Issue Archive
Issue 8 June 2007
Overview
They may not show up on your balance sheet, but your employees are one of your business's most valuable assets. In fact, they're so valuable that losing an important staff member can cost you roughly 1.5 times his or her annual salary. Which means you have to make sure your key employees don't want to leave for greener pastures. And doing that is often about more than money. In this latest issue of TELUS scope, we give you some hints to help you keep your employees by keeping them motivated.
We also take a look at another topic vital to any business today: productivity. How can you make sure your people are as productive as possible, whenever possible and that your business is always available to your customers and suppliers? We introduce you to online collaboration tools that can help you turn downtime into work time.
Keeping employees, keeping them motivated: The high cost of losing an employee
As you probably know from the news, Canada's unemployment rate is at historic lows. There just aren't that many people out there looking for jobs. But there are more than enough businesses looking for employees – and you can bet that some of them will set their sights on your key people. In this article, we give you 5 tips that will help you keep your employees and 11 tips to help you keep them motivated. We also tell you how easily people can become unmotivated, so you know what to watch for.
How to increase productivity with online collaboration tools: By Mural Consulting for TELUS
What’s the difference between the Internet, an intranet and extranet. What’s a VPN and do you need one? How can any of these tools help your employees be more productive when they’re working from home or on the road. And how can they help you provide better service to your customers? We tell you more about today’s important online collaboration tools and help you decide which of them can work for your business.
Issue 7 March 2007
Overview
In this issue, we look at two of the most important challenges any organization faces today: security and availability. As technology allows you to do more online, to collaborate with customers and suppliers and enable remote workers, it also exposes you to risk. As a result, the more you rely on e-mail, the more you could be opening your organization to anything from viruses to uncontrollable volumes of spam. And the more you rely on your networks and Web site, the more you need them to be available to your employees, customers and stakeholders, 24x7. We address these issues by looking at different ways to protect your business, your brand and your reputation. We also introduce you to some companies that are choosing TELUS security and managed infrastructure solutions to drive business value from their information and communications technology investments and free their own resources to concentrate on strategic initiatives.
Going beyond the traditional firewall
If your organization allows online transactions, you are no longer responsible only for the security of your own data and systems. You are gathering and storing vital customer information – the kind of data most sought after by hackers and criminals. You need a level of protection that outperforms traditional firewall and intrusion protection solutions. NSS, the world’s foremost independent security testing facility, has just awarded its approval to TELUS AssureLogic, the first Web Application Firewall to achieve this coveted status.
Business security in the modern world
Gene McLean, TELUS VP, Chief Security Officer, talks to Curtis Blais, TELUS National Practice Manager for Security Consulting, about the issues that keep security, IT and business executives awake at night. Spend 10 minutes with two security experts as they discuss the problems businesses face today and the solutions available to them, both internally and through outside contractors.
Putting a lid on spam
The leading provider of risk services to Canadian insurance companies was being inundated with spam. Some users were receiving as many as 300 unwanted messages a day – and it wasn't just impacting them. They were taking up IT resource time double-checking the validity of some messages – and the strain on the company’s servers was beginning to show. The IT Manager turned to TELUS for help.
Taking to the air
In June, 2005, the Canadian Radio-Television Commission approved two applications for satellite radio licences. That gave the applicants less than 6 months to gear up for the peak holiday season shopping period. XM Satellite Radio was determined to be first to market, but did not have the infrastructure in place to activate radios or bill its subscribers. They quickly discovered that TELUS was the only provider able to respond fast enough, with the infrastructure they needed to handle their expected volume.
Guaranteeing availability, no matter what: First Canadian Title puts it's customers first
First Canadian Title pioneered the concept of title insurance in Canada and has led the field ever since. In 2005 alone, it issued more than 782,000 title insurance policies and guaranteed services. Its clients include lawyers, notaries and financial institutions of all sizes, but ultimately, it serves the needs of purchasers of Canadian residential and commercial real estate.
Issue 6 February 2006
Overview
Your customers are changing. They're still using the phone, but they're also talking to each other online. And now, they want to do the same with you. They want to reach you 24 x 7, by phone, fax, e-mail, Web chat and text messaging.
The good news is that the technology you need to respond to them is available now. And you can take it to market fast, with no upfront capital investment whatsoever. IP technology is the new foundation for contact Centre Solutions, offering options, enhancements, flexibility and scalability like never before.
Inviting customers to make contact: How delivering better service means generating more revenue
Imagine opening a contact centre in as few as 12 days. With no new staff, no new managers and no new mortar and bricks. Hosted, multi-channel IP Contact Centre Solutions are literally changing the face of customer service.
Re-routing the call centre: How IP technology is changing the shape of customer contact
Now that the IP Contact Centre Solutions are reality, you'd like to know whether it's the right solution for your organization. Perhaps you could use some help deciding whether a hosted service makes more logistical and financial sense than building your own premise based multi-channel solution.
Canada Post makes it easy for customers to find what they want: A sophisticated solution with no upfront investment
Innavopost, a subsidiary of Canada Post, developed a service that enables consumers to request more information about advertised products and services, without divulging their names, e-mail or street addresses. All that was needed was a cost-effective, multi-channel contact centre. That's when Canada Post heard about CallCentreAnywhere.
KIA Canada:Growing challenges
KIA Canada is growing fast. To meet dealers' need for parts, the company built a new warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario. This gave its MIS department the opportunity to transform the communications infrastructure and enable new levels of collaboration across the company. As part of the overall solution, a Cisco IP Contact Centre ensures dealers get the support and answers they need, when they need them.
