DETROIT, MI, Jan. 5, 2005 -- SYNC Technologies Inc. declares 2004 a successful year with the completion of the new Customer Billing and Management System (CBMS). The system was cutover without incident for the nation's third largest water utility, the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD). The project not only replaced an antiquated legacy system, but also SYNC completed the implementation on schedule and on budget. DWSD had so much confidence in the SYNC Project Team that it launched the system on the busiest day of the month in 2004.
The new system enhances the customer service billing and related processes, making them much more efficient and cost-effective. The list of improvements over the former system is impressive; the new billing system improves all phases of customer service and contact management including a much easier to read bill for DWSD's customers. Along with CBMS, SYNC Technologies is in the midst of the IVR (interactive voice recognition) installation in DSWD customer service call center. This new call center component will allow customers to call, and using self-service options, receive information concerning their accounts via telephone.
"The Board of Water Commissioners is exceptionally pleased with the work provided by SYNC Technologies in implementing our billing system," said Mary Blackmon, President