8x8 because they met our strict requirements for a mobile and remote workforce, including reliable voice quality, resilient global infrastructure, desktop and mobile applications, tight Salesforce CRM integration, with video meetings and rooms functionality.”
The company then expedited rollout in its headquarters in Chicago as well, along with other remote employees and UK teams, which allowed it to immediately respond to the work from home mandates resulting from the coronavirus spread. The timing couldn’t have been better for AVANT, as its employees now are able to communicate normally, even those who have been displaced from their traditional work environments.
The 8x8 solution, which the company featured at ITEXPO 2020 in Ft. Lauderdale – where CEO Vik Verma specifically talked about the role its channel partners play in the company’s growth – includes its WebRTC-based Video Meetings solution, which is available free for all users to conduct video and audio conferences. Not surprisingly, the company says it has seen a major uptick in usage over the past few months, as companies try to manage with what has become the new normal – at least temporarily.
Video collaboration, UCaaS, AI and ML, and all among the latest technologies that are improving business communications and processes – including remote working – are at the core of the content and networking at TechSuperShow 2021. Coming to the brand new Miami Beach Convention Center June 22-25, 2021, TechSuperShow features ITEXPO, MSP Expo, SD-WAN Expo, Future of Work Expo, and several other collocated events, and will once again combine an unprecedented opportunity for education and networking. Enterprises and MSPs, service providers and carriers, MSPs, channel partners, will all have access to the latest content and products and services that are driving business success under any conditions.
Edited by
Erik Linask
