An enthusiastic audience assembled to view demonstrations of the 8x8 Contact Center at Housing24. They discovered first-hand the impressive capabilities it offers to help housing providers streamline processes, reduce costs and improve tenant engagement. Housing24 is Europe’s leading housing festival and takes place annually. This year, over 9000 passionate professionals from across the sector gathered for an informative and inspiring week of conversations and presentations.

Partnering with Social Telecoms to improve communications

8x8 joined Social Telecoms to bring a taste of summer to the event with a summer garden-themed exhibitor space to showcase the latest in networking and communications. Social Telecoms is an 8x8 partner whose products and services are easily accessible to housing associations through the Procurement for Housing (PfH) framework.

PfH enables change and delivers cost savings to the housing sector. Members benefit from a range of services including direct access to pre-approved suppliers and solutions to simplify the procurement process.

Something for everyone

A packed agenda kept speakers, exhibitors and visitors busy with multiple stages, demonstrations and discussions.

A fundraising evening of karaoke at Housing Rocks supported More than Homes, the UK housing sector’s campaign to raise £1m for The Trussell Trust.

When it came time for the award ceremony, the Unlock Net Zero awards recognised outstanding achievements for decarbonisation across the sector. Plus, Inside Housing celebrated their 40 under 40, recognising 40 outstanding professionals who are shaping the future of the sector. The commitment and dedication of the exhibitors, vendors and housing professionals to tackle the issues around providing safe and affordable housing and reducing homelessness could not be doubted. Below we look at some of the key priorities and topics that came out of the event.

Homelessness and social housing

Darren McGarvey, author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us, provided an insightful keynote discussing the realities of homelessness and the support needed. Research from Shelter (published 2023) shows at least 309,000 people are recorded as homeless in England, including 140,000 children. Housing is in crisis and there were numerous discussions during the event about ways to improve the situation in the future and potential paths towards a better future.

In fact, one of the most discussed topics was the urgent need for more affordable housing. Speakers highlighted that, while there has been progress, the pace is not sufficient to meet the growing demand.

According to the National Housing Federation, there is a need for 145,000 new affordable homes each year, which includes 90,000 for social rent.

Tenant and resident engagement

Improving tenant engagement and the need to integrate housing, health and social care was likewise addressed. Industry leaders discussed how to support independent living better, and the need for a change of mindset around providing accessible housing, without having to medicalise disabilities.

Delegates also discussed the usefulness of the tenant satisfaction measures (TSMs) showing concerns that care needs to be taken to ensure TSMs effectively report how good services are and don't devalue a lot of other useful activities and initiatives that could be happening.

Sustainability

Sustainability was another major focus at the event, with sessions dedicated to green building practices and environmentally friendly urban planning. Speakers presented cutting-edge technologies and materials that reduce the carbon footprint of new housing developments. They also discussed the importance of integrating renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency in homes.

Smart housing

Demonstrations showcased smart home systems that enhance security, energy management and accessibility. Presentations highlighted the Internet of Things (IoT) technology that could revolutionise the housing sector, the strategic, ethical and practical considerations of delivering IoT devices in homes and the value of data analytics to optimise housing management.

Despite research showing the potential of smart homes in improving residents' quality of life, there is still a reluctance amongst tenants and fears of their privacy being compromised.

Technology and data

8x8 demonstrated how the AI-powered 8x8 Intelligent Customer Assistant can transform busy contact centres, leading to faster responses and more first-time resolutions, as well as the power of omnichannel engagement.

The power of accurate data and the need for good data management was highlighted, referencing the Housing Ombudsman’s spotlight report on knowledge and information management, published last year. The report concluded that poor data and record-keeping are “ubiquitous” in the sector, and that this was causing “daily detriment” to residents.

8x8 commitment to housing

As we reflect on all of the conversations and demonstrations that took place at the event, it becomes clear that the commitment and dedication of professionals and exhibitors across the sector is unquestionable. We loved the enthusiasm for the 8x8 technology and discussions around the role of AI in communications to streamline processes, ensure compliance and improve tenant engagement. We are already looking forward to Housing25!

Learn more about 8x8 AI solutions for housing: download the guide