How the Internet plugged into our lives and changed the colour of lighting – By Tricia Hrycan
Ever find yourself telling your friends we grew up during a fascinating time? Well you certainly should because life twenty years ago definitely didn’t work the same as it does now! Sure we didn’t experience the introduction of the credit card or the invention of the television but we did experience a time just as, if not more, important: The before and after stages of the Internet. Who knew those big, beige, box-sized computers with the green screen would be replaced with half-inch high laptops (Airbook) and thin and light tablets that require no cords (iPad)? But it is not only these inventions that are the extent of how modern technology has changed everything we do.
For the students who can remember researching for projects before search engines, such as Google, came along they recall the limited resources. As Steve Jackson says in his book, Cult of Analytics: Driving Online Marketing Strategies using Web Analytics, the internet has changed how people research: “The abundance of information available to the consumer has meant that the power has shifted from the companies who could reach the most audience via marketing channels to the consumers themselves deciding when they want to interact with your band.” Anyone can compare prices of a product between an America site and a German site and then decided for himself/herself where to buy the product from online.
Another major change, due to the Internet, is the current way we bank. I’m sure everyone over the age of 20 can remember their Mothers scattering bills across the kitchen table, writing a cheque for each one, licking the envelope and slapping a stamp on each one. Now for everyone who grew up in the 80s, imagine paying your credit card off by the statements you collect in the mail, not email but real live envelope mail. Most of us check our online banking at least once a day and from there pay off our credit cards and utility bills (phone, water, gas, energy, etc…) This has definitely saved money on stamps since the money comes out of the account right then and there. No muss, no fuss.
With the internet and all the options it offers, near or far are no longer issues because the entire world is at your finger tips. Or as Ha-Joon Chang puts in his book, 23 Things they don’t tell you about Capitalism, the internet has lead to “death of distance” in a now “borderless world.”
As cliché as it sounds to say, “The internet has changed the world drastically” just think back to 15 years ago; Would you have ever thought that to be an overused sentence spoken by almost every human being then? I didn’t think so …
Welcome to the Team, Jordan!
Jordan Boesch is the latest addition to the 24hrAssistant family! Jordan will be working part-time with us as a developer and he couldn’t be happier! Jordan was born and raised in Regina, SK and his starry eyes for web development only flourished when ran away to Ottawa after High School. There, he attended Algonquin College and received his Interactive Multimedia Developer diploma. While going to school, he worked part-time at a web development firm and as he puts it, “getting acquainted with my new-found friend, PHP.”
Jordan’s passion is anything web-related. He is responsible for the web app, TaxiMe, the website that allows you to estimate your cab fare from your starting location to your desired destination. In May 2010, Jordan released the TaxiMe iPhone app. Jordan is also the owner of 7shifts, an online employee scheduling application. Jordan and his girlfriend decided to pack up and leave Ottawa and venture to Reims, France. After they were done dashing around Europe for four months, they chose Saskatoon as their next place to call home. He is more than excited not only to be in this beautiful city but also to work with a great company and talented people.
“24hrAssistant is something that’s easy to get excited about because it’s all about making things easier for the customer and for management. Having something simple and accessible for your customers makes them happy, and having happy customers is, without a doubt, a good feeling,” Boesch says.
The rest of the group at 24hrAssistant would like to give a warm welcome to Jordan and we promise to keep the rookie pranking to a minimum. So wait, what constitutes minimum? 2, 3 times daily? Welcome to the team, Jordan.
Day Spa sweetens clients with online appointment option
Desirae Halyk, massage therapist at Brown Sugar Tanning and Day Spa in Regina, Saskatchewan, finally feels like she can breathe now that she has 24hrAssistant, the web based appointment schedule system. She says the online system benefits her business by filling in the gap between phone calls and call backs.
“I am happy that clients can book online and choose a time to suit their schedule at any time of the day!” Halyk says.
Halyk admits she is not a technologically savvy person and 24hrAssistant has made the transition into online scheduling very smooth. She says the system is not only super quick and easy to use but also effortless to set up.
“Our clients are loving the option of online booking! Many clients that are business owners are considering the option of adding 24hrAssistant to their business too!”
The automatic confirmation email is Halyk’s favourite tool on the system because it makes her time management more flexible. Often when a potential client calls a spa to make an appointment and the phone is busy or no one answers he/she will hang up and call the next available spa. Not with online booking though!
“Once a client books online they are in fast, without hanging up and calling another place for their needs.”
Brown Sugar Tanning and Day Spa is fairly new to 24hrAssistant and already most to all of its clients are booking appointments online instead of calling. We are so happy 24hrAssistant is benefiting Brown Sugar Tanning and Day Spa! With most to all clients booking online, this is proof that every appointment based company needs this online scheduling system!
