Toshiba depoys local software

ASX-listed software developer ComOps has signed a deal with Toshiba to provide its sales account management (SAM) system to help the global hardware giant manage customer service in remote locations.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Richard Bradley, managing director at NSW-based ComOps, said Toshiba had been a customer of the developer for some years.

SAM was expected to cut Toshiba's manual labour costs, improve sales effectiveness, lower its error rate and help business forecasting, he said.

"This latest agreement will see ComOps continuing to work with Toshiba over the next few years to deliver SAM to Toshiba's sales and field teams, before equipping all of its staff with SAM by early 2007," Bradley said in a statement.

Mark Edmunds, a spokesman for Toshiba International, said that the hardware vendor had previously used a more "simple" product and paper-based systems to do the job.

SAM would replace its current CRM tools and was expected to improve customer service, he said.

"With ComOps, we'll be able to communicate with customers via email, providing them with information on standard products, jobs, order confirmations, delivery copies and invoices and delivery expediting to better meet growing information requirements," Edmunds said.

SAM was a proven product already used by "some top level companies" and was backed up by strong local support, Edmunds added.

The deal would also see Toshiba convert its ComOps business management ERP system from an existing Unix and Interbase platform to Microsoft SQL Server.

This was a "strategic move" to ensure all functions would be running on the same platform, the company said.

"We've been using ComOps business management system for five years. A couple of years ago we also signed on for its business intelligence product and service management, and we've been pleased with the results.

"The fact SAM and ComOps business management are totally integrated was another benefit," Edmunds said. "We'll be able to provide a seamless loop throughout the organisation."