What is CD DVD Media Replication?

by VENDIREX on 07/05/2015 - 03:19 pm |

Tag: Document Management

Unlike the simple ‘burning’ required to copy media from your computer onto a disc, CD DVD Replication is a different process with a unique final product as well. Think of the replications as masters and duplications as, literally copies.
 
Replicated products are created in a very sterile environment. Dust, smoke, pollen or hair could cause enough errors to virtually make the master non-usable. Of course, after production, the CD or DVD will be more resistant to those contaminants.
 
Let’s take a look at the replication production to see just how dissimilar it is from the duplication process. Quality is monitored throughout the process, to ensure that every single replication is an exact clone (replica) of the original.
 


the client’s master is evaluated for corruption


the a glass master is manufactured from a client’s original master tape


the new glass master must be determined to be flawless


a nickel stamper is created from your glass master


an injection molding is made from the stamper with polycarbonate substrates (clear discs)


compact CDs and DVDs are produced by metallizing and lacquering of the substrates


 
There are several positives and a few negatives to using replication, when you compare them to duplications:
 
Benefits:  
 


unit prices are less than duplications


either screen printing or offset printing can be utilized


replicated DVDs can contain more layers of information than duplications


facilities are geared to higher volume production


auto assembly can be utilized to insert discs into cases or sleeves


 
Disadvantages:
 


turnaround can be 7-10 business days; more for 100k+ units


facilities typically require a minimum order of 1,000 units.


Replication CD stampers produce CD-ROMs, which is a read-only memory disc. Data is extracted in the same way as with duplication, and the final product operates in the same way. They may look different from duplicates, dependent on how the discs were printed (offset, digitally or offset).
 

Are You Ready for VoIP?

by VENDIREX on 07/05/2015 - 03:17 pm |

Tag: Call Center Software

Essentially, VoIP Phone Systems employ a method of taking an analog signal (where a wave is recorded or used in its original form) and convert it into digital data, which is then transmitted over an IP network, such as the Internet. And why would you want to utilize such a process? Because Voice over Internet Protocol is virtually free, turning your standard Internet service into a telephone system, and thereby eliminating the phone service provider.
 
Of course, phone service companies (such as AT&T) aren’t exactly quaking in their boots - they’ve actually already jumped into the VoIP pool, providing the necessary equipment to their existing clients (while they use VoIP to streamline their own networks). Phone companies are smart enough to realize they need to stay in the game of anything to do with the Internet. Besides, they know it’s going to be a while before legacy telephone lines disappear, and there’s the fact that VoIP has a cloud of mystery surrounding it, and people tend to be fairly resistant to changes in their basic technology. That said, VoIP does have its advantages for larger firms.
 
If you’re considering a VoIP network in your office, you’ll want to learn more about the issue of its bandwidth requirements from the vendor you select. As a ‘latest technology’ concept, VoIP business networks are geared to high end Internet access users (middle to large companies) who utilize T3 or DS3 systems for their 100 plus staff of employees. In other words, you may have to spend big to reap the largest ‘‘free benefits’ of Voice over Internet; it just doesn’t work as effectively on DSL access.
 
Factors to Think About:
 


Your Rate of Anticipated Growth


It may save money in the long run to initially plan your VoIP network system for growth you feel certain is coming; otherwise you will have to go back and upgrade, and meanwhile the quality of your connections could suffer.



The Number of Users in Your Office


Your company’s total number of employees will have an effect on the type of network service. As mentioned above, a large number of users will demand higher bandwidth.
 


How Remote Users can Affect the System


If your connection is slower, remote users might cause audio issues with quality.
However, you can rectify a less than rapid access situation by replacing the default   codec with a low bandwidth codec on both your remote users, as well as on your own
SIP provider.

 

How to Have a Successful IVR System

by VENDIREX on 07/05/2015 - 03:16 pm |

Tags: Call Center Software, Help Desk Software

There aren’t many people in the world who have not become incensed at having to wander through a menu of disjointed prompts, when they were just trying to reach a specific person, or find the answer to a simple question. Sometimes it seems that nobody answers their company phones anymore. What happened to receptionists, is everyone too busy to take your call, and will anyone ever get your message and respond to you in this century?
 