Book an appointment with Brown Sugar Tanning and Day Spa by visiting www.brownsugartanninganddayspa.com/
The Times They Are A-Changin’
By Tricia Hrycan, Marketing Coordinator for 24hrAssistant
Technology. Rapidly changing, never a stand still moment. Anyone has the ability to change the way people communicate these days. For example, Lady Gaga just released Polaroid Sunglasses that take pictures and have a built-in USB stick to transfer to your mobile phone. Just like Gaga’s sunglasses, every consumer’s possible wants are just an app away. This is why it only makes sense for companies to have the majority of information and options on their websites and with mobile access.
With Twitter and Facebook replacing our face-to-face communication, marketing presentations and door to door sales have taken a back seat. I think this is a great transition from what was expected in marketing positions 5 years ago. Although some people believe face-to-face communication is better and more personal, I think when it comes to marketing, it becomes more convenient for everyone involved as well as it doesn’t make the customer feel uncomfortable.
2010 marked a big year in technology and how people continue to communicate. The Apple iPad was launched, Android becomes an iPhone competitor and Groupon changes the way people save money. These are all great new tools for marketing and communicating because they continue to add to a different, yet effective, way of selling and interacting.
The Kindle and e-Books have changed the way people read, although I still prefer reading an actual paper copy book. Despite that, I can still appreciate the convenience the Kindle offers and convenience and speed is everything to the modern consumer.
Technology has increased the flow of how we live our lives which is why anything that can provide a faster and better experience for us is A-ok in our books. Erik Qualman, author of “Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way we live and do Business,” talks about the preference of instant messaging instead of email because it seems more personal. Allison Bahm of Response Mine Agency reveals in Qualman’s book that her sales have not decreased with the lack of face-to-face interaction with potential clients.
“I’ve started relationships and signed contracts exclusively within social networks. It is revolutionary for sales; it’s much easier than telephone calls and emails,” Bahm mentions.
So as worried as people are about losing communication skills with the rapid changes of technology, this shows that we are networking and interacting more than ever, just in a different way.
TELUS launches 24hrAssistant on its website today!
Today is a big day for 24hrAssistant and surely will be a day never forgotten. 24hrAssistant is now up and running on the TELUS mobility website! TELUS is one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies. TELUS launched the 24hrAssistant system this morning (November 10, 2010) and the system is now supporting almost 200 locations across Canada. 24hrAssistant offers the ability to book appointments with TELUS online to enhance customer training by providing information on applications, Bluetooth, customization, email, messaging, multimedia, social media, organization and more.
The 24hrAssistant team is very excited to have their system offered all across the country and to witness how much it will improve TELUS’ business. We hope more telecommunications companies will see how TELUS flourishes with an online appointment scheduling software and will quickly follow in its footsteps. We are also very happy that for the first time, 24hrAssistant is offered in English and French! This is why 24hrAssistant sticks out among its competitors because it offers white label customized branding and is bilingual.
TELUS expects to have 300 users on the system at any given time, across Canada. TELUS employees will also be able to access their schedule from their mobile phones.
The team here at 24hrAssistant wishes TELUS the best of luck and we are looking forward to bringing convenience and less stress to their workplace! We promise our online scheduling program will make TELUS and its customers’ lives much easier!
To book an appointment with a TELUS Learning Specialist, please visit this website: Http://telus.24hrassistant.com/
24hrAssistant Partners with TELUS!
24hrAssistant is pleased to announce their partnership with TELUS, one of Canada’s largest telecommunications company. TELUS will launch the 24hrAssistant system on their website, supporting 200 locations across Canada, at the end of October 2010. 24hrAssistant offers the ability to book appointments with TELUS online to enhance customer training by providing information on applications, Bluetooth, customization, email, messaging, multimedia, social media, organization and more.
TELUS expects to have 300 users on the system at any given time, across Canada, once the system is up and running. 24hrAssistant sticks out among its competitors because it offers white label customized branding and is bilingual. TELUS employees will also be able to access their schedule from their mobile phones.
24hrAssistant seeks Ninja Developer!
24hrAssistant, sister company of zu, is seeking a web developer that can tackle the most challenging projects and who is a team player. We are looking for a person who is passionate about programming but will not blow up our servers. You will be part of a team, producing web-based software solutions and website design prototyping. This is a full time position.
Background
- Possess 1 to 3 years experience in web development
- Familiarity with mobile development is an asset
- Experience of XHTML, CSS
- Experience with PHP, MySQL
- Knowledge of version control software such as SVN.
- Knowledge of Javascript frameworks such jQuery or YUI
- Awareness of the Internet, new technologies and trends (Twitter … what’s that?)
