News : College Benefits With NET 7000 IP-Based System
June 01, 2005
Three hours was all it took for Southwest Tennessee Community College's on-hold messaging to go from an outdated system to a revolutionary, marketer's dream. The school had long recognized the need to capitalize on the captive on-hold audience, but its telephone messaging system was unreliable, time-consuming and unable to handle the volume of message updates the school requires. The NET 7000 IP-based digital message system changed all that.
Organizations and marketing firms who understand the full potential of on-hold messaging appreciate the value that IP-based systems are bringing to the art of on-hold marketing. The NET 7000 from Premier Technologies is one example of the new-age capabilities of telephone messaging. This IP-based digital message repeater utilizes audio productions stored in flash memory to distribute high-quality audio over the Internet or a digital network. The device intermittently polls a web-based, easy-to-use content management system for updated messages and can distribute the appropriate updates to client locations within minutes.
John Maddox, technical director with EarGlue, a provider of audio marketing solutions in Memphis, Tenn., is a big fan of the NET 7000 because it allows his staff to provide better results for clients in a faster, more accurate manner. "We can upload multiple messages at once and schedule them out for time, date and sensitivity reasons. In fact, I can record and schedule out an entire year if I want to" said Maddox, who feels the NET 7000 is especially beneficial for organizations with multiple locations or those who make frequent changes to their on-hold messaging. EarGlue immediately thought of its client, Southwest Tennessee Community College, when Premier Technologies introduced the NET 7000 IP-based system. Southwest Tennessee Community College is the largest community college in Tennessee, boasting two large main campus locations in Memphis. With 12,000 students, Southwest is a hub of activity, from educational programs to athletic events to political and community happenings. Southwest has contracted with EarGlue to facilitate its on-hold messaging system.
"We have always valued EarGlue as a consultant, and as partners, we both recognized that there were issues with our previous system," said Kimberly Stark, director of advertising and media relations with Southwest Tennessee Community College. "I told EarGlue, if you ever come across something that would make this easier, faster and more reliable, please let us know. As soon as they came across the NET 7000, they said 'here is the solution to your problem.'"
Integrating Southwest's existing on-hold messaging system into the NET 7000's IP-based application was seamless. The new system, consisting of just one new piece of equipment for the school, was installed in a few minutes and involved no interruptions to the on-hold messaging. According to Stark, her staff of five learned all they needed to know in order to use the NET 7000 in about 10 minutes.
Southwest uses its on-hold messaging system for everything from announcing registration dates to reporting school closings and class schedule changes and even basketball game schedules. It's an important tool for communicating with students because things can change at the drop of a hat.
"We basically use our on-hold messages as a marketing tool. It's not just on-hold music with a generic message," said Stark. "With two campuses on opposite ends of the city, one campus may have something going on where the other might not. With the NET 7000, we can customize messages for each campus, which has been an incredible solution to one of our biggest marketing challenges."
With two campuses and the ever-changing college environment, Southwest alters its on-hold messaging 10 times per month on average, a level that was not possible before the NET 7000.
Stark also boasts a significant cost savings with the NET 7000, relating to a reduction in the hours required to make message updates. What once took a few hours to do can now be completed in about 15 minutes. She said the immediacy of the NET 7000 has truly enhanced her marketing program.
Stark's favorite feature is the web-based application from EarGlue that allows her to make copy changes, choose new music and adjust volume levels in a format that is user-friendly. Her online alterations are immediately sent to EarGlue where staff can coordinate the voice over, integrate the new music selection and have the fresh message uploaded and either playing or scheduled to play within an hour. Stark says that before the NET 7000, major updates took 24 hours or more and even then, errors were more common than not. The school can now utilize its on-hold system for immediate needs as well as scheduled messaging.
"We are extremely pleased with the system," said Stark. "I never guessed that a quick and easy installation could result in such a dramatic improvement. The process has just been exceptional."