Conference heron::euro_swas_ai

89.0. "AITC CHAIN LETTER ---RESPONSE REQUESTED BEFORE MAR" by HERON::ROACH (TANSTAAFL !) Fri Mar 10 1989 10:33

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     08-Mar-1989 01:29am CET
                                        From:     DOUGLASS
                                                  DOUGLASS@AITG@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
                                        Dept:      
                                        Tel No:    

TO:  ROACH@A1NSTC


Subject: AITC CHAIN LETTER  ---RESPONSE REQUESTED BEFORE MARCH 15TH

***********************************************************************
PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR OWN DISTRIBUTION LIST (LIKE A CHAIN LETTER!) AND
ENCOURAGE RESPONSE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 15TH.  PLEASE TAKE A LEADERSHIP
ROLE IN HELPING THE AITC PRODUCE BETTER AI-BASED SALES TOOLS.
***********************************************************************

The AITC is taking part in a task force which is being driven by the
corporate officers to alleviate some pain for the sales organization and
make a visible difference (over the next 6-8 months) in the ease of selling 
and ordering. 

I'd like to ask for a favor...we would like to understand and get some
REAL DATA about some of the problems that you and the sales force deal with on 
a daily basis.  One of those problems - CONFIGURATION - can still be troublesome
and time consuming because of the number of new products there are to deal with.

XSEL has been out in the field for some time now and the AITC has an on-going 
charter to keep it up to date, enhance it and make it continually easier to 
use.  In order for us to know how to proceed and to prepare some recommendations
to top management, we need some VERY IMPORTANT DATA from you and from the 
account reps in your offices.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE - AS IT WILL HELP US DEVELOP THE
KINDS OF ELECTRONIC AI TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR WORK DONE FASTER.

(This is NOT just a U.S. program, we would like the European and GIA people to 
 respond also.)

INSTRUCTIONS:  Edit-in your response and return to JEANNE DOUGLASS 
	       (AITG::DOUGLASS, @DLB) by MARCH 15th.
	       Please be as candid as possible and ADD COMMENTS where you
	       think it is appropriate (or NOT appropriate).

1. Does your area/district use XSEL? _____% sales   _______% sales support


2. Do you see the sales admin people/Config. Tech Editors using XSEL now
   or in the future?


3. WHO, in your office, configures systems to quote to customers? 
  
   a. Sales?
   b. Sales Support?
   

4. Is XSEL used to configure complex quotes only?   Or is it mandated to
   use XSEL on all quotes/orders?


5. If it is NOT used because of one or more of the following reasons, please 
   comment on the possible reasons why.  Be specific about reasons like "poor 
   performance"  - tell us what kind of system set up you are dealing with - and
   suggestions for improvement.

   a.  Ease of use.  User interface? 

   b.  Lack of functionality.  

   c.  Inability to handle all that is being currently sold.

   d.  Poor performance. Dial-up problems?

   e.  Inadequate training.

   f.  General way the office works...ie. lack of terminals, equipment,
       time constraints, business practices, culture of area/district

6. General feelings about how AI-BASED ON-LINE SALES TOOLS could help
   you in your job.  Get VISIONARY - write down possibilities.




REGARDS.


JEANNE DOUGLASS
AI FIELD PROGRAMS

I passed this questionnaire to one of our technical editors who uses
XSEL and he told me that the roll-up of this information for Europe
was available from Steve Jones @VBE (DTN: 828-5460).