MINUTES
6/12/06
– 6/13/06
NECSI
AND NEC MEETING
NECSI presented the Advantage Survey.
Respondents were generally positive and looking for excellent follow up from
NEC leadership. NECSI congratulated NEC
on a successful Advantage meeting.
NECSI presented the results of the IPKII
Survey.
Ø NEC
reported than many of the issues raised are addressed in 1500 software, which
is currently in BETA with a release date of July. NEC Marketing is looking for IPKII Success stories from high
visibility end users.
Ø NECSI
requested email notification or a report be made available to dealer principals
of the technician staff progress on the IPKII on line modules. NEC agreed and
reported they have an 80% pass rate on the Prometric exam and the NEC live in
person training classes in Dallas STILL EXIST.
Ø NECSI
requested that the 2-year expiration of all Prometric exams be removed. NEC
will take this into consideration.
Ø NECSI
further requested a practice test be made available for the IPKII on
line/prometric exams to ease technicians’ fear of the test without manuals. NEC
agreed to implement this quickly.
Ø NECSI
discussed the issues of having training available before a product is released
and NEC strongly agreed.
Ø NECSI
asked that PC PRO be included with each IPK II system and that the licensing
requirement be removed. NEC stated that
they will look into it.
PBX:
Ø NECSI
requested NEC make a bigger announcement and splash with the hot DML product as
a standalone.
Ø NECSI
asked if the IPS generic could include the VM soft Keys so a cable and
downloading the softkeys was not necessary. NEC to investigate
National Accounts:
NEC presented the new National Accounts program under
development, which is led by Randy Donald.
Randy was previously instrumental in a
similar role with Toshiba National Accounts.
Alliance Performance Program:
NEC reviewed the new NEC Alliance
Performance Program.
This appears to be a Win Win situation for
the Associates.
Training:
NECSI and NEC review old business including
the training requirements and costs.
NEC will further review the data provided on competitive manufacturers.
Ø NECSI
requested that NEC provide more options for technical training to give Dealers
the following options for training:
NEC responded that they have been working on
some alternative solutions and would include our input in their
implementation. They also stated that
they are working towards the ability to have training conducted by third party companies
allowing classes in cities served by the third party companies.
NEC presented a new reporting tool they are
developing from NTAC that will enable dealers to track all of their calls into
NTAC, by site, by technician and by date.
NEC presented an overview of the sales
training available. NECSI requested we once again put this information in
Crosstalk.
MA 4000 Sales CD is Downloadable on the
Portal
MasterQuote currently will not allow IM16LX
in a DM configuration. This is due to a mechanical issue with a bracket
on the IM 16 and it not working with the new DM chassis. NEC expects this
to be resolved in approximately 30 days.
There is no date as yet for the availability
of the Demo Portal
NEC brought up www.firstresearch.com as an excellent
source for information about prospective clients and vertical market research
that is reasonably priced.
Active Voice Discussions:
Active Voice reported the AD64 and AD120
will merge and they will have a single product on the SQL database and ability
to interface to Exchange with the option of license purchases in smaller
quantities than currently developed on the AD120 (all or nothing for unified
messaging). This will be accomplished in 3 phases.
UM4730 works on IPS but you cannot quote
using Masterquote. Plans are in the works to get this approved and added.
Jeff Jones is currently offering webinars on
the new Inmail product. Active Voice will provide information to NECSI to
promote these webinars to the dealer channel.
UM4730 works on IPS but you cannot
masterquote. Plans are in the works to get this approved and added.
IM16LX clean sweep program will include AD-8
Ø NECSI
asked Active Voice to work on the following:
Active Voice offered to produce white papers
on steps to perform system upgrades using best practices
Active Voice noted that there is a MSI
installer to enable pushing a UM installation to a desktop. More
information to follow
Active Voice Seven voice Recognition is
coming to MQ
NECSI present some new programs for NEC
consideration:
Goal: Provide value added applications to the market. Reduce
installation time and NTAC service
time.
Each Associate is eligible to purchase any/all
new NEC products and/or software at XX
OFF MSRP pricing. Balance of
purchase price can be co-op’d. Subject to the conditions outlined.
Associate will be able to purchase one (1)
of each new item for each one of their Registered/Official sales and service
facilities, up to a maximum of XX
offices.
Associate must participate in NEC sponsored
on-line training within XXX
days on each particular product/software ordered. Each office participating in this program will be required to
have a technical employee participate in the web training that is working full
time from the location receiving the product.
These participants must pass a challenge test after this training and
will be considered Certified on the product offering. Note: Technical pre-requisite
training may be required.
Associates purchasing product and not
participating in the certification program, will not be eligible to participate
in any future Accelerator Program’s until such time
as a technical representatives at those offices have passed certification on
the previous product program they took advantage of.
Dealer receives all applications and
participates in certification. Dealer
sales reps can use the applications first hand, allowing them to sell and
demo. Dealer does not spend inordinate
amount of non-recoupable tech time on site trying to make the applications
work. Dealer saves time and money and
reputation. So does NEC.
Dealer techs have participated in
installation, cutting down NTAC support requirements. Most nuances and
peculiarities of the new products and software would be presented and discussed
during the on line training, not from a client installation site. NEC saves
time and money, while putting products in the hands of the Associates and
public!
NEC should hold “sales” and “Technical”
conference calls, before and following the training, between participating
dealers, to answer questions and receive product feedback.
NEC Technology Professional – end user
training that will capture IT staff attention with the intent to sell more
products. The goal is that the IT
population will begin to see this certification as something very valuable to have
in the industry much like the Cisco certifications. NEC will perform this
training in Dallas and use the opportunity to WOW the client and show them all
the product line and provide hands on demonstrations to increase sales.
GOAL: INCREASE SALES VIA
EDUCATING THE DEALER ON PRODUCT NICHE AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT MARKETING TOOLS.
NEC Marketing would provide for every
product and every new release a complete ‘sales toolkit’ to the dealer channel.
This would include the information on the Dear Associate letter but be a Dear
Client letter. It would also include ready to go marketing materials that the
dealer could co-brand with their logo. Items such as email blasts, direct mail,
newsprint ads and flyers with a common marketing message. Examples given were
MA4000 marketing pieces for our existing PBX base, Digital Signage and the
Message Protection Suite.