Minnesota Vendor Visits: Abridged

June 13, 2005

I was in Minnesota for most of last week, visiting various companies’ headquarters and offices.

Here is a recap of some of those with whom I caught up and, in some cases, met for the first time — in such an abridged form that�it puts�Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet to shame (yes, that's the one with Mel Gibson...[shudder]...):

�

Interactive Quality (IQ) Services — a provider of load testing and availability monitoring services for contact center and e-commerce business solutions. Essentially, the company tests software, for the company that created the software, before it becomes available to product buyers.

�

VocaLabs — a service bureau that focuses on collecting caller-focused data in relation with companies’ service operations. The company collects information from its clients’ callers for improvement of caller experience.

�

The Connection — an actual live-agent call center, it specializes in sales order processing, lead generation (w/ surveys), customer service, Web chat, e-mail response and Web-based call center services. The Connection handles more than 75 million calls a year. The company was ranked #11 in this year’s Customer Interaction Solutions’ Top 50 Inbound Teleservices Agencies (based on company size and minutes billed by its phone companies for 12 months, i.e., hard data).

�

Avtex — an application and systems integrator that designs, develops, deploys and supports contact center, messaging and IP telephony solutions. This company is a strategic partner, and reseller of, software developer Interactive Intelligence.�

�

Archway Marketing Services — a provider of marketing execution service, the company further provides streamlined and integrated marketing service solutions. The company aims to assist clients in achieving higher sales, improved customer communications and enhanced brand integrity.

�

System Management Software, Inc. — a developer of performance management software, this company focuses on proffering and delivering historical and current-status metrics from multiple platforms and data sources. Watch for significant, forthcoming announcements from this one.

�

Multi-Tech Systems — a manufacturer of telephony, Internet, remote access and device networking products, Internet Telephony magazine readers will recognize this company.

�

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development — Positively Minnesota is the slogan. According to Helen Conde, Economic Development Specialist of Marketing and Business Development: “If you’re looking for cheap, don’t bother. Go someplace else.” That’s not what they’re doing; the focus here is on the quality of call center and business workforce (i.e., labor, education, etc.), telecom infrastructures and municipalities, etc., etc.

�

If you’re unfamiliar with these companies, or if you’ve not kept up with their recent goings-on, visit their Web sites.

�

Cheers.

�

---

�

DRB