HELPING CHRISTCHURCH GET BACK TO BUSINESS

Getting back to business for those companies caught up in the devastation of the Christchurch earthquake is being made a little easier with Telnet’s help.

With all the disruption caused by the earthquake in Christchurch last month, it is going to be a while before many businesses find their feet again. And with all the rebuilding they will need to do, their IT infrastructure is just one of the things on their list of priorities.

But Telnet, partnering with a leading business telecommunications group, Zintel, are helping those business owners by offering to provide front line support for Fronde.

Fronde, an IT services company which delivers software solutions to blue chip companies, is offering free Google Apps accounts to businesses whose IT infrastructure has been devastated by the earthquake.

It will mean those businesses will be able to access email, create calendars, documents and spreadsheets which can be shared and collaborated on by employees across the organisation.

All companies will need is a laptop, browser and internet or wi-fi connection and employees will be able to access their mail, calendar and documents anytime and anywhere from any computer or smartphone.

The service will remain free for 12 months and is available free to businesses based in Christchurch with 150 employees or fewer.

Telnet and Zintel are playing their part by providing the 0800 call service and front line support.

Agents at Telnet will be responsible for the data capture when businesses call in, passing this information on to Fronde will set up the Apps, activate the service and provide on-line training.

The number to contact is 0800 007 663.

World Class in New Zealand - and Australia

Telnet is taking on Australia with its recognition as the first New Zealand, privately owned call centre to achieve accreditation with an Australian contact centre industry association.

Australian Teleservices Association CEO Michael Meredith visited Telnet in February to award accreditation.

The association, also known as ATA is the premier professional body for the Call and Contact Centre Industry and the pre-eminent call centre association within Australia.

I see this as a huge step toward raising Telnet’s profile.

The Centre Standards and Accreditation Programme status provides call centre companies with a performance management framework in areas of training and development, process, customer service, technology and people management.

The programme has a framework of guidelines, processes and disciplines that focus on key aspects of contact centre business and provides public recognition of centres that operate at a high level.

It is part of a plan to grow Telnet within Australasia. In the past year, Telnet has grown with a number of new clients signing up, including Greenstone Energy, which previously outsourced to the Philippines.

The CCSA programme is the benchmark for the industry in Australia. It announces to the business community that the call centre is prepared not only to meet its needs, but also exceed them.

And the Bronze accreditation is only the tip of the iceberg. The accreditation is a validation of our effort and commitment. We have now set our sights on Silver status in two years’ time.

Mr Meredith says he is delighted to see how the CCSA programme translates in the New Zealand marketplace.

He says Australian and New Zealand contact centres operate at a world-class level and the value of the formal attainment of operational excellence is gaining in importance in the industry.


John Chetwynd