7 Great Features of the CITIZEN Connection Partner Program

CITIZEN Systems America Corp. (CSA), is owned by the same $3 billion (USD), CITIZEN Holding Company of Tokyo, Japan, that owns CITIZEN Watch.  While you won't see a professional quarterback, or stock car driver as the spokesperson for CITIZEN Systems America, there are still some pretty great things about the company.  For instance, did you know that CITIZEN is one of the few companies in the world that makes bar code, point of sale (POS), and mobile printers, as well as print mechanisms, kiosk, dot matrix and photo printers...?  Many "big box" printer companies make one or two of these product types, but almost no other printer company in the world has this breadth of products.  

Another great thing about CITIZEN Systems America is the CITIZEN Connection partner program. It is truly innovative, while still offering the things value added resellers (VARs) have come to expect in the best partner programs.  What follows is a list of the seven best features and benefits of the CITIZEN Connection program.

1.  Tiered Pricing

Let's face it, the main feature VARs expect in a partner program is better pricing than those who are not in the program, or those who are in it, but not selling as much.  In other words, VARs expect that the more they sell, the better their pricing will be.  The CITIZEN Connection partner program has four tiers ranging from Bronze to Platinum.  These pricing tiers are designed to protect VARs from their traditional competitors, and from online retailers. The tiers are both revenue and merit based, meaning that even smaller, more strategic VARs, have an equal chance to advance in the program.

2.  Deal Registration Eligibility

CITIZEN Connection VARs are able to register deals.  Deal registration protects the Connection VAR who registers the deal from every other VAR in the world, and triggers the involvement of the CITIZEN sales team.  CITIZEN advises its Connection partners to register deals early and often.  

3.  Price Exception Eligibility

If a Price exception (PE) is needed in an extremely competitive situation, CITIZEN will consider it for Connection partners who have a compelling business case.  This means that CITIZEN goes the extra mile to protect the VAR who is doing the heavy lifting.  

4.  Demo Gear Eligibility     

Need a demo unit...?  Access to demo units are a benefit of the CITIZEN Connection program.  The process is very easy, and very convenient.  

5.  Marketing Dollars

CITIZEN rewards its Connection partners with marketing dollars that are earned through sales. The CITIZEN Connection program has an innovative point system, based on product type.  Points are earned throughout the year, and may be converted to marketing dollars once they are earned.  

6.  BDM Coverage

The CITIZEN field sales team are called Business Development Managers.  They are tasked with finding new opportunities that are fulfilled through the VAR/distributor channel, and supporting the sales efforts of their VARs.  The higher the VAR's level in the program, the more of the CITIZEN BDM's time the Connection VAR may expect to get.  

7. End of Year Prizes

Last but not least, are the end of year prizes.  The top achievers are rewarded with everything from iPads to vacations.  

If you are a VAR, and looking for an alternative to the "big box" printer companies, take a look at the CITIZEN product line, and the CITIZEN Connection partner program.  You might be surprised by what you learn, and by the potential for incremental revenue gains.  

Written by:

Tracy E. Tucker

Director, North America Channel Sales

CITIZEN Systems America Corp.

ttucker@citizen-systems.com

Copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

VIDEO: CITIZEN CL-S700 mid-range bar code printer.

Check out this video on the features and competitive advantages of the CITIZEN CL-S700 mid-range bar code printer.  There is a $40 instant rebate promotion on this printer for Q1 2013.  Contact your distribution partner for details... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w18j7zfOc74

The Competitive Advantage of Great Customer Service

Small companies need an edge, and one of the best ways for a small company to gain an advantage is to blow the doors off of the competition with great customer service.  This is easy to say, and just as easy to do, but for some reason companies don't always seem to grasp the value, and effect it has on their brand.  Good customer service is a mindset, and everyone in the organization needs to be in that mindset.  Here are a few simple things to get everyone in the organization thinking this way...

• The customer is boss.  This was Wal*Mart founder, Sam Walton's philosophy, and it's a good one.  Companies who remember this simple philosophy usually have extremely high customer retention rates.   It's true that customers can be unreasonable at times, but delivering on unreasonable demands, or at least a sincere effort to do so, is a great way to earn customers for life.

• Always exceed expectations.    Disappointment comes from unrealistic expectations, so set your expectations properly in the beginning, and then always be on the lookout for ways to deliver more value than you promise.  Be early, be enthusiastic, be honest and be consistent.

