How Caucus Came to Choose BeaconLive Webinars
If you're responsible for managing technology vendors and contracts in your organization, then you're probably familiar with Caucus which is the only association serving the specialized needs of the technology acquisition professional.
Since 1994, Caucus has helped its members make better decisions when it comes to buying things like computers and other technology products and services. One of the main benefits it provides its members with is easy access to educational resources, including informative webinars.
Challenge: Trying to Find Contract Flexibility, Ease of Use, & Great Customer Service All in One Webinar Package
Of course, finding the rightwebinar vendor is critical. Caucus General Manager Dan Wallace had already changed from one vendor to a second (WebEx), yet he and his team were still at the mercy of a monthly contract. So when he happened to sit in on an (unrelated) webinar that BeaconLive had produced last spring, he was able to observe how smoothly everything went, and he decided to investigate BeaconLive further.
Wallace recalls, "We were tired of paying for a subscription service where we had to pay on a monthly basis whether we used the service or not. We looked at a dozen providers, and BeaconLive had the best pricing and best platform. And Scott Bradshaw was very forthcoming with information about the company."
Solution: No Contract, Skilled Moderators, &
Excellent Customer Service
Wallace says it makes sense for his company to have a pay-as-you-go agreement for webinars since they're not offered on a regular schedule (since moving to BeaconLive last June, Caucus has done approximately four webinars). He appreciates BeaconLive's willingness to work this way and the fact that BeaconLive doesn't try to make up for it in hidden fees.
But he also acknowledges that price is just one component--the webinar experience is just as important, if not more so, for members and presenters. To that end, BeaconLive also makes the grade in Wallace's mind. Wallace says ease of use is extremely important because Caucus has a wide range of people who present and he doesn't want to give them complicated instructions on how to get on the platform and how to present their sessions.
"The BeaconLive interface is much easier to use. It doesn't require downloading of special software or anything like that. Presenters find it very easy to operate and have had no complaints at all. The BeaconLive moderators introduce the speakers and act as MC for Q&A, and they're very good. They rehearse with us in advance, and our experience with them has been exceptional," says Wallace.
In addition, Wallace also appreciates having a dedicated BeaconLive liaison, who, in this case is Kelly Hall. Wallace says, "Kelly is right there for us any time we need her and she interfaces with everyone. The response time to any issues is great, although issues are few and far between to begin with."
Results: Helping Caucus Deliver Webinars That Are Great for Members...and the Association's Bottom Line
How does Wallace measure the webinars' effectiveness? He says he measures the effectiveness by the amount of feedback he gets from members and from the continuing discussions among members regarding the webinar topics. Wallace says he's happy with the buzz the webinars are generating, and he's happy with his decision to move from WebEx to BeaconLive.
For him, the BeaconLive Approach truly is a differentiator. He says, "Their customer service is exceptional. Producing an event can be very confusing. But they're with you the whole way, leading you through the process. And there's always a cheerful voice on the other end of the phone, one that's clear and easy to understand." He notes that BeaconLive handles the credentials process beautifully--meeting passwords, emails, etc.--and that Caucus gets to sign off on all automatic communications between BeaconLive and Caucus customers in advance so that there are never any surprises.
To sum it up, Wallace says, "I'm very pleased with the level of attention that we get from the BeaconLive staff. It makes it a pleasure to do business with them."