Posts in Course Booking Software
Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Online Booking
Marketing goes social and generates perfect arguement for online booking
By Dave Evans - 12 October 2011
Online social networks are proving the perfect space for brand messaging, as marketers shift their strategies and up their ad spend on these social sites. As advertisers harness all the potential that social media can offer, is your training company lacking a little online oomph?
The entertainment and food and drink sectors seem particularly keen to tap this online resource as they are now buying the bulk of adverts on Facebook. In fact, the volume of ad impressions bought by companies in these sectors (as well as in the beauty, automotive and games industries) has risen by around 117% during 2011, according to TBG Digital in a Financial Times report this week. It just goes to show how valuable these online resources have become to brands and how social networking has emerged as an important business tool.
Interestingly, brand advertisers spend a great deal of money on communicating with the public via Facebook because they claim people are in a relaxed frame of mind when using this site. If they’re relaxed, it’s more likely they’ll be receptive to the brand messages. In addition, ads can be carefully targeted so they reach the desired audience at the desired time.
Social networking sites have become a hugely popular channel of communication, with many people checking for updates daily – if not hourly. Also, unlike an email or phone call – it’s an easier, less intrusive way to communicate with people outside of business hours such as weekends and evenings. This increased scope of communication makes social networking the stuff of dreams for any marketing team. Having access to your community and engaging with them at these times, on a more informal level, can help increase uptake of an idea, campaign or product.
In a similar way, online booking systems could prove incredibly beneficial when it comes to maximising sales potential of training courses and other development programmes. With an online booking system in place, customers can sign up for an event whenever and wherever they are – whether that’s at the weekend or in the middle of the night!
In short, businesses from a whole range of industries are starting to fully appreciate the increased accessibility and communication opportunities offered by social media. Moreover, they’re acknowledging this by significantly bumping up their ad spend in these areas. The training industry should take note of these shifts in strategy and look to online potential to boost their own engagement levels.
Most of us are online every single day – it’s a familiar landscape, it’s comfortable and convenient. If training companies fail to make the most of online systems they could really be losing out on a vast and captive potential audience.
If you think the option of online booking could boost attendances of training programmes that you run, or would just like to test a demo of the accessplanit Course Manager software, get in touch with the team today on 0845 5430229 or email enquiries@ accessplanit.com.
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, eCommerce, Training Administration
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Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Training Administration
Trainers could learn from struggling Gap's IT-focused strategy
By Dave Evans - 2 August 2011
I wrote, a couple of weeks ago, about some of the misconceptions associated with technology that still linger with intent around the training industry, and one of the key points that many struggle to come to grips with is around cost. And, I think, perhaps, this is just as much our fault as the provider of the technology, as you the training provider.
When we market technology we always bang on about the cost savings, ‘you can streamline admin teams and save huge amounts’, is a firm favourite. However, much less is mentioned about the cost of setting up and getting going with new technology, and this really was pushed to the fore, for me anyway, when I read about Gap’s latest initiative in the hugely competitive retail market.
Sales at Gap have fallen year-on-year for the past six years, and while it would be easy for the Gap management team to heap blame onto the recession (which I’m sure they have done), clearly some changes need to be made – both in terms of saving cash and identifying some new revenue streams too. And, it would seem that technology is to play a starring role in Gap’s revival.
The Financial Times reported that Gap is to jump on-board the smartphone roller-coaster and market brand and product with videos to anyone who walks into the store, so long as they have the appropriate phone. Cutting edge technology is not always, it would seem, used by the wealthy companies with money to burn, it is also the solution (or hopefully the solution) for businesses that are out of ideas and are fed up of mediocre results doing things the same old way all the time.
This resonates in the training world. Why should training software that can literally revolutionise the way you operate and pull you (kicking and screaming, sometimes) into 2011, be the exclusive right of the financial elite? It’s not, and it never will be.
Gap has shown that a company on its knees can still be innovative and cutting edge with technology.
How will your business stand out from the crowd?
Get in touch with accessplanit today and find out how our software can revolutionise the way your training business operates. Click here to read more about the software and to get contact details for the accessplanit team.
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, Training Administration
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Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Industry News
Training companies must take note of manufacturing success
By Dave Evans - 23 July 2011
There will be some sore, yet no doubt buoyant and optimistic, heads wandering around the British manufacturing industry this week. Closing a new client deal is always something to celebrate, but when the contract is worth something in the region of $40 billion, it’s time to blow the dust off that Champagne bottle that’s been tormenting you for years, patiently waiting for the good news that never seemed to arrive.
What’s interesting for me about the American Airlines deal that has been struck, is the objectives of the airline company – their chief exec was quoted as saying that they wanted to “dramatically improve fuel and operating costs”. Ok, no great surprise there, but the fact is this huge organisation knew that the only way it could meet those objectives was by investing in the best technology and advanced thinking in the world.
There is little resistance to technology in the manufacturing world, it depends on the latest advances that are being designed and tweaked in factories across the world, because machines need to be as slick, powerful and efficient as possible.