•  The answer should be "Yes."  Some managers think the best way to be a responsible corporate citizen is for the default answer to be "No," and only change their minds when an "air tight" business case is presented.  There's nothing wrong with doing smart business, but the default response should be: "Let's find the smartest way to make the answer, 'Yes'." If this is the mindset of management, it will filter throughout the organization.

• Tighten up the ship.  If the ball is getting dropped, find out why.  Are there too many touch points...?  Is everyone playing nice together...?  Does the organizational structure make sense...?  Also, if you mess up, fess up.  The mindset of the organization should be that it can't live with unacceptable answers and outcomes.  If your company does something badly, then it's better (and in the long run, less expensive) to fix it than learn to live with it.

• Go the extra mile.  If everyone in the organization is going above and beyond the call of duty, there will be a palpable difference in the customer experience.  It may sound cheesy, but throwing something in for free is not a bad idea either.  Not over-the-top "glad handing," but you might be surprised how a little thing here and there (and a big thing on special occasions) will go a long way.    

• Over communicate.  Companies don't lose customers because they're keeping in close contact with them, and keeping them in the loop.  Communicate both good and bad news proactively, follow up diligently and keep in touch even when there is no sale (or delivery) pending.  Many businesses refresh technology every three years or so, which means if you're in the technology space, keeping in touch is all the more critical.  The shorter the refresh rate and sales cycle, the more frequent the contact should be.  This can be as simple as a promo, or an article you forward to a previous client about something related to his or her business.

• Spread the word.  When your customers have a positive customer service experience, tell the world about it.  Use customer testimonials, press releases, case studies, white papers, and so on and on.  Using your existing customers to gain new ones is one of the most cost effective ways to get the word out and build the reputation of the small company brand.  Social media is free and easy, and free is always the friend of the small company.

• Use speed as a weapon.  If yours is a small company trying to compete with a much larger one, you should naturally be more nimble.  This means in the little things, and the big things.  Always try to answer your phone rather than hiding behind voice mail.  Always return calls ASAP, not at your earliest convenience.  Never let a customer complaint (read: sales lead) sit more than an hour if you can help it.  Work on shortening your response time first, and then work on shortening your lead times.

These simple things will help smaller companies outperform their larger competitors in the areas where they can most easily and cost-effectively do so.  Smaller companies have to find ways to be better, smarter and faster.  A company-wide commitment to the absolute best customer service in the market will have an extremely positive effect on the smaller company's brand. 

 Written by: Tracy E. Tucker, copyright 2012, all rights reserved
   

Does the world need a cloud ready bar code printer...?

With Google Chrome’s Cloud Print, mobile users can now share printers by sending their print jobs to the cloud.  This is a function that is sorely needed in some cases when printing a document, web page, reservation number, etc., that you’ve encountered on a mobile device, is essential.  But, does this need carry over to the bar code printing world...?

Mobile users of all kinds usually need to print at some point.  Those that need to print constantly are still served best by having their own mobile printer, but what about those who only need to print occasionally, or who need to print a label that is too big for a mobile printer, such as a 4 x 6 shipping label...?  The answer for these users is a cloud ready printer.  For example, the CL-S700 from Citizen Systems America Corporation has a WiFi adapter that allows it to be placed in a convenient location within the four walls, and attached to the WLAN.  This is good for the internal cloud, but what about the external cloud...?  Does the world need a cloud ready bar code printer for external mobile printing applications...?  If so, what are the applications and use cases where it would be helpful...?  How about a kiosk applications...?  How about retail...?  How about outdoor or in-transit mobile apps...? The possibilities seem to be endless... 

All of this begs the question: What do you think...?  What are the uses for cloud ready bar code and POS printers...?  Is this something the market is demanding, or will demand...?  I remember the first time I saw an iPad, thinking: “What in the world would I use THAT for...?”  Now, I couldn’t live without it.  Is cloud ready bar code printing something the market doesn’t even know it wants or needs...? 

My purpose in asking more questions in this blog post than I’m answering, is because I truly want to hear the comments from you, the end users and resellers of bar code and other printing solutions.  Your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Thank you for reading, /TET

Written by: Tracy Edward Tucker | © 2011 copyright reserved

Follow Tracy on Twitter @Barcode_Pro

The Bar Code Pro Journal

Hello fellow IT pros,

Welcome to the Bar Code Pro Journal.  I'm Tracy Tucker, and I've been in the Auto ID industry for over 20 years.  You can follow me on Twitter @Barcode_Pro.  I will be using this space to communicate news, information and opinion about the Auto ID, printing and mobile computing space, as well as technology and business in general.  Look forward to your comments.

T.E. Tucker