8×8, Inc., a provider of customer experience (CX) platforms, has launched 8×8® Fast Pay, a new digital service designed to simplify rent collection and provide support for citizens across UK councils, aiming to reduce operational burdens and improve resident services.
8×8 Fast Pay streamlines collections and supports residents through a proactive approach. The service uses SMS messaging, allowing citizens to make secure online payments or initiate virtual conversations for further assistance. It is designed to ease operational demands on council teams while enhancing services for those in need, also guiding tenants toward available support programs such as Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
The introduction of 8×8 Fast Pay comes amidst significant financial pressures on UK households. Research by the housing charity Shelter indicates that more than two-thirds of individuals with housing costs in England experienced financial strain over the past year, affecting nearly 20 million people. Of these, 21% reported difficulties in keeping up with mortgage or rent payments.
Key features of 8×8 Fast Pay include flexible payment paths, enabling tenants to quickly pay online or connect with staff, which can help reduce missed payments and arrears. The solution offers empathetic support at scale through automated conversations for routine questions, allowing staff to focus on more complex cases. It also facilitates easier access to financial relief by guiding citizens to available assistance programs. Residents can seamlessly switch to a live agent with full context at any stage, ensuring continuous support. All transactions are PCI DSS compliant, providing secure payment processing for both councils and citizens.
Maxine Eunson, Head of Public Sector at 8×8, Inc., commented on the solution’s impact: “In councils across the country, staff are juggling huge caseloads while doing everything they can to help citizens in need. 8×8 Fast Pay lightens that load – giving people a quick, secure way to make payments, or start a conversation if they need more help. This is technology with heart: simple, dignified, and designed for real life.”
8×8 Fast Pay builds on the company’s existing solutions aimed at improving efficiencies within the Public Sector. These include 8×8 Remote Fix, 8×8 Active Assessor for social housing providers, and AI-powered templates for automating appointment bookings and handling routine inquiries such as refuse collection and voting-related questions.
8×8, Inc. (NASDAQ: EGHT) connects individuals and organizations through an integrated platform for Customer Experience, combining Contact Center, Unified Communication, and CPaaS solutions. The 8×8® Platform for CX incorporates AI to facilitate personalized customer journeys, enhance operational excellence, provide insights, and foster team collaboration.