Programming
- Develop web-based mobile applications
- Provide guidance to other programmers and designers
- Collaborate with programming leaders
- Develop a new language only the members of 24hrAssistant can understand.
Skills
- Organizational skills
- Communication and support with customers
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, highly skilled team environment
- Fluency in French an asset
- Ostrich ranching an asset (includes wrangling, milking, riding, etc…)
Please submit resume with cover letter to: tricia @ 24hrassistant . com
Closing Date: December 6, 2010
24HRASSISTANT – Most Promising New Company of 2010
SASKATOON, SK – Katherine Regnier, CEO of 24hrAssistant, is pleased to announce 24hrAssistant has taken home the SaskInteractive Media Award (SIMA) for 2010’s Most Promising New Company of the Year. This is 24hrAssistant’s first time winning this award but this year sticks out among others because of a large Canadian telecommunications company just signed on with the online appointment system establishment.
TELUS recently partnered with 24hrAssistant to launch the online appointment scheduling system on their website this Fall. 24hrAssistant will be implemented in 200 TELUS locations across Canada. They will use the system so customers can book appointments with TELUS online for reasons such as enhancing customer training, require new services or to request information. TELUS expects to have 300 users on the system at any given time, across Canada, once the system is up and running.
24hrAssistant sticks out among its competitors because it offers white label customized branding. For instance, we have completed re-designed the look of TELUS’ 24hrAssistant so it has the same look and feel as the TELUS website and branding.
“We foresee the future only growing in terms of online appointment scheduling,” Regnier says. “TELUS is leading the way in their industry by implementing this initiative.”
24hrAssistant has multiple business clients but TELUS is so far the largest company with the system. TELUS customers will be able to access the system in either French or English. TELUS employees will be able to access the location’s schedule from their mobile phone.
Katherine accepted the award on Friday, September 24, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon. 24hrAssistant’s sister company, zu, received awards in the following categories: website with a budget of $50,000 or more, website with a budget of $10,000 to $49,999 and mobile services – non entertainment.
Lilypad Spa’s business soars with Appointment software
“I think 24hrAssistant is amazing!”
Kyla Neufeld, owner of Lilypad Spa, does business a little different ever since she attached the online appointment scheduling system to her website. She reports nearly 98% of her clients book online with 24hrAssistant. That is quite a jump from using the old pen and paper over the phone technique!
“It has changed the way I do business and has allowed me to work more and answer the phone much less! I love it and wouldn’t ever be without it!”
Kyla says her clients love the system too because they can use it late at night or on days that the spa is not open. They prefer not to call because some don’t like talking on the phone, while others do not have the time to call and be put on hold.
Just as many other of 24hrAssistant’s clients have said, Kyla also says her favourite feature of the system is the client reminder emails.
“That is the best thing ever, because I don’t have to worry about calling them to remind them and also it helps people remember when to come, so I have less no shows!”
Kyla says 24hrAssistant has made her business look more professional and has made the appointment booking a lot less stressful for her clients as well.
“It has benefited my business by making things simpler for me and for my clients to get an appointment. It also keeps my records organized and I can check what my income has been, or possibly will be … I love it!”
Kyla is a good friend of everyone here at 24hrAssistant and we are very pleased she is enjoying our system. Hearing, “I love it!” is what it is all about to us! Kyla has a wonderful spa and we highly recommend it!
To book an appointment with Kyla at Lilypad Spa, go to www.lilypadspa.ca and click “Book Online.”
Salon van Rooij cuts time with scheduling software
Carmen Rosman, manager of Salon van Rooij, operates her studio out of her home and says 90% of her clients book online with her 24hrAssistant system. Carmen says her relationship with her phone has improved because now she doesn’t have to hear it ring off the hook.
“It rang constantly, often 5 to 6 times in an hour. Then I had to listen to all the messages, return the calls and often, play phone tag to get the appointment confirmed. Now I am happy to say, my phone is ringing a lot less and my clients know right away if they can get their appointment time – no waiting around to hear back from me!”
Carmen says her clients love the system just as much as she does. “I love that the system offers a client reminder.”
“Thank you 24hrAssistant – what a breath of fresh air!”
And we thank Carmen for her kind words about our system. We are very pleased to hear her customers enjoy booking appointments online. We also enjoy knowing Carmen is no longer getting frustrated with playing phone tag, checking her voicemail multiple times throughout the day and returning calls. 24hrAssistant eliminates that frustration by acting as your very own interactive secretary. Sign up with 24hrAssistant today for a FREE 30 day trial!
Book an appointment with Salon Van Rooij today by visiting http://schedule.24hrassistant .com /client/index.php?vid=327.
