IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) was recently awarded the BERTL's Best Award for “Most Innovative Vendor Relationship Management System” for Toshiba eXCHANGE, an internal social networking site for corporate employees, independent dealers and the direct sales and service channel.

Recognizing the significant impact that social networking can have on business, Toshiba began exploring ways to create its own internal social networking site. The basis for this initiative was the belief that everyone within the Toshiba family should have easy opportunities to exchange information, build relationships, and share sales successes regardless of their physical location or job description.

“It’s estimated that only 20 percent of a company’s knowledge is contained in written documents, while the remaining information resides in the minds of employees. Toshiba eXCHANGE gives members the chance to easily document, share and seek that information, in turn creating new opportunities for sales and service success,” said Bill Melo, vice president of marketing, services and solutions, TABS.

“We are excited to present Toshiba with a BERTL’s Best Award this year for Toshiba eXCHANGE. In several threads reviewed, it was easy to see how barriers have been taken down with the use of this tool. In numerous instances, we witnessed direct and independent sales representatives working with one another to answer questions, provide solutions and share best practices to win over a customer and defeat the competition. Direct and independent dealers are not giving away trade secrets or exposing any information that would hurt them. They are working together to combat their real competitors out in the market place,” said Art Wynne, president, BERTL. “Also evident is that this system has the potential on a larger scale of helping Toshiba gain more market share.” continue reading...

IRVINE, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2010) – Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) recently wrapped-up an entirely new series of interactive conferences designed to provide office technology dealers with the tools and knowledge to help them succeed in selling and implementing Managed Print and Professional Services (MPS and PS). LEAD 2010, which stands for Learn, Engage, Act, and Deliver, was held at four regional locations this summer, including Washington D.C., Dallas, Irvine, Calif., and Chicago, and drew nearly 700 attendees from all across the country. 

Bill Melo, vice president of marketing, services and solutions for TABS opened each conference by describing the “new normal” in today’s business world and the office technology industry more specifically. “When you define yourselves as MPS providers, rather than copier dealers, your market of opportunity quadruples,” Melo said, referencing in part the fact that for every dollar spent on A3 technology, customers spend three dollars on A41. After making the compelling argument for why successful dealers must have an MPS program, presentations were then given by representatives from Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, Strategy Development, Drivve and Capella, and other Toshiba partners.

Security
Multi-function devices (MFDs) and document security, which Toshiba has been promoting to dealers for years as an essential element of a successful MPS program, was a major focus of the conference. While it was mentioned in most of the twenty education sessions that made up each conference’s three course tracks – sales, service, and consulting –Toshiba also held an additional session specifically on security featuring representatives from Digital Copier Security Inc., who recently became well-known in the industry for their participation in the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” investigative report earlier this year on copier hard drive security. continue reading...