ADT.L Regulatory News (ADT)

AdEPT Technology Group PLC

("AdEPT" or the "Company")

New AdEPT partnership with 8x8 extends Unified Communications & Contact Centre Portfolio - with a focus on 'pure cloud'

19th May: for immediate release

AdEPT Press Release

With its mission of 'uniting technology, inspiring people', AdEPT Technology Group today announces a new strategic partnership with 8x8, a global, class-leading provider of pure cloud solutions to address Unified Communications as a Service ("UCaaS") and Contact Centre as a Service ("CCaaS") needs.

Relevance for investors

AdEPT Technology Group is on course to win more business in the Unified Comms (UC) marketplace through a new strategic partnership with 8x8, announced today.

Responding to significant market demand, the new partnership, which provides a unique complement to the AdEPT portfolio, will allow AdEPT to meet customer requirements for easy and rapid rollout of cloud Unified Communications ("UCaaS") and Contact Centre ("CCaaS") services.

This will enable AdEPT to win more UC business - helping the Group to tap into a marketplace that is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 25% from 2019 to 2025 (Ref 1) and a CCaaS market seeing similar CAGR of 24% (Ref 2).

The initial focus for the proposition will be public sector organisations and healthcare providers.

CEO of AdEPT, Phil Race, is delighted to welcome 8x8 as an AdEPT partner. He said:

"The partnership with 8x8 elegantly builds out our portfolio with a fantastic solution set. This is already an important marketplace for AdEPT, where we have been highly successful in delivering communication solutions - whether they are deployed on-premise, in a hybrid manner or purely in the cloud.

"However, we have seen an increasing demand for UC and contact centre solutions that can be deployed without any need for on-premise infrastructure, the so-called 'zero footprint' projects.

"These solutions are crucial to business in normal times - but they have become even more critical in a Covid world of disconnected supply chains, distant customers and remote workers.

"It's important for AdEPT to be partnering with leaders in this industry".

The current state of play

AdEPT currently deploys a strong portfolio of solutions, powered by key strategic partners, which can be summarized as;

So why add 8x8?

8x8 provides a unique complement to the AdEPT portfolio. As a pure cloud player, 8x8 addresses the need for a solution that is easy to deploy, has 'zero footprint,' with scalable functionality. As a result, the 8x8 X Series UCaaS suite is proving very disruptive in the UK marketplace.

Further endorsement comes from Gartner, with the 8x8 product suite classed as a 'Leader' in two Magic Quadrants, one for Unified Communications as a Service, Worldwide (Ref 3) and the other for Contact Centre as a Service.

Why now?

This new partnership allows AdEPT and 8x8 to tap into the public sector "Cloud First" policy and similarly the NHS "Internet First" policy. These are strategic guidelines to public sector organisations that encourage the deployment of technology in the cloud wherever possible.

AdEPT has a long track record of deploying voice solutions, with expertise in delivering Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, UC and Contact Centre solutions.

Because of this experience, an increasing number of public and private sector businesses are turning to AdEPT to help them through the transformational voice journey from legacy to new.

This success has led to AdEPT achieving Diamond partner status with Avaya, and Platinum partner status with Gamma - both achieved in the past eight months - as more businesses trust AdEPT to take them on their transformational journey.

This demand will only accelerate as BT pursues its plan to decommission the analogue copper phone network by 2025, which means that more than 16 million lines and channels will need to move to alternative products by 2025. (Ref 4).

The 8x8 cloud portfolio completes the full set of solutions AdEPT needs to address this substantial market demand.

Get in touch

If companies need expert, vendor-agnostic, advice to achieve their specific business challenges, as well as help to prepare for 2025 then contact AdEPT.

References

1. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/unified-communications-as-a-service-ucaas-removing-barriers-of-communications-trends-industry

2. Research and Markets report, September 2019

3. As of July 2019

4. BT Openreach data

- ENDS: 804 WORDS -

Notes for journalists and editors-

For a full briefing please contact:

This announcement has been released by Ben Rogers, Head of Marketing, on behalf of the Company.

About AdEPT Technology Group plc:

AdEPT Technology Group plc is one of the UK's leading independent providers of managed services for IT, unified communications, connectivity and voice solutions. AdEPT's tailored services are used by thousands of customers across the UK and are brought together through the strategic relationships with tier-1 suppliers such as Openreach, BT Wholesale, Virgin Media, Avaya, Microsoft, Dell and Apple.

AdEPT is quoted on AIM, operated by the London Stock Exchange (Ticker: ADT). For further information please visit: www.adept.co.uk

About 8x8:

8x8, Inc. (NYSE: EGHT) is transforming the future of business communications as a leading Software-as-a-Service provider of voice, video, chat, contact center and enterprise-class API solutions powered by one global cloud communications platform.

8x8 empowers workforces worldwide to connect individuals and teams so they can collaborate faster and work smarter. Real-time analytics and intelligence provide businesses unique insights across all interactions and channels so they can delight end-customers and accelerate their business. For additional information, visit: www.8x8.com .