The Oxford Princeton Programme has selected CS Group’s CourseBooker software to manage their Training Operations and Sales and Marketing Operations in both the UK and the USA.
Bethan Carter, Operations Manager, at The Oxford Princeton Programme’s Oxford site, said:
“We expect that CourseBooker will help us reduce our administrative efforts. Simple things like the streamlining processes, automating course correspondence, and reducing the number of duplicates in the system will help us manage our operations more efficiently. We have US customers who will take a course in the UK, and vice versa, so we currently have to manually cross check data between the US and UK systems to ensure that correspondence and course catalogues aren’t sent twice.
This is a lot of effort, but it is important that our customers get the best service and correspondence from us. We hope CourseBooker will help us deliver the same high quality services, whilst streamlining our processes. As we become more efficient, this will have ongoing benefits for our customers.”
A ‘database committee’ was set up, which was tasked with sourcing a solution that could be used across the UK and USA offices, and by the sales teams in Singapore and Canada. Bethan Carter explained the selection process:
“The project team included Sales, Marketing and Operations Managers, so that all the requirements our business could be represented and assessed. We short-listed to four or five different systems, which we looked at in detail, but struggled to find a solution that would meet our needs.
We wanted an off the shelf package that could handle every aspect of the business –operationally as well as Sales and Marketing. Some of the systems we looked at were CRM and sales packages, for which the software to manage the operational side of the business required bolt-on solutions or bespoke development work. At each meeting, our Sales Manager, Marketing Director and Operations Manager would attend and at every meeting one of us was disappointed – except when we had a demonstration of CourseBooker.”
The system will be deployed by The Oxford Princeton Programme over the next three months and they hope to start using the system in September. The solution will run from The Oxford Princeton Programme’s office in the UK, from where it will also be used by the office in the USA, and the sales representatives in Canada and Singapore.
The Oxford Princeton Programme was formed when the College of Petroleum Studies, based in Oxford, UK, and the Princeton Energy Programme, based Princeton, NJ, USA, merged in July 2000. The company supplies specialist Energy training solutions to the Energy Industry and elsewhere.
Since the merger in 2000, the business had been running two separate database systems; one in the UK and one in the USA. The CRM and course booking functions were also separate. In 2005, the Management team took the decision that, in order to operate as an integrated company, a single system was required across the two sites.
Simon Clayton, Sales Director at CS Group, commented:
“Because CourseBooker has been developed and designed as a web-based application, it is very suitable for the kind of multi-site operation that The Oxford Princeton Programme operates. Running the one system from a central location for both sites will eliminate the costs and administration associated with running two separate applications.
Plus, the system is browser-based, which means that the costs of deployment, initial and on-going running costs are kept to a minimum.
CourseBooker is unique in the Training sector – it is the only solution designed as a complete business system for companies in the business of selling or delivering training. By combining web functionality, training administration, CRM and marketing tools in a single application, CourseBooker simplifies your IT system infrastructure; streamlines operations; reduces costs and gives maximum flexibility.”
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ABOUT THE OXFORD PRINCETON PROGRAMME, INC.
The Oxford Princeton Programme, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of training solutions to the energy, commodity and derivatives industries. In addition to PrincetonLive.com, which offers more than 20 energy and commodity web-based training modules, The Oxford Princeton Programme provides more than 70 instructor-led training courses. Designed for all levels of expertise, courses include views of oil, power, liquefied natural gas and a variety of other energy, commodity and derivatives topics. For a complete list of courses and for other information, visit http://www.oxfordprinceton.com
About CourseBooker & CS Group Learning solutions
CourseBooker is a browser-based solution designed especially for organisations in the business of selling or delivering training. It combines course booking, scheduling and invoicing tools with a powerful CRM and marketing database to reduce the cost of training administration, and deliver a platform for overall business management.
CS Group have over 18 years experience delivering training administration and learning management solutions and currently supply and support learning management systems for over 33 NHS Trusts and more than 77 organisations in total. Customers include: Aintree Acute Hospitals Trust; Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD); Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH); Zurich International Solutions; Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and the Institute for Public Finance.
About CS Group
Computer Software Group plc (CS Group) floated on AIM in August 2000 and its core business is the provision of mission critical solutions to niche verticals.
CS Group has seen significant growth during the last 3 years and following eight successful acquisitions it has consolidated and integrated its businesses into three divisions - Business Solutions, Not For Profit, Field Services & Hire, each offering integrated software solutions to mid-market companies. Today CS Group provides their solutions and services to over 1800 companies, including many market leaders.
Computer Software Group plc is an IBM Business Partner and MS Gold certified partner.
www.computersoftware.com
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Esther Rutter, Marketing Executive, Not For Profit Division, CS Group, T: 0044 (0)1625 258 523