Enter the most basic point of consideration - when you install or subscribe to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, it’s vital that the menu ‘tree’ be well designed and customized to your business and the customers who need to contact you. When there is a long list of rote messages prompting a voice response (speech recognition) or text-to-speech technology, which doesn’t get to the point or allow the caller to access their intended person or information quickly, you’re effectively chasing them away. You know the old adage, “garbage in, garbage out?” Well, if your system is poorly set up, you’re wasting your money and just irritating prospects and existing clients.
 
Remember an IVR has a special intended purpose - the reason it was invented in the first place was to handle the types of callers who asked the same repetitive questions; such as your business hours and address. It then progressed to routing customers to specific departments, and adding directories by employee name, etc. An IVR was not designed to be, nor is it capable of being, an FAQ like the one on your website which answers all types of questions. However, if logically designed your menu tree can anticipate appropriate questions, routing them to the intended person or one who can handle a successful resolution.
 
Rapid Access
 
Why should your business have a telephone at all, if your customers cannot reach you? Time is money, not just for you, but also for your clients. Think through your IVR menu wisely and put yourself in a caller’s place. If they don’t hear recognizable options quickly, give them a way to speak to somebody - either reception, or a particular department - pronto. One thing IVR is not going to tell you is how many people gave up and just hung up the phone. Have your provider properly set up your tree, after you sit down with your staff and collectively decide which routing would be most effective to help your customers.
 
Limit the Choices
 
Once a caller has chosen a category, such as art department or technical support, don’t keep drilling it down ad infinitum. By the time they have selected 4-5 choices, and whittled down the target to what they think will be a knowledgeable person at the other end, many will find that individual can’t help them after all and they’ll end up being transferred yet again. Road rage doesn’t even come close to how irate a caller can get after this happens to the ...

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How do You Track Your Company’s Lab...

by VENDIREX on 07/05/2015 - 03:14 pm |

Tag: Time and Attendance

Processing manual time sheets can be a cumbersome administrative task, especially when you have varied departments and pay rates to keep track of. When employees consistently round up their time in 15 minute increments, a company can lose hundreds of dollars each month. Time tracking software does away with even unintentional time theft, and also assists with job costing your labor. With basic systems now on the market for under $1k, even today’s small businesses can afford a time and attendance system.
 
This type of attendance tracking automates those daily tasks of keeping records of total hours worked per job or project, while calculating any benefits accrued for those hours. Together, these figures will help reporting of job expenses and make your future proposals more on target for profitability. At times a client will want exact numbers, for instance on a cost-plus job, for which a time and attendance system can be invaluable.
 
How the System Works:
 
Time and attendance software is intuitive and simple to operate, collecting employee hours and information and adding it into a database. Approval is given by a manager reviewing the information prior to processing and reporting.
 
Employees simply login with ID numbers or cards which can be either swiped or waved past an entry device. Phone based input can also be achieved and are especially handy if you have remote offices.
 
Purchasing Considerations:
 
Compatibility
 
Don’t make the common error of choosing a time and attendance system that doesn’t work with your existing infrastructure. Merely identifying that the operating system requirements are met by your system isn’t sufficient, on its own.
 
A qualified vendor should demonstrate whether their software fits with your overall business environment; such as data input devices, IT applications you use, the payroll services vendor you have under contract, and the HR policies set up for your company. If you need rules to be set up in tracking time, make certain the provider can accommodate them, as well as seamless integration with the service you employ to run your payroll.
 
Security
 
Most software providers will offer encrypted file transmission as well as additional security measures. They should demonstrate how your system will be safe from tampering - from either external or internal persons.
 
To avoid one employee being allowed to check in or out for another person, you should check into a biometric device which would check their fingerprint or handprint against the correct employee’s records.