North Texas Technology Council's Telework Conference Adds New 'Virtual Call Center' Dimension to Leading Call Center Event in Dallas- Technology, Flexibility and Cost-Effectiveness Drive Telework Growth -PRNewswire-FirstCall The North Texas Technology Council (NTTC) hosted the Second Annual Telework Conference in conjunction with CMP Media's 2003 Call Center Demo & Conference in Dallas, Texas. Driven by advances in technology, the desire for both greater flexibility in the workplace and more effective cost management, Telework is a growing phenomenon in the customer care and support industry. Because telework enables employees to work from home, full-time or part-time, call center operators now have access to a much larger pool of workers outside traditional bricks & mortar centers. "The Business Case for moving towards a Virtual Call Center strategy is very compelling," said John Edwards, Managing Director of the Telework Coalition. "Operators can now easily blend remote agents with traditional centers to drive significant costs out of their bottom lines and to provide continuity of operations should any type of disruption happen," he added. "The Call Center Demo & Conference proved to be an ideal partnership to showcase how one industry is using remote employees to facilitate work and provide high quality customer service," said Cynthia de Lorenzi, Chief Executive Officer of the North Texas Technology Council. "Many government agencies and companies currently offer the benefit of teleworking to their employees, and it is apparent that the call center industry also has caught on to the value of using remote agents." On opening day, the NTTC's Telework Conference offered roundtable discussions with subject matter experts for attendees to delve more deeply into issues such as resources for starting a telework program, legal, employee selection, security, and the IT necessary for program implementation. Expertcity, the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Working Solutions, the nation's largest provider of remote agents, sponsored the Telework Conference and companies such as Teltone, Ineto, Gil Gordon Associates, PatriotNet, the Telework Collaborative and the Telework Coalition participated as exhibitors. One of the four education tracks at the Call Center Demo & Conference focused exclusively on teleworking for call centers. It provided all the tools necessary to develop a telework program, together with successful case studies. "CMP Media's call center events are designed to keep contact center managers and executives on the leading edge of developments in the industry," said Simon Cooper, Executive Director, Call Center Demo & Conference. "The high level of participation in the Telework Conference and Call Center Demo's telework educational track clearly illustrates a growing interest in integrating these types of programs into the customer care industry." Conference speakers whose companies had telework programs estimated a cost savings of $5,000 to $10,000 or more per teleworking employee per year compared to an on-site employee. Companies struggling with workforce challenges are looking for cost-effective customer service programs that will also increase their efficiency. Telework can play a key role in helping them to address these challenges. About North Texas Technology Council (NTTC): Founded in November 2000, the North Texas Technology Council (NTTC) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting North Texas as a premier technology region, addressing issues pertinent to the growth of the region and unifying the North Texas high tech community. Information on NTTC and its activities is available at www.nttc.ws or by telephone at 972-422-5544. About CMP Media LLC: CMP Media LLC ( www.CMP.com ) is a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum-the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, tradeshows and conferences, and custom publishing. For further information, please contact Terry Traveland, Executive Director of North Texas Technology Council, +1-972-422-5544. SOURCE: North Texas Technology Council CONTACT: Terry Traveland, Executive Director of North Texas Technology Web site: http://www.nttc.ws/ |