Texas-based company eInstruction Corporation has become the leader in real-time, interactive wireless response pad technology, by developing innovative products which enhance the learning process in educational institutions and corporations.
Today, more than 2 million response pads are used in thousands of US schools, as well as more than 600 universities and 10 foreign countries.
The pad is driven by eInstruction's Classroom Performance Software, which facilitates communications to and from the pads via a receiver attached to the USB port on the teacher's computer. The system automates attendance-taking and enables the teacher to assess students' progress.
Positive business growth compelled eInstruction to look for a scalable ERP/CRM software solution that could promote operational efficiencies, as well as facilitate better customer service. Tim Torno, eInstruction Chief Financial Officer, says: "We began our search by going to independent Web sites rating ERP software. We kept coming across SYSPRO, which was always rated among the top five solutions."
SYSPRO won the business due to its ability to deliver greater value than its competitors, as well as the responsiveness of Dallas-based reseller Pioneer Business Systems. eInstruction opted for a 30-user SYSPRO licence covering core modules and SYSPRO CRM.
While many of the SYSPRO modules have yet to be fully implemented, the company has already experienced numerous improvements. "We have particularly noted significant efficiencies in the customer service area," Torno says. "With SYSPRO, we can quickly determine the status of any order - where it is in the warehouse, if it's been shipped and when it's received. We've also seen numerous accounting efficiencies."
When one accountant left the company to pursue a new career path, the efficiency of SYSPRO accounting modules precluded the need to seek a replacement. "This is a pretty good ROI, and we're hoping to sustain it," he says.
Another area where SYSPRO plays a significant role is in the co-ordination of pad manufacturing. eInstruction outsources this function to two manufacturers, necessitating the need to forecast requirements 90 to 120 days ahead. SYSPRO provides a wealth of data on which to base the forecasts.
The majority of eInstruction's sales originate from independent sales agents, many of whom are teachers who love the product and are now selling it to earn commissions. By integrating SYSPRO with an online portal, these agents are able to determine the status of their customers' orders and track their sales commissions.
The company is working on a shopping cart that will enable the agents to place orders online on a 24/7 basis. SYSPRO e.net solutions will be used to automatically route orders via component object models objects into the SYSPRO database for immediate processing.
SYSPRO CRM is also proving to be a powerful resource for the eInstruction Tech Support Team, which helps teachers and professors become proficient on the CPS software. SYSPRO CRM is used to track the calls, ascertaining that each is properly handled.
The team also provides call centre support for students experiencing problems with their pads, running though a series of diagnostics to correct the problem. If it can't be resolved, the student is told to return the pad to the bookstore where purchased and pick up a new one. The pads are fully warranted, and eInstruction uses the SYSPRO Returned Merchandising Authorisation module to track pad returns via their individual serial numbers, maintain statistics on defects and, in turn, send the pads back to the original manufacturer for credits.
Commenting on eInstruction's future direction, Torno says plans are under way to convert the platform into other languages to serve schools in non-English speaking countries. "We have dealers in South Africa, Australia, Singapore, the UK, Canada and Mexico," he says.
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