Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2026 was $184.1 million, exceeding guidance by approximately $4 million, with a year-over-year growth of 1.7% [13] - Service revenue reached $179.1 million, growing 2.3% year-over-year, driven by strong usage-based offerings [13] - Gross profit was $120.9 million, with a gross margin of 65.7%, reflecting a sequential decline due to a shift towards lower-margin usage revenue [14] - Operating income was $17.3 million, resulting in a 9.4% operating margin, above expectations [14] - Cash flow from operations was $8.8 million, exceeding guidance, with a cash balance of $76.7 million at quarter-end [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Usage revenue, including CPaaS communication APIs, accounted for approximately 19% of service revenue, up from 13% in Q2 2025 [13] - Service revenue from Fused customers declined to about 3% of total service revenue, down from 7% in Q2 2025, as the company transitions these customers to the 8x8 Platform [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. business is experiencing slower growth compared to international markets, with the U.K. and international segments growing substantially faster [63] - The company is seeing increased demand for its AI-powered solutions, which are becoming integral to customer engagement strategies [55] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on innovation, particularly through the integration of AI across its platform to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency [5][11] - A new product, 8x8 Workforce Management, will be offered free to all Contact Center customers, marking a shift towards product-led growth [6][7] - The company is committed to disciplined capital management, including debt reduction, with a significant reduction of $224 million in debt principal since August 2022 [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver sustained shareholder value, despite potential variability in usage-based revenue growth [16][19] - The transition to a usage-based revenue model is expected to lead to increased revenue growth, albeit with decreasing gross margins in the short term [61] - Management is aware of pricing pressures in the market but believes that the introduction of new AI products will help offset these challenges [42] Other Important Information - The company is actively exploring M&A opportunities to drive geographic and product portfolio expansion, while maintaining a focus on cash flow and debt management [49][50] - The company is implementing a new conference call format, providing detailed quarterly letters and financial highlights to enhance communication with investors [4][12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the service margin changes? - Management indicated that the changes are primarily driven by volume rather than price, with stable margins on application services [22] Question: How will the revenue trajectory look as Fused customers transition? - Management noted that while there will be a temporary headwind as Fused customers are upgraded, they expect to return to normalized growth rates thereafter [23][24] Question: How is pipeline quality being measured? - Pipeline quality is measured by the number of deals reaching stage three in their sales process, indicating a higher likelihood of closing [25][26] Question: What actions are being taken regarding cost management? - The company is deploying AI technologies internally to improve efficiency and reduce costs, while also managing supplier pricing [60][62] Question: How does the company view M&A versus organic growth? - Management stated that while they are looking at tuck-in acquisitions, debt reduction remains a priority, and they are focused on cash flow-driven growth [49][50]