In wake of the massive power outage crippling India, with 600,000,000 people without power, I have to wonder how all of the call and support centers that have been outsourced are getting by? Of course, the real tragedy are the miners stuck underground, hospitals and other critical infrastructures being powerless.
I can just imagine trying to call support of one of the major technology manufacturers that has a call center there.
"We are experiencing unusually long delays. Please continue to hold and someone will be with you, eventually".
The financial downside is that companies that process orders out of India are unable to take or process the orders. Not good.
That's all for today. Synchro ERP has power at all global support centers.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
ERP SOFTWARE SPECIFIC FOR THE CAST METAL INDUSTRY Cut your business costs, spend less time managing systems and more time focused on profit and growth!
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Monday, 30 July 2012
Competition is Good
Howdy from Shane in blazing hot Texas,
Next life time I'll come back and get my PhD in Economics. I taught economics at the college level and found it fascinating. This leads me into "competition" and all the virtues of it. Everyone knows, or should know, that competition is a good thing. Competition keeps things evolving and moving things forward and fosters innovation. I sometimes wonder if "Ma Bell" - the telephone company of the USA, wasn't broken up and deregulated if we would have the internet, wireless communications and mobile phones. I remember growing up that there was one and only once choice with regards to telephone service and that was with the American Bell Telephone Company - The Bell System. There was no competition. Phones were not purchased, they were leased. One could not go to the store and purchase a phone and just plug it into the outlet. Telephone services and long distance calls were very expensive and many people had "party lines". Come to think about it, "party lines" or shared phone lines between residences would be like today's social media sites in some respects. I remember having to call the grand parents after 9pm or 11pm at night to get the least expensive rates. One had to get a hold of the operator for just about anything. If one wanted touch-tone-dialing, it was very expensive compared to the old rotery dial system.
Since the breakup of "Ma Bell", competition has proven to be a very good thing. Consumers and businesses have a variety of communications choices and the competition has spurred innovation.
With competition in mind, I present you an article that appeared in the July issue of Foundry Management and Technology Magazine.
Things are going very well at Synchro and the team is hard at work. Team Synchro inked another deal on Friday and more are on the way.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Next life time I'll come back and get my PhD in Economics. I taught economics at the college level and found it fascinating. This leads me into "competition" and all the virtues of it. Everyone knows, or should know, that competition is a good thing. Competition keeps things evolving and moving things forward and fosters innovation. I sometimes wonder if "Ma Bell" - the telephone company of the USA, wasn't broken up and deregulated if we would have the internet, wireless communications and mobile phones. I remember growing up that there was one and only once choice with regards to telephone service and that was with the American Bell Telephone Company - The Bell System. There was no competition. Phones were not purchased, they were leased. One could not go to the store and purchase a phone and just plug it into the outlet. Telephone services and long distance calls were very expensive and many people had "party lines". Come to think about it, "party lines" or shared phone lines between residences would be like today's social media sites in some respects. I remember having to call the grand parents after 9pm or 11pm at night to get the least expensive rates. One had to get a hold of the operator for just about anything. If one wanted touch-tone-dialing, it was very expensive compared to the old rotery dial system.
Since the breakup of "Ma Bell", competition has proven to be a very good thing. Consumers and businesses have a variety of communications choices and the competition has spurred innovation.
With competition in mind, I present you an article that appeared in the July issue of Foundry Management and Technology Magazine.
Things are going very well at Synchro and the team is hard at work. Team Synchro inked another deal on Friday and more are on the way.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
34% Scrap Rate
Howdy from the North American, Texas, office of Synchro ERP. Just a quick check in to report that "all is well". Richy is in the states doing two new installs. Everyone is well and busy.
Reading the metrics. If you were an executive and were given the following snap-shot, what would you think? This is from a world renowned and respected software vendor of anti-virus/spam ware.
When I attempted to "chat" this morning with them,the wait time was 34 minutes at 10am and a reply to my email was 48 hours. If I was an executive of this company and if customer support was important to me and the business and ultimately my P&L, then I would think that "everything needs to be green" and would employ more support staff. If your customers are having to wait 34 minutes and you deem that unacceptable, then solve the situation. It's just like in metalcasting, if you have a casting that is running 34% scrap, you have to decide if that is acceptable or not. I would hope that most metalcasters would deem that level of scrap unacceptable and take corrective actions.
What all brought this on is that the anti-virus software had renewed without prior notice or confirmation. They just took it upon themselves to renew as they had my credit card on file and I hadn't checked some box to "turn off autorenewal". I can get the antivirus software less expensive on the open market from a brick and mortar retailer. I had another vendor do this to me a while back and I didn't know about the auto renewal until I got my credit card statement.
