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Mag Tape to ASP:
Reel Time to Real Time
Celebrating our 20th
anniversary this year it is remarkable the
changes that have occurred in a relatively
short time, especially for technology-based
companies. Do you remember mag tape? If you
still have a music cassette you own mag tape
(abbreviation for magnetic
tape). When we
began processing international postal data
many years ago mag tape was the most common
medium to receive and return processed data.
While mag tape is still common for removable
media data backup the internet has made it
pretty well obsolete for data transmission.
We've gone from reel time to real time.
Similar to how internet-based iTunes has all
but replaced the music cassette, application
service provider services continue to replace
physical media to an ever-growing degree.
"An application service provider (ASP) is a
business that provides computer-based
services to customers over a network.
Software offered using an ASP model is also
sometimes called On-demand software or
software as a service (SaaS)." (source)
ASP/SaaS applications are benefiting a host
of industries all over the world. Businesses,
for example, looking to consolidate disparate
databases around the globe incorporate
Global-Z's real-time services to immediately
access accurate global address data from
redundant data centers, 24x7x365. Where and
when a business requires access to an
ASP-based service is of no consequence as
long as they have access to the internet.
Call centers and customer service teams are
utilizing real-time ASP address hygiene while
their valuable clients are still on the phone
with them. If, say, a call center employee
misunderstands their customer as they provide
their mailing address and enter H9W 4M3
rather than the correct Canadian postal code
there is good chance the item to be delivered
will be returned as undeliverable. Upon
entering all the correct data, including this
incorrect postal code, the postal code is
corrected to the accurate H9W 4N3 before
being stored in the company's database with a
simple real-time connection to Global-Z. Most
importantly, this all occurs before the
product is shipped to what could have been a
costly return shipment. If the call center
representative learns that the address as
provided is undeliverable then they have the
opportunity, as the customer is still on the
phone, to request that the address is
repeated, once again limiting costly
re-shipping charges, or the need to call the
client back to verify the address after the
call is completed. Companies do not have time
or financial resources for these costly
steps, especially when cost-effective
alternatives that help both the bottom line
and customer satisfaction are readily
available. |
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Greetings!
January brings us a fresh perspective each
year. Our first GZ News issue of 2009
brings
reflection and celebration of what brought us
here, as well as offering resources and
strategies for
what international marketers may encounter
down the road.
Thank you for your continued interest and
encouraging feedback, spending some of your
valuable time with us each quarter. Please
keep your comments and recommendations coming.
We welcome back and thank Grace Epperson and
Merry Law for their
insight and expertise shared in this issue of
GZ News.
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| Canada, O Canada |
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A short history of what happened when U.S.
mailers complained
~ by Merry Law, president of WorldVu
This is a story about how U.S. mailers got a
meeting with the United States Postal Service
(USPS) and Canada Post Corporation (CPC)
about delays in mail into Canada from the
U.S., what happened as a result of that
meeting, and an update on the situation. The
story starts in late 2006 when U.S. companies
sending quantities of mail were concerned (or
maybe frustrated) with delays in mail to
Canada. Publications, letters, catalogs, and
items ordered from catalogs or the Internet
all seemed affected. What was happening?
What could be done?
At a regular meeting of IMAG, an independent
non-profit advocacy organization of U.S.
mailers devoted specifically to cross-border
issues, it became clear that U.S. mailers
were frustrated with delivery delays into
Canada and that the USPS representatives at
the meeting were unaware of the problem.
IMAG's leadership and the USPS staff at the
meeting agreed to look into the situation and
report back to the IMAG membership.
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Get the whole story... |
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| I Will Survive. I Will Diversify! |
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~ By Grace Epperson, Managing Director of
DM360°
Inc.
Chances are good if you're reading this
article, you already understand the value of
globalizing your marketing efforts. The
benefits are simple but powerful.
Whether it's finding new customers for your
products (those that are your homeruns or
those that just need a new home) or
experiencing higher response rates and less
competition, going global is a sound way to
diversify your customer base.
Marketing to multiple geographic areas helps
protect you. A few months ago you may have
wondered what you might need protection
against. Today, it's glaringly obvious -
protect yourself from markets that may take a
steep downturn due to economic, political or
other environmental factors.
So what happens in times like today, when
practically all the world's markets are impacted?
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Benefit from Grace's five tips & strategies... |
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| Marketers & Advertisers Go Tech in London |
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The Technology for Marketing & Advertising
(TFM&A) conference and exhibition is the
first marketing event in 2009.
This is the premier exhibition and conference
where marketing, media & advertising
professionals come to learn about and source
digital, data & CRM solutions.
Please schedule time to meet with one of our
data professionals at Global-Z's stand C42 at
Earls Court 2 in London, Feb. 24-25.
We will be demonstrating our Real
Time Enhanced Global Address
Cleansing
services, so schedule time now to discuss your
specific needs and business objectives while
you're at the show.
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Check out a free offer... |
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| Irene Garder's Legacy Lives On |
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Since the autumn issue of GZ News the
Global-Z family gathered with tears, laughter
and fond memories in celebration of the life
of Irene V. Garder. Irene, deceased Oct. 18,
2008, had been an active supporter of
Global-Z International during its early
years. The following is her obituary. We
wanted to share with you her full and
courageous life story.
___________________
Irina Vadimovna Garder, nee Bolychevtseva
went to her Lord October 18, 2008 at the
Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center,
where she had resided for 3 years. She was
surrounded by her loving family.
Irina was born February 19, 1916 in Moscow,
Russia of a prominent family of the lower
nobility. Her father Vadim was active in
various anti-monarchist groups, and exiled
from Russia. Upon his return, Vadim joined
the growing Bolshevik movement. After the
revolution he worked directly under Lavrentii
Beria, Stalin's chief henchman in the 30's.
After a bitter dispute between Vadim and
Beria, the latter denounced him to Stalin who
issued an order for arrest and execution.
Vadim was forced to flee, leaving his large
family behind.
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Learn more about Irene Garder's remarkable life... |
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