NECSI Council Agenda

Whistler, BC Canada

Westin Glacier Room

July 14, 2000 - 8:00 a.m.

 

 

Call to Order                                                                            Maureen

Meeting was called to Order by Presiden Gaynor at 8:25am

Members Present: Maureen Gaynor, Suzanne Sherrod, Ron Brennan, Steve Autor, Phil Maulding, Mark Lynn, Charlie Eicher and Charlie Eazor

Members Absent: Vito Marrone; Greg Osler

Adoption of Minutes from May 4, 2000. 

Moved by Charlie Eazor, Passed.

Financial Report .  Phil Maulding moved approval of the last report received from RCR.  Passed.

 

Unfinished Business

 

¨       Progress report on Phil's investigation of alternative marketing strategies.  Phil’s report was followed by a lengthy discussion.

 

1.  BNS is getting aggressive again.  Losing customers, maintenance staff etc.

2.  Many dealers are looking at other products to carry.

3.  2400’s aren’t selling – why?

4.  NEC has not come up with a VOIP solution in a timely manner.  NEC should have had a head start with FCCS already developed. 

5.  Many NEC Dealers are picking up a second product line (including some Dealer Council members) in order to have an IP product to sell.

6.  Gartner Group report indicates that NEC will have smaller market share with IP becoming a priority.

 

As a result of the above discussion, Council goes on record as suggesting that dealers need to make their own local business decision whether or not their company should handle more than one product to be competitive if IP is an important factor for sales decisions in their market.

 

¨       Major Accounts Program Draft Proposal.  Council will discuss this program with NEC in the afternoon.

 

¨       Recruiting                                                                          Maureen, Steve

Nothing new to report.

 

New Business: 

 

Committee Reports

 

Marketing                                                                                Mark

Requesting that NEC set up dual product web pages so that dealers can link to those pages without having a customer use the Search for a Dealer or VAR.

 

Membership                                                                             Mark

No report.

 

Multi-Location                                                                          Steve

No changes since last meeting

 

Training                                                                                   Mark

"NEC Cares" update

NEAX 2400 Master Tech Program

Discussion on tokens.  Victor Foia unable to attend this afternoon due to plane problems.  Big concern about VAR’s getting access to NTAC via CARE through Ingram Micro and tying up NTAC staff so we can’t get into NTAC.  This devalues the worth of an NEC dealership.  VARS are apparently receiving the same level of support from NEC via access to NTAC and going to Dallas for tech training without any of the requirements of the dealer channel.  Original charge was that VAR’s were going to get training and support from Ingram Micro.  Ingram has 3-5 staff members to support their NEC VARs.

 

Sales training test classes have been very positive.  Excellent feedback from these classes.

 

NEAX 2000                                                                               Greg

 

Greg's Report submitted and presented by Maureen.  Greg updated the group on coming software releases.  Also, discussion that if you set up Call Forward outside on a 2000 CCIS network in order to forward to a Centralized Voice Mail, that a person could call forward their phone elsewhere as well.  Not a problem with a 2400.

 

Key System                                                                              Ron

Elite 4000 software, cordless price decrease mentioned.

Infoset update

 

 

Wireless                                                                                   Charlie Eazor/Suzanne

¨       Finally officially released in Canada

¨       NECSI Wireless Test Kit for Loan to Members – no interest.  NEC should maintain loaner sets in regional offices for smaller dealers to borrow.   

 

Web Site                                                                                  Steve

Presented a print out from NEC’s web pages showing 1300+ authorized dealer locations in the US.  Many are not “bricks & mortar” offices.  NEC’s web pages have improved and it is getting easier to find out where to buy an NEC product.  The council is concerned that web shoppers going through the list of 1300+ locations will call a dealer that does not have a presence in that state, much less sell NEC products on a regular basis.  NEC is sending web leads to dealers who wouldn’t sell an NEC system in that area.

 

Crosstalk (Next copy deadline: September 8th)                Suzanne

Need to find a new editor for next year.

 

Elections:  RCR has faxed out information on elections for Dealer Council next year.  Steve and Vito cannot run.  Suzzane will not be running for the Canada position.  Phil can choose to run for another term.  We will have three new board members next year.