3.+Planning

f) Investigate and propose new information technologies that could form part of the new system. (5 marks)
New technologies are emerging daily that help companies to effectively assist their customers. Companies wishing to offer their customers a greater flexibility of service have a great deal to choose from in an ever changing marketplace. The following programs could offer ALTEC the ability to use a communication system that allows their business to successfully navigate into a web based company.

Cloud applications enable users to successfully store and retrieve their emails, files, data and multimedia in a secure location within a server environment. They are able to do this however, without the need for costly initial set ups and specialised staff, by using an external company to host their business information online. Google Premier Cloud Application provides this service for an annual fee. The company will have access to email, web based file storage, sharing and retrieval. The application is flexible in its ability to be taken from the PC based application to a smart phone application enabling ALTEC to be connected to their files whilst away from the office. The annual set up fee of $50 includes 24/7 customer support via email and telephone, negating the need for costly specialised staff.

Skype is a technology that is now readily available within the business world. It is a cost effective method of communication between staff and customers. The new improvements have enabled Skype to progress past simple Internet based telephone calls and move onto a more diverse range of activities. Skype can now provide business with High Definition multi user video conference calls, with added options of screen sharing and file transfer whilst in call. This aspect of the application would benefit ALTEC greatly as it would reduce the need for in office conferences and allow a greater flexibility of hours and workspaces. Staff at ALTEC would also be able to use the in house messaging system to facilitate greater communication between staff.

The ability to converse with customers in on an online environment has improved phenomenally; the use of email has become a normal business practice. The ability to discuss in real time with customers rather than wait for emails to be answered has become a highly sort after commodity in web based business. In order to effectively converse with customers and facilitate idea development and sharing, ALTEC required an application that could work online and offline. The program Sight Max on Demand is a web based application that embeds directly into the existing company domain and allows real time online communication between staff and customers, whilst allowing staff to continue with their in office work. The program also offers the ability to reply offline and to retain chat logs for later clarification and referencing. The licence for Sight Max is purchased per user and allows multi user conversations to be held. The program is available in different modes, ranging from a loaded version on the clients own server or a web based embedded application. It would be recommended that ALTEC make use of the web based application as it is fully customer supported, again reducing staffing overheads and when paired with an Cloud Application reduces the need for in house servers and the costs associated in maintaining them.