|
|
|
|
8Networks awarded Zen Platinum Status
Where possible, we aim to standardise the products and services we provide to our clients. This keeps costs low and simplifies training, documentation and ongoing development. Most importantly, it allows us to deliver a quality service to our client that we are proud to stand behind.
8Networks promoting Zen Internet at Business Northwest Exhibition.
Initially we were put off from using Zen Internet due to the slightly higher cost of their service (this was a long long time ago, when broadband was a rarity—Zen's pricing is now extremely competitive). However, trials of cheaper providers did not fulfill our requirements for stability and customer service. As many positive reviews began to recommend Zen Internet, we calculated even a small improvement in service would be worth the premium, and after a successful trial we switched all our connections to Zen Internet.
The difference in performance, stability and customer service was immediately noticeable, not only by us, but by our clients as well.
Platinum benefits for our clients
Our Platinum level partnership allows us to deliver Zen's services directly to our clients and manage all billing, sign-up and service delivery. We have access to Zen's diagnostics systems and provide front-line support directly to our clients. Our clients never need to deal directly with Zen as a supplier, and many wouldn't be aware they were using a Zen connection if we did not tell them. This is exactly what our clients want—a single company to provide all their I.T. services with no chance of “passing the buck” should a fault occur.
The number of connections we have with Zen plus the standard way we configure each of our clients' networks means we are often involved in trialing new products from Zen. For example, we were involved in the testing of Zen's self-configuring ADSL routers, which significantly cuts down our deployment time and costs—a saving we pass on to our clients. Our technical staff also get priority training and sales briefings to ensure we are always up-to-date with developments in Internet provision. This is valuable knowledge that we can pass on to our clients.
Priority service
As you know, we are really technical, and one of the things we like is that we can talk directly to Zen's also really technical staff. We've met them, can put a face to a name, and can even communicate via Instant Messenger. We certainly don't need to go via an Indian call centre and “try resetting the router” before we can speak to someone knowledgable. We calculate this direct contact saves us, on average, an hour per fault.
Very often, if a new client has a pre-existing contract with an alternative provider, the benefits of standardisation save us so much time and effort that it is often cheaper for us to “buy out” the existing contract and move our new client to Zen immediately.
Thane Brooker, 8Networks CEO receives Platinum Partner award from
Michelle Jackson, Zen Account Manager.