Issue 5 May 2005
Overview
The security needs of your business have changed dramatically. With so much data residing on networks and so many business processes being conducted online, you face risks you may never have imagined just a few years ago. Protecting your business against those risks - and preparing to recover from them - can mean the difference between surviving and facing serious challenges to the continuity of your business. That's why this edition of TELUS scope takes us even further into the field of security.
It's 10 a.m. Do you know where your data is?
Even if you don't do business online, chances are your business is online in one way or another. Just using e-mail can expose your company, your data and your reputation to significant risks - and the more you do online, the greater the potential for disaster. We tell you what the risks are and what you need to do to ensure that your business is fully protected against them.
Security that customers can bank on
The management team of Prospera Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in Canada, had decided to pursue a bank charter in order to operate a "virtual" bank serving customers across the country. One of their first priorities was to improve the credit union's disaster recovery capabilities in the areas of technology and workforce facilities. They turned to TELUS for help.
Issue 4 September 2004
Overview
Our latest issue introduces you to a subject that is becoming more and more important in today's business world - IP telephony. Companies are using it to power up their communications, free their mobile workers from desks and wires, improve their bottom lines and save money. You'll read what it is - and we'll introduce you to two organizations that are already realizing substantial gains from their IP telephony implementations.
IP telephony - what it is and why you should consider it
An introduction to IP telephony. You'll see why it's so much more than simply making phone calls over the internet (Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)). You'll discover some of its many benefits, see examples of just a few of the applications it makes possible and learn about some options for moving up in a way that will best suit your company.
An across the board solution for Alberta schools
Meet the Peace Wapiti School Board of Grand Prairie, Alberta. Read how an IP telephony solution is providing the advanced - and more secure - communications that schools need today. Discover some of the ways Board employees are taking advantage of the power of IP telephony.
Better customer care, lower costs
When Borland Canada moved to a new head office, they took advantage of the opportunity to move to a new communications system too. They chose TELUS IP-One. Powerful features like "find me, follow-me" routing enable customers to reach Borland's very mobile workforce, anywhere, anytime - and Borland is saving as much as 40% on its phone costs.
Issue 3 May 2004
Overview
In this issue, a real life case study introduces you to some of the many benefits of TELUS Hosting Solutions. In our second feature, we remind you of the dangers and disruptions that could strike any business at any time - and we tell you how to ensure that yours can recover from any of them as quickly as possible. Finally, we explain how we can help you avoid long distance billing surprises when you're traveling.
Now available: space for your technology solution, with guaranteed power, security and availability
Unless your company is in the technology business, dealing with technology can be unpredictable and expensive. Read how the Mineral Products Division of Dynatec has solved these challenges with a co-managed TELUS Hosting Solution that frees their own scarce technical resources to focus on their business.
Are you prepared for the worst?
There are so many things that can go wrong in business today. Unless your enterprise plans for them, they could put you out of business entirely. Read about the possible threats to your company and how smart foresight and planning can ensure that you remain open for business and accessible to your customers.
Even road warriors have to call home
Ever been surprised by a charge on your phone bill after using your calling card? It's a fact that even dialling 0 before the area code and the number you are calling, and then following all the calling card instructions, may not ensure that your call is routed over the TELUS network and billed at TELUS rates. Our tips will make sure you don't receive any surprises.
Issue 2 September 2003
Overview
With everything that's happening lately, it's easy to feel overwhelmed - especially when it comes to understanding technology. We hope you find the stories in this issue of TELUS scope helpful.
This month, we focus primarily on access and communication throughout communities and organizations - big and small, urban and rural. As well, we present timely tips on securing your data and protecting your customers' valuable information in this new era of virus and security issues.
Technology of the STARS
The Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) maintains a small call centre in Alberta where 2-4 agents are available 24 hours a day. STARS turned to TELUS for help and support in creating a contact centre solution that allows STARS to prioritize calls, as well as plan and schedule staffing requirements.
Virtual city hall
When looking for innovative information technology, the last place most people would think to look is a small town in northern British Columbia. But in fact, Fort St. John, a fast-growing city of 17,500 in the B.C. Peace River Region, is about to get a highly advanced municipal Web site.
Technology tips - security savvy
Every week it seems we hear about another hacker attack or malicious virus that's plaguing computers and corporations around the world. It might be tempting for us to believe that these attacks are carried out only against large corporations and governments. But, the fact is that every computer is vulnerable to a host of security issues.
Issue 1 June 2003
Overview
Big news for not-so-big businesses.
Big news...fully integrated solutions and new technologies that were at one time designed for large businesses are now available from TELUS to small and medium businesses on a scale and at a price that fits your needs.
We've created this monthly newsletter to spread the news, explain the benefits of these business solutions and provide case studies that show how some of our small and medium-sized clients have profited.
Welcome to the first issue of TELUS scope!
The printed petal says it on flowers
Customized messages on flowers? It was just a good idea one month before Mother's Day. But thanks to a professional Web site and integrated end-to-end solution from TELUS…in under 30 days…the Printed Petal was able to compete across Canada with larger and more established companies for the Mother's Day business.
IP telephony - the communication revolution
IP Telephony is nothing short of a communication revolution. In the past, separate networks were required to handle both voice and data communications. IP Telephony uses a common network for both, supplying the framework for a range of new integrated services, the benefits of which cannot be underestimated.
Technology Tips - teleworking: the new 9 to 5
Remember when there was a place called the office and there was an activity called "office work," and the former was where we did the latter? Like it or not, the definition of "office" has changed and teleworking has become a highly desired benefit for employees. Luckily for employers, it's proven to be a win/win situation.
