8×8, the cloud services provider, has expanded its technology platform and Elev8 Partner Program to include VARs.

After growing the referral partner program this year to more than 1,000 active channel agents, and investing further in enablement and technology integration, 8×8 now is making its platform and program available for the global VAR community. 8×8 launched Elev8 in June.

John DeLozier, 8×8’s senior vice president and global channel chief, tells Channel Partners his company has “drastically” expanded the capabilities of its partner portal, PartnerXchange, to support VAR quoting and ordering of services, pipeline management and administration of their customers’ services.

8×8’s John DeLozier

“In addition, our X Series platform is being enhanced with additional APIs, user interfaces and capabilities to optimize the ease of migrations from premises-based implementations to 8×8’s cloud services and to support automation of various functions critical to VARs’ ability to provide their customers value-added services that complement the 8×8 services as deployed,” he said.

8×8 has engaged with VARs for years, primarily in Australia-New Zealand and EMEA, and also in the United States, gathering their input on how best to market to their installed customer base and addressing their customers’ business requirements, DeLozier said.

“Based on our experiences to date with VARs over the years and the VARs’ specific feedback, we have constructed our programs and implemented enhancements to our technology platforms to scale VAR business significantly,” he said. “It’s also important to note that many members of the 8×8 channel team, including myself, have come from the VAR world so we have lots of experience in creating programs.”

Elev8 offers tiered levels of dedicated funds for lead generation and conversion, as well as customizable campaigns to reach prospects. In addition, the program includes activities such as Elev8 blitz days, 8×8’s channel pipeline generation initiative, account planning, product demos and custom co-branded prospect events.

“The expanded Elev8 program will provide VARs with an advantageous ability to market to their end users and give their customers a path to cloud communication services,” DeLozier said. “The 8×8 X Series offers VARs a complete cloud communication solution for UCaaS, CCaaS, VCaaS and CPaaS that allows them to address all of their customers’ communication requirements today and in the future. The best part is that it is available to VARs right now.”

“It’s exciting that 8×8 is taking their channel program to the next level by adding the VAR community,” said Kevin Butler, vice president of product and marketing at Vertical Communications, an early adopter of 8×8’s VAR partner program. “8×8 enables us to deliver a single source solution for a complete communication offering, making it easier to scale and help more customers transition to the cloud.”