8×8 Work—previously 8×8 eXperience Communications as a Service—is a workhorse VoIP system for small- and medium-sized companies that merely want to verify every part works. It presents dependable voice and video calls, whereas its interface, although a bit primary, is easy to make use of and navigate. That stated, the additional value of add-on options, together with an AI bot that may report name sentiment, and the lack to customise the analytics dashboard are each downsides. Our Editors’ Selection winners for the class, Intermedia Unite and RingCentral RingEX, excel for his or her top-notch design and superior AI capabilities.
How A lot Does 8×8 Work Value?
8×8 Work presents easy pricing. The starter X1 plan prices $15 per person per thirty days. It consists of simply voice calling when it comes to core capabilities and might combine with Microsoft Groups.
The X2 plan, which prices $25 per person per thirty days, provides texting and video conferences. This tier limits voice and video conferences to 500 energetic customers, which is superb. It could actually retailer your name and assembly recordings for as much as 30 days and lets you make worldwide calls to 14 international locations.
The X4 plan, which prices $45 per person per thirty days, unlocks extra analytics knowledge and calls to 48 international locations. It’s the solely plan that features name barging, monitoring, and whispering options. It additionally extends recording retention to 130 days.
For comparability, RingEX’s entry-level Core plan prices $30 per person per thirty days. It helps some AI options (real-time name transcriptions and summaries of video conferences), textual content messaging, limitless home calling, and video calls with as much as 100 individuals. RingEX’s top-end Extremely plan, which matches 8×8’s X4 plan at $45 per person per thirty days, tops out at simply 200 attendees for video conferences and provides an AI Assistant that may enable you draft and translate textual content and crew messages.
Unite begins at $27.99 per person per thirty days. This tier will get you an AI Assistant, enterprise texting, one-to-one and crew messaging, limitless AI-enabled video conferences with as much as 100 individuals, and limitless home and worldwide calling. You must pay for the Enterprise plan ($32.99 per person per thirty days) to extend the video assembly attendee restrict to 200.
Getting Began and Utilizing 8×8 Work
Establishing 8×8 is a breeze. After you have a login, you can begin utilizing the product through your browser with none extra steps. Alternatively, you’ll be able to obtain the desktop (macOS or Home windows) or cellular (Android and iOS) apps. All had been gratifying to make use of in testing, particularly for on a regular basis calling, texting, and video conferencing both en masse or on a one-to-one foundation. The service’s softphone dialer is about as clear because it will get.
The very first thing you might be prone to discover about 8×8 Work is its plain interface. It makes use of black textual content on a white background by default and presents a darkish mode, although I want it had slightly extra shade and aptitude. This is not a significant grievance, nevertheless, as a result of the clutter-free design makes it simple so that you can discover the options and settings you want. Choices for calling, texting, and video calls are all available.
8×8’s UI takes a no-frills method general (Credit score: 8×8/PCMag)
Admin options are additionally fast to search out. You don’t have to hunt round for issues just like the interactive voice response (IVR) settings for configuring an auto-receptionist or the portal for including new customers. One slight problem I had with the latter, nevertheless, is that it requires an authentication course of. Different VoIP providers, equivalent to RingEX, do not make you do something comparable, however you may nonetheless respect that further stage of safety.
The method for importing contacts may use streamlining. You possibly can sync 8×8 Work together with your Google or Microsoft contacts to mechanically add them, however bulk imports through CSV recordsdata require you to go to the admin portal. You must use the precise template 8×8 gives.
8×8’s configuration UI is simple and uncluttered (Credit score: 8×8/PCmag)
Tech Assist and Integrations
You probably have any points getting began, 8×8 Work presents three tech help tiers, every with a special service stage settlement (SLA) on response instances. Tiers one and two are primarily based on the associated fee you pay to make use of the service—tier one is for subscriptions totaling underneath $3,000, and tier two is for these totaling over $3,000. The best tier three is for corporations that pay greater than $35,000 per thirty days.