I've been seeing this "auto renewal" and "auto ship" trend lately and I find it as a disturbing trend of vendors revenue enhancement. Just because a vendor has your credit card information on file, and I always "opt out" of having my information stored if there is an option for that - or pay with PayPal, doesn't give them the right to "abuse it".
I have noticed that on some online vendors, they want to "auto ship" to you every xyz weeks UNLESS you uncheck the "auto ship" option. I order items when I need to and or want to and most times it is a one-off order. Same goes with software products that want to install "tag along" software applications unless you "uncheck the option".
The Number One FAQ on their website is "What do I do if I didn't want auto renewal and it was auto renewed". That should certainly tell you something. Perhaps their wait time would be reduced for support if they got rid of auto renewal. "Why would I want to renew something a week in advance when credit card transactions are instantaneous?" This puts money into their account so that they can use it instantly, before the renewal takes effect. Don't think that makes a difference? Think again.
A cousin of mine works for a major overnight shipping company. His sole job is "parking money" overnight and on the weekends/holidays to get the overnight interest on the money. At the close of operations on a day, they have all of this "cash" sitting around for operating expenses. The money is moved to a financial institution for about 10 hours overnight and then moved back. Weekends are obviously longer time frames. Even though the interest rate is very low, the amount of money for the interest is huge and this is a nice revenue enhancement for the company to the tune of millions of dollars a year.
One of the most disturbing and frustrating experiences with an online vendor, whom I had an annual subscription with, is that they went out and changed my credit card expiration date in order to get the transaction to go through. They had notified and called me that my credit card had expired. I did not want the service any longer and did not update my credit card information. So, on their own they started plugging in expiration dates until the credit card company processed the transaction. This was a fiasco as they refused to refund my money and until my credit card company got involved with a disputed transaction, they were holding firm. I finally got "most" of my money back, but they refused to credit back the amount that had been "used" in the month of the credit card transaction as well as the "month" that it took to resolve the dispute.
Let me assure you in no uncertain terms that these type of dis-gracious business practices are not used at Synchro ERP. We do not automatically renew your account when paying by credit card. We provide outstanding rapid response support. Support is the mainstay of Synchro ERP and we pride ourselves on it every day all day. The terms of business / contract for Synchro ERP is one page with no fine print. We do not believe in unscrupulous business practices with smoke and mirrors and fine print. We wouldn't have it any other way.
When I worked for EDS, Electronic Data Systems, under Henri Ross Perot, we were taught that we always did business in the center of the playing field. Meaning, that your business practices were always above reproach as if you started playing towards the edges, it was a slippery slope and would get you into trouble.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Reading the metrics. If you were an executive and were given the following snap-shot, what would you think? This is from a world renowned and respected software vendor of anti-virus/spam ware.
When I attempted to "chat" this morning with them,the wait time was 34 minutes at 10am and a reply to my email was 48 hours. If I was an executive of this company and if customer support was important to me and the business and ultimately my P&L, then I would think that "everything needs to be green" and would employ more support staff. If your customers are having to wait 34 minutes and you deem that unacceptable, then solve the situation. It's just like in metalcasting, if you have a casting that is running 34% scrap, you have to decide if that is acceptable or not. I would hope that most metalcasters would deem that level of scrap unacceptable and take corrective actions.
What all brought this on is that the anti-virus software had renewed without prior notice or confirmation. They just took it upon themselves to renew as they had my credit card on file and I hadn't checked some box to "turn off autorenewal". I can get the antivirus software less expensive on the open market from a brick and mortar retailer. I had another vendor do this to me a while back and I didn't know about the auto renewal until I got my credit card statement.
I've been seeing this "auto renewal" and "auto ship" trend lately and I find it as a disturbing trend of vendors revenue enhancement. Just because a vendor has your credit card information on file, and I always "opt out" of having my information stored if there is an option for that - or pay with PayPal, doesn't give them the right to "abuse it".
I have noticed that on some online vendors, they want to "auto ship" to you every xyz weeks UNLESS you uncheck the "auto ship" option. I order items when I need to and or want to and most times it is a one-off order. Same goes with software products that want to install "tag along" software applications unless you "uncheck the option".
The Number One FAQ on their website is "What do I do if I didn't want auto renewal and it was auto renewed". That should certainly tell you something. Perhaps their wait time would be reduced for support if they got rid of auto renewal. "Why would I want to renew something a week in advance when credit card transactions are instantaneous?" This puts money into their account so that they can use it instantly, before the renewal takes effect. Don't think that makes a difference? Think again.
A cousin of mine works for a major overnight shipping company. His sole job is "parking money" overnight and on the weekends/holidays to get the overnight interest on the money. At the close of operations on a day, they have all of this "cash" sitting around for operating expenses. The money is moved to a financial institution for about 10 hours overnight and then moved back. Weekends are obviously longer time frames. Even though the interest rate is very low, the amount of money for the interest is huge and this is a nice revenue enhancement for the company to the tune of millions of dollars a year.
One of the most disturbing and frustrating experiences with an online vendor, whom I had an annual subscription with, is that they went out and changed my credit card expiration date in order to get the transaction to go through. They had notified and called me that my credit card had expired. I did not want the service any longer and did not update my credit card information. So, on their own they started plugging in expiration dates until the credit card company processed the transaction. This was a fiasco as they refused to refund my money and until my credit card company got involved with a disputed transaction, they were holding firm. I finally got "most" of my money back, but they refused to credit back the amount that had been "used" in the month of the credit card transaction as well as the "month" that it took to resolve the dispute.
Let me assure you in no uncertain terms that these type of dis-gracious business practices are not used at Synchro ERP. We do not automatically renew your account when paying by credit card. We provide outstanding rapid response support. Support is the mainstay of Synchro ERP and we pride ourselves on it every day all day. The terms of business / contract for Synchro ERP is one page with no fine print. We do not believe in unscrupulous business practices with smoke and mirrors and fine print. We wouldn't have it any other way.
When I worked for EDS, Electronic Data Systems, under Henri Ross Perot, we were taught that we always did business in the center of the playing field. Meaning, that your business practices were always above reproach as if you started playing towards the edges, it was a slippery slope and would get you into trouble.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Monday, 16 July 2012
Begin with the end in Mind...
With great sadness I must report that one of my mentors has died, Dr. Stephen Covey.
I have been a student of Dr. Covey for many years and was fortunate enough to have seen him lecture in person.
Dr. Covey has helped guide and shape my skills through the years with his legendary books of "The Seven Habit's of Highly Effective People", "Principal Centered Leadership" "First Things First", and "The 8th Habit". I actually took nine graduate level hours studying Coveyisms as we called them.
Go in Peace Dr. Covey, you made a difference in my life and the lives of millions of others.
Over the next several blog posts, I will examine and reiterate what made Covey special and how I personally apply Coveyisms to my everyday life.
Here is a good writeup on Covey.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
I have been a student of Dr. Covey for many years and was fortunate enough to have seen him lecture in person.
Dr. Covey has helped guide and shape my skills through the years with his legendary books of "The Seven Habit's of Highly Effective People", "Principal Centered Leadership" "First Things First", and "The 8th Habit". I actually took nine graduate level hours studying Coveyisms as we called them.
Go in Peace Dr. Covey, you made a difference in my life and the lives of millions of others.
Over the next several blog posts, I will examine and reiterate what made Covey special and how I personally apply Coveyisms to my everyday life.
Here is a good writeup on Covey.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Friday, 6 July 2012
Now Trending
Howdy from blistering hot Texas!
Trending today - and everyone I have talked to on the phone today, back East, is talking about the weather. By back East, I mean the Eastern United States. We here in Texas are used to baking and roasting in the Summer months. Those back East, well, this is atypical weather for them and just as Texas is not prepared for the frigid mind-boggling winters they endure, they are not prepared for these kinds of temperatures - well over 100f (38c). Many in that part of the country do not have chilled air - refrigerated air - air conditioning. Thus, it is a miserable and dangerous situation with no relief in sight.
I remember growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, a motel having refrigerated air was a huge selling point and when on family vacations, we always did our best to stay only at those places that had the new fangled refrigerated aircon.
On the Synchro front, things are always hot! Hey, we deal with the liquid metal industry - so it's supposed to be hot! Sales are hot, support is hot, - things are good.
I remember working back at Texas Foundries, even though I was in the computer department, I'd spend a lot of time down in the bowels of the foundry sweating it out in 120f-140f (48c-60c) degree temps. One summer I was installing an Intermec wireless RF system and on top of the Laempe's it was about 150f (65c). Of course, anything near the holding furnaces or the melt deck was hot hot hot. I was always mesmerized by the flowing of molten iron out of the furnaces into the huge multi-ton overhead transfer ladles, then being transferred to the holding furnaces and then re-transferred to individual pouring ladles.
Stay cool.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
.
Trending today - and everyone I have talked to on the phone today, back East, is talking about the weather. By back East, I mean the Eastern United States. We here in Texas are used to baking and roasting in the Summer months. Those back East, well, this is atypical weather for them and just as Texas is not prepared for the frigid mind-boggling winters they endure, they are not prepared for these kinds of temperatures - well over 100f (38c). Many in that part of the country do not have chilled air - refrigerated air - air conditioning. Thus, it is a miserable and dangerous situation with no relief in sight.
