8x8, a provider of cloud-based unified communications, contact centre and collaboration solutions, has introduced two new Virtual Office service enhancements that support the scalability and internal communications requirements of its growing mid-market and distributed enterprise customer base.
8x8 Branch Office is a new Virtual Office feature that allows customers to segment their primary 8x8 cloud-based PBX to unique physical or logical branch offices, while still keeping those individual locations fully integrated into a single unified communications platform.
System administrators are able to quickly define a branch office and associate extensions from their corporate directory to that location or group.
"Branch Office is an example of how the cloud technology inherent in the 8x8 Virtual Office communications solution can be put to work to support an organisation's strategic business processes and goals," said 8x8 CEO Vik Verma.
"In this instance, rapid deployment and scalability, characteristics many of our mid-market and distributed enterprise customers choose us for, is easily achieved using our cloud-based service delivery model which also carries the added bonus of requiring very little oversight on the part of an organisation's internal IT staff."
8x8 also announced Virtual Office Switchboard Pro, a web-based multi-faceted offering that streamlines call routing and management capabilities for receptionists and other front office users.
Switchboard Pro enables the receptionist to view real-time presence of all users, corporate-wide or within a branch office, all on their computer screen. This allows them to manage multiple incoming calls, and quickly apply call treatment options such as Call Park (public, Branch, or extension), Hold, and Call Transfer to an extension or directly to voicemail, all with the click of a mouse.
Switchboard Pro also provides a platform to coordinate call coverage with other receptionists when on a break and toggle to auto attendant when no receptionist is available. Incoming calls can be answered from either the Switchboard application or from a physical handset.