Tech help for admins and on a regular basis customers is accessible 24/7 through chat, e-mail, and cellphone. Earlier than I may get by to a stay agent throughout testing, a help bot repeatedly tried to reply my questions. The excellent news is that an agent ultimately resolved my problem inside about 5 minutes. In an admin help name associated to importing contacts, the technician I labored with was useful and resolved a problem shortly. That is encouraging as a result of help could make an enormous distinction for a product with as many options as 8×8. You may also seek the advice of an in depth assist system at any time.
The platform integrates with about 70 completely different third-party apps, together with Google Workspace, Microsoft Groups, and Salesforce. The entire integrations require not less than the X2 plan, and a few, equivalent to Salesforce, add integration charges.
8×8 helps SMS textual content messaging to people or en masse (Credit score: 8×8/PCMag)
8×8 Work helps 23 completely different desk telephones from manufacturers equivalent to Poly, Panasonic, and Yealink. The system even works with ATA adapters (for connecting older analog telephones), conferencing telephones, cordless telephones, and pagers. Notably, you’ll be able to arrange Cisco desk telephones with the platform, one thing that Zoho Voice doesn’t but help.
Name High quality and Options
8×8 Work’s cellphone name high quality was wonderful in testing, and video conferences seemed crisp and clear. The latter embrace some helpful further options, together with a “automotive mode” and a digital whiteboard. Assembly hosts can even cut up teams of individuals into breakout rooms. You possibly can select to report cellphone calls and conferences, and the software program mechanically informs individuals if you do.
Small perks and options popped up often. For instance, throughout cellphone calls, you’ll be able to see a graph displaying name high quality (it at all times rated mine nearly as good). You may also test the analytics dashboard to see what number of conferences you held, how lengthy they lasted, and the way many individuals attended over a customizable time interval. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t modify what any of those assembly analytics dashboards present.
8×8’s analytics dashboards are pleasing, but not configurable (Credit score: 8×8/PCMag)
I did not have any bother establishing an automatic attendant. In only a few clicks, I configured a faux firm, added a voice greeting, and mapped out the decision routing. 8×8 Work consists of options for listening in to calls, whispering to an agent, and becoming a member of the decision (or barging).
8×8’s softphone is useful, if not significantly fairly (Credit score: 8×8/PCMag)
The software program joins many others in including synthetic intelligence (AI) options, though they really feel a bit tacked on right here. I examined a beta characteristic for computerized name transcription, which carried out adequately. I did not get the prospect to check the corporate’s extra superior add-on AI product known as Dialog IQ. 8×8 stated that pricing for that varies relying on buyer wants. You do not pay further for AI options with RingEX.
Administration Expertise
8×8’s admin features are in a separate portal with a equally minimalist interface. The whole lot is straightforward to search out, however the app and admin features lack some pizzazz. You possibly can configure name monitoring and name routing simply sufficient, however most of the higher-end name middle features, equivalent to agent reporting and agent name routing for tech help, can be found solely within the separate, devoted 8×8 Contact Middle product. Admins who want to hook up with a buyer relationship administration (CRM) system ought to discover the method pretty intuitive.
8×8’s admin interface is the important thing to a lot of its options (Credit score: 8×8/PCMag)
Verdict: Characteristic-Wealthy and Simple to Use
A complete set of capabilities, mixed with distinctive voice and video assembly high quality, make 8×8 Work price contemplating to your SMB telephony wants. We want the interface was a bit extra energetic and that the analytics dashboard was customizable, however the platform nonetheless gives all the usual communication options for an affordable value, particularly its entry-level tiers. That stated, Unite and RingEX profit from higher interfaces and extra superior AI options, edging out 8×8 to every earn an Editors’ Selection award for the class.
The Backside Line
8×8 Work’s distinctive name and video high quality and easy-to-navigate interface make it a worthwhile VoIP service for companies.
Like What You are Studying?
This article might comprise promoting, offers, or affiliate hyperlinks.
By clicking the button, you verify you might be 16+ and comply with our
Phrases of Use and
Privateness Coverage.
It’s possible you’ll unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
About John Brandon
Contributing Author
Learn the most recent from John Brandon
