New program to expand customer service and support for growing market
PARIS, France --- October 6, 2009 --- SMART Technologies announces it is expanding its service and support capabilities across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) with the launch of the SMART Authorized Service Organization (SASO) program. This comprehensive program accredits distributors across the region to provide in-country customer and technical support via call centers, e-mail and SMART-trained technicians, installers and certified trainers. Over 10 distributors have completed the training program to date. It is anticipated that by the end of November 2009, all EMEA distributors will be SASO accredited.
The SASO program delivers in-depth training to SMART distributors so they can provide full-service offering to their prospects and customers. As the interactive whiteboard product category leader in EMEA and globally, SMART is investing heavily in expanding the reach, scope and capabilities of its distributor and dealer network in order to deliver best-in-class service and support. As part of that commitment, distributors will receive SMART baseline technical certification and ongoing training for maintaining SMART products. With SASO accreditation, EMEA distributors will be able to provide a complete service and support experience, from initial inquiry and purchase, to installation, training and technical support. Each country’s service organization will be equipped with a dedicated call center to handle and troubleshoot technical inquiries by telephone and e-mail, and will carry a spare-parts inventory to facilitate faster response times to customer needs.
“As SMART’s category share increases and sales of SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards accelerate across EMEA, it became clear that we needed a market-leading service and support program,” says Patrick Lelorieux, vice president and general manager, EMEA. “We have been very aggressive in developing this leading-edge program so we can support our customers in EMEA with truly world-class services for all of our products.”
“SMART is committed to providing its customers with the highest standard of service, training and support,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “The new SMART Authorized Service Organization program supports a rapid increase in SMART products in EMEA and is the next logical step in providing our customers with the best possible service.”
About the SMART Authorized Service Organization program
The SMART Authorized Service Organization (SASO) program is the first SMART program designed to accredit EMEA distributors to provide comprehensive customer service and support in their region. To date, more than 10 distributors have been SASO accredited, including Gimpex Audio Visual Communications of Egypt, InterVideo s.r.l. of Italy, AV Media S.R.O. of the Czech Republic, V.S.V. Nederland Nv of the Netherlands and Belgium, Steljes Ltd. of the United Kingdom, GroupVision Spain of Portugal and Spain, Akademi Dis Ticaret Ltd.Sti. of Turkey and Aronet-Esitysyhtio Oy of Finland. Image Recording Solutions Sp. z.o.o of Poland, Vastratech (PTY) Ltd. of South Africa, Interactivo Ltd. of Greece, LSK Hungaria Kft. of Hungary and Dansk Data Display A/S of Denmark have also received SASO accreditation. It is expected that, by the end of November 2009, SASO accredited distributors will be available in all EMEA countries where SMART products are sold.
