Thanksgiving, Tough Times, and "Bailout Packages"

Thanksgiving is almost here – and there is much to be thankful for!  But, we also face tough times.  One day we hear about fires, then hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, drought, health trouble, gas prices, credit crunch, mortgage trouble, stock market, auto companies - and always a war!  TOUGH times!  For some, real calamities!

Perspective isn’t always easy in such times, but we know, down deep, we are very blessed in spite of tough times and even calamities.  We know there are far more strengths in citizens, businesses, communities and the good ol’ USA than weaknesses.  The glass is far more full than empty!  So many are FREE, sleep in warm beds, flip switches or turn valves for lights and water (hot, too), have refrigerated food, wear clothes, drive on good roads, use computers, phones, tools and on and on – and we didn’t design or build most of them.  We’re blessed.  Add the amazing world of beauty and mystery – sun, earth, sky, trees, rivers, seas, birds, animals, … and all the wonders of our earth, and we’re blessed. 

Two thoughts and a question for those of us in business: first, let us ACT, if we can, and help, even if just a little; second; let’s recall, “WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING”; and third, are we willing to act, help and really get “going”?  Obviously, many ways of “going” exist, but how can business respond in a business way?  Surely NOT by holding back, wondering, “Am I going to be okay?  Are the people, companies, banks I deal with going to be okay?”  We will be okay!  It will take some time – as always – but we will be okay!  So, let’s make sure we’ll not only be okay, but help others to be okay, too!  Life brings all tough times and sadness, even anguish to some.  The best way out of tough times is to work harder, try harder, step up more and make a difference, even if a small one.  As businesses, YOU and TEL need to ACT and get “going”, as we can. 

TEL has much to be thankful for - 30 years working with YOU, for starters!  YOU purchase TEL products because they (and TEL) do the job, are dependable, last for ages, help manage telecom expenses and operations and, lo and behold, even make a little money – what else do YOU buy, sell or use that does that today? 

So, TEL announced its own “Bailout Package” – not quite as dramatic the Feds’ – but a plan to help TEL Dealers, Customers - and TEL, too, of course!  This end-of-year sale is designed to help TEL Dealers make a little extra money right now (and maybe give Customers a part of the discounts to turn their heads, too).  If it works for Dealers, it will work for TEL!  BE VERY CLEAR that this is NOT a case of TEL trying to fix government or anyone’s problems – so BAILOUT PACKAGE may be the wrong term, but it just had a ring to it, so – tongue-in-cheek – we thought it might catch a smile or two WHILE IT GOT YOU GOING!!

Check out TEL’s special discounts, and STEP UP!  It’s your turn!  Get a great deal, make some money, let  your-our Customers save a little, too, as you wish, and, by buying more at lower prices, TEL will make some money, too!  If you don’t STEP UP, it won’t work for YOU or any of us!!  But TEL is trying to get a very small ball rolling – so, consider the options and get going yourself!

We greatly appreciate tens of thousands of YOU who bought our products!   We know we are all in this world together, ups and downs!  We hope our “Bailout Package” helps you a liitle, at least!  If so, it will help TEL and many others, too!

Good hunting and Happy Thanksgiving!

John Gunter Sr.
President

How to Promote Call Accounting

As TEL’s account managers interact with resellers, they are often asked about the benefits and/or needs for call accounting.  Some of their questions include: Why would an organization need call accounting?  And what is the best way to promote call accounting?

Why would an organization need call accounting?

• Accountants and controllers need a way to allocate telecommunication costs.
• Lawyers and consultants need a way to bill clients for phone consultations.
• Hotels and hospitals need a way to bill guests/patients for phone use.
• Tech managers need a way to plan for future telecom needs.
• Supervisors need daily and weekly reports sent to them in order to monitor employee performance.
• Marketing managers need a way to track incoming phone calls in order to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns.
• Financial officers need a way to decrease telecommunication costs by decreasing phone abuse, eliminating toll fraud, and tracking high-cost calls.

• Include call accounting in all of your bids.  Because of the high margins you can receive on a call accounting system, you should bold the line item and place it in a prominent spot on your bid.
• Include a customized product brochure with your bid.  You can order these through the dealer login page on TEL’s website.
• Promote call accounting on your website.  For help with this contact Jessie Warner at 800-748-5022 x3331.
• Give testimonials from past customers.  Let your customers sell you.  Their words are usually better than your own.
• Refer your customers to TEL’s website.  TEL has many valuable resources for the end-user, such as presentations and demo software.

Product Tip: Schedule and Email Reports Automatically

The WIN-SENSE 32 allows managers to have daily, weekly, or monthly reports automatically emailed to them.  This is a simple process, but involves some initial setup.

1. Make sure that your SMTP email settings are correct. 
   • Go to Start > All Programs > WIN-SENSE32 > Email.
   • Click on “Servers” and make sure the SMTP settings are correct (usually the same as Microsoft Outlook).
2. Specify the parameters of the report you want to email.
   • Go to Start > All Programs > WIN-SENSE32 > Reports.
   • Select the report you want to run from the menu bar.
   • Enter a description for the report.
   • Click on the Call Date drop down menu and select Today, Week to Date, or Month to Date depending on your needs.
   • Set any other parameters you want for the report, such as the call categories, duration or charge limits, and extension numbers.
3. Schedule the report
   • Once everything is set how you want, click on the Schedule button at the bottom of the Reports screen.
   • Give your report a name and description.
   • Select when and how often you want the report to run, such as every Monday at 10:00.
   • Select whether you want the report to save, email, or print.
   • If you select email, enter the email address that you want the report sent to.
   • If you select save, enter the file location and name.
4. Waa la!  You’re done!  

Benefits of Allocating Telecom Expenses

In order to be profitable, businesses need to maximize revenues while minimizing expenses.  One way to do this is to create budgets for the various business activities, such as office supplies, salaries, and equipment.   With telecommunications often representing 5-20% of business costs, it is important to allocate and budget for these expenses as well.  If uncontrolled, telecom expenses can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. 

With TEL’s call accounting systems, managers can allocate phone call expenses and answer some important questions at the same time.  Which departments are spending the most money?  Which employees are making the most expensive calls?  Is there a way to plan for these expenses or to cut them back?

TEL’s call accounting systems track and record every phone call made or received according to the phone’s extension number.  Every extension can further be grouped into a department or account which allows managers to create reports for the entire department or account.  By analyzing past phone data, managers can allocate or budget for future telephone expenses and as a result decrease costs.

Here are a few identifiable benefits of allocating telecom expenses:

• Budget and plan for monthly telephone costs
• Identify high-cost departments or extensions
• Plan for future telecom needs
• Track heavy phone usage departments such as sales and support
• See revenue generated from reselling phone calls

Allocating telecom expenses is an important part of cutting costs and increasing revenue and if done correctly, can really help an organization’s bottom line. To learn more about how call accounting can help businesses, click here.