Why can’t more industries adopt this approach to the digital age? The corporate world is getting better, there is more understanding of automation and streamlining, the costs savings and increases in efficiency that can be achieved. But, our research has shown that a quarter of training companies don’t even have the most basic of web booking forms for their courses. An incredible stat. So, while on the one hand you have training businesses that not only accept online course booking, but also use software to stay in touch with delegates via email and text, while on the other hand you have companies that only accept bookings over the phone or by email. The gaps between companies in the same industry, competing for the same businesses is huge. In manufacturing they wouldn’t survive, because leaner and meaner companies would come along and simply do things better. But it’s not an exclusive club, other industries will be hit by the need to evolve and change very soon, and for training companies it is now a case of deciding whether they want to be on the inside popping open Champagne bottles alongside the manufacturing big hitters, or on the outside looking in.
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, Industry News
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Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Training Administration, Training Management Software
Blended approach to IT should satisfy the training purists
By Dave Evans - 13 July 2011
The technological age has once again been accused of tradition bashing (this time handwriting, after The Times reported longhand is to make way for typing in Indiana schools), and while there may be stronger consequences for children not learning to write effectively, than for training managers not to have an online booking form, this is one struggle that I can relate to.
In the article, End of the line for pens as schools embrace digital age, champions of handwriting are wheeled out to support the necessity of this ancient form of communication, and while the arguments are pleasant enough they hold little meaning in modern day society. By no means should handwriting be outlawed, reading and writing should remain necessary parts of a child’s learning, but technology too should be understood and recognised as one of very few vehicles that actually has the ability to take society forward.
I occasionally come up against opposition, our training management software has the power to automate so many different aspects of the training process – from marketing and sales to delivering the programme. Resistance appears in many guises, from ‘face-to-face is the only effective way to deliver training’ to ‘if I don’t explain each training programme over the phone to potential delegates, I won’t sell any places’. Similarly in The Times report, Anthony Daniels, a commentator for The Wall Street Journal, described typewriting as “a further hollowing of the human personality, a further colonisation of the human mind by the virtual at the expense of the real”.
Knee-jerk reactions to technology are common. Our software doesn’t have to mean the end of traditional communication for training providers, just like learning a vital skill like typing will not outlaw handwriting. The digital age is here, and if it can make businesses and the lives that run those businesses easier, more productive, and more profitable, while still maintaining a hold on traditional values, it can’t be a bad move, can it?
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, Training Administration
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Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Online Booking
Training Management Software – do more with less…
By Dave Evans - 6 September 2010
The definition of efficiency savings is providing and maintaining your existing level of services at lower cost. AccessPlanit’s Training Management Software will ensure you do more with less and will increase your efficiency savings through:
- Significantly reduced administrative burden and cost achieved through automation
- Convenient, 24/7 customer access for booking and online payment
- Increased conversion rate through your website resulting in increased sales
- Reduced cost of bookings
- Automated billing and payment
- Increased staff efficiency in dealing with customer enquiries and queries
- Improved customer experience and interactions
- Reduced marketing costs
- Increased control through comprehensive, real-time management reporting
- Increased control of resources and costs
- Staffing cost savings and operational efficiencies
- Regular updates meaning you have the most up to date version at all times
Do more with less, one system does the job of many…
To learn more about how you can make efficiency savings then please contact AccessPlanit and we would be more than happy to discuss your concerns.
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, Online Booking, Training Administration, Training Management Software
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Posted in:
Course Booking Software, Online Booking
Key Benefits of an Online Course Booking System
By Dave Evans - 26 May 2010
It’s the 21 st century; an era of wireless connectivity, touch-screen technology and automation is at its peak. Yet many companies still fail to recognise the benefits of such technologies that, when embraced within your business, are proven to streamline operations and improve efficiency throughout.
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Online booking systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society across various industries; the training sector, in particular, provides a whole host of online booking benefits for companies and consumers, in contrast to old-fashioned face-to-face, telephone and fax exchanges...
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Customers can instantly check availability rather than have to check over the phone or via email. Staff save valuable time dealing with bookings and can spend their time elsewhere on more pressing issues. Clients can check availability and book instantly, thus completing a booking without having to wait for staff to confirm. This is exceptionally useful in unsociable hours where staff aren’t working – meaning your company is open for business 24/7.
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Because customers conduct their own transactions and receive confirmations, they are free to make changes during or even after the process, with a minimum of complicating factors – providing them with ultimate peace of mind.
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Training companies can protect themselves with online booking systems because many systems require payment upfront or a credit card guarantee to hold the reservation. You’re also safeguarded against non-payment which saves time having to chase up invoices.
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Websites can be updated instantly with live information pulled directly from your booking system. No more waiting for your website developer to update your site with new course dates and availability.
Click here to find out more about our Course Booking System..
Tagged with: Course Booking Software, eCommerce, Online Booking