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Home > Newslist
Putting the 'wow' factor into BT
Thursday June 25th 2009. Posted: 08:00
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BTpulse gets a health check from BT Design's Rob Mayhew
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BT’s research epicentre is Adastral Park in Suffolk - and it’s the company’s “trump card” when it comes to clinching deals and changing customers’ perceptions.
Visitors to Adastral Park are blown away by what’s available - saying they had no idea BT has so much to offer. It’s helping the company stand out from its competitors and putting the “wow” factor into BT, according to BT Design head of customer loyalty Steve Kempt. “Once account managers get their customers here, they’re hooked,” he said. “We provide great presentations and fantastic showcases. “We’re changing the perception of BT. Visitors get to talk to our people and they are second to none in terms of their knowledge and honesty. We don’t sugar-coat things - otherwise we would not win any business.” And winning business it is. Take Agile Bank - just one of five showcases - which since its re-launch has helped support and create more than £72 million-worth of opportunities to BT. Adastral Park’s showcases provide visitors with a whistle-stop tour of the technologies of today - and tomorrow. And having seen how technology makes a difference in every walk of life, visitors can then follow-up their tour with face-to-face meetings with on-site experts. Technologies on show include Near Field communications (a short-range high-frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices), super-fast broadband, radio frequency identification devices (RFID), biometrics and haptics. They’re shown in everyday situations - including the home, at the bank, in a doctor’s surgery, at the hospital, pharmacy, warehouse, shops, on the move, at the library, in schools, in the office, and even at the bus stop. Most of the technology is already available off the shelf - and new technology on show is coming soon. Like the kitchen appliances that “talk” to each other and record energy consumption - and the internet-connected fridge that can update your shopping list and tell you when produce it’s storing is past its sell-by-date. Health check The home includes BT Vision, a home hub, gaming and 3D TV. Visitors can see for themselves how super-fast broadband has a key role to play in delivering the high-tech home. The latest showcase to get a makeover is BTpulse. Now in its fourth year, the showcase had its own “health check” to keep pace with the evolving areas of healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. Like all the showcases, BTpulse tells a story, It begins by showing how people can data share at their desks - allowing researchers in a pharmaceutical company to share ideas and speed up research. It moves to clinical triallists for drugs, getting products out to market faster- showing how technology can help each step of the way. The showcase moves to patients and how technology is helping them at home, at the doctor’s surgery, and in hospital. It moves to the pharmacy and the supply chain scenario - back to the production line, completing the cycle. The community experience showcase demonstrates how technology is changing the face of schools, libraries, social care and travel, while the end-to-end experience demonstrates the life cycle of a product from its manufacture, through to distribution and delivery to the retail outlet. Evolving At the other end of the High Street, Agile Bank - one of the first showcases to open its doors - demonstrates technology that’s available right now. It includes touch screen technology, facial recognition, and remote advisors - helping to make banks more automated, accessible, safer and more attuned to customers’ needs. But if you’ve already visited the showcases in the past and think you’ve seen it all, think again. “We’re constantly evolving and updating the showcases for the right reason - because we are always changing,” said Steve. No matter what sector a business covers, there’s technology on show at Adastral Park that will hit the spot. Customer feedback is excellent and the most popular comment made is “my perception of BT has now improved”. “Everyone can see technology working for them in an environment that means something to them,” said Steve. “Adastral Park is an experience for everyone.” For more information about the showcases, or to arrange a visit, e-mail Steve or call the customer centres on 01473 608000.
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Last updated:
10:55