I remember growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, a motel having refrigerated air was a huge selling point and when on family vacations, we always did our best to stay only at those places that had the new fangled refrigerated aircon.
On the Synchro front, things are always hot! Hey, we deal with the liquid metal industry - so it's supposed to be hot! Sales are hot, support is hot, - things are good.
I remember working back at Texas Foundries, even though I was in the computer department, I'd spend a lot of time down in the bowels of the foundry sweating it out in 120f-140f (48c-60c) degree temps. One summer I was installing an Intermec wireless RF system and on top of the Laempe's it was about 150f (65c). Of course, anything near the holding furnaces or the melt deck was hot hot hot. I was always mesmerized by the flowing of molten iron out of the furnaces into the huge multi-ton overhead transfer ladles, then being transferred to the holding furnaces and then re-transferred to individual pouring ladles.
Stay cool.
Until next time, see you on down the road.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Moondance
Howdy from blazing hot Texas, but what else would you expect from Texas in July?
Ever get something in your head that you just can't shake? These days, for whatever reason, I've got a song stuck in my head. I long to escape to the West Texas Trans Pecos Big Bend Region, setup camp far far far off the grid and crank up the music as loud as it will go and kick back.
I am working up a trip right now for sometime before too long. It's been far too long since I have made the long twelve hour arduous journey out that way.
Hopefully you can't get Synchro ERP out of your head either and the time is right. It's not that hard of a decision, global metalcasters are making the choice all the time go go with the best there is.
No fine print with this. No smoke and mirrors. No switch and bait.
At Synchro ERP we keep things simple.
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Ever get something in your head that you just can't shake? These days, for whatever reason, I've got a song stuck in my head. I long to escape to the West Texas Trans Pecos Big Bend Region, setup camp far far far off the grid and crank up the music as loud as it will go and kick back.
I am working up a trip right now for sometime before too long. It's been far too long since I have made the long twelve hour arduous journey out that way.
Hopefully you can't get Synchro ERP out of your head either and the time is right. It's not that hard of a decision, global metalcasters are making the choice all the time go go with the best there is.
No fine print with this. No smoke and mirrors. No switch and bait.
At Synchro ERP we keep things simple.
Just like Texas, Synchro ERP is BLAZING HOT!
- Sign a quote between now and July 31st
- Get 25% off of the on-site daily rate for an entire year from the date of the first visit.
- Schedule the first visit for within six months of the quote sign date.
Email me at Synchro ERP Sales or give me a ring at 800-323-2808 xt. 1 or +44-845-370-3232 and I will get a quote right out to you. You can also reach me at the following numbers:
- Birmingham UK +44 121 286 1970
- Melbourne Victoria Australia: +61 3 9018 7568
- Austin Texas USA 512-481-7376
- Monterrey Mexico +52 81 8421 8583
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
From the Colonies...
Wishing you and yours a safe and happy 4th of July from the colonies.
One of the benefits of being a Synchro ERP customer is that with the global support network, the team at Synchro ERP is hard at work this July 4th. Thus, if your metalcasting operations, located in the USA, should require support, Synchro ERP is here to assist. There are only a few common holidays through-out most of the world and would include Easter, Christmas, and New Years. The remainder of the holidays are country or regional specific.
Yes, I am hard at work this July 4th as it falls mid-week and I have a lot of catching up to do along with writing an article for Leland Martin of the Investment Casting Institute's INCAST Magazine. It's blazing hot in Texas, so the thought of being outside "celebrating" doesn't sound like a lot of fun and my dog Wyatt Earp detests the sound of fireworks, so we will be bunkered down tonight at an undisclosed location.
Back in 1976, July 4th was a big deal as it was the Bi-Centennial celebration of our independence from England. I remember it well, watching it on television from my grandparents home.
Until next time, see you on down the road...
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
One of the benefits of being a Synchro ERP customer is that with the global support network, the team at Synchro ERP is hard at work this July 4th. Thus, if your metalcasting operations, located in the USA, should require support, Synchro ERP is here to assist. There are only a few common holidays through-out most of the world and would include Easter, Christmas, and New Years. The remainder of the holidays are country or regional specific.
Yes, I am hard at work this July 4th as it falls mid-week and I have a lot of catching up to do along with writing an article for Leland Martin of the Investment Casting Institute's INCAST Magazine. It's blazing hot in Texas, so the thought of being outside "celebrating" doesn't sound like a lot of fun and my dog Wyatt Earp detests the sound of fireworks, so we will be bunkered down tonight at an undisclosed location.
Back in 1976, July 4th was a big deal as it was the Bi-Centennial celebration of our independence from England. I remember it well, watching it on television from my grandparents home.
Until next time, see you on down the road...
Shane Allen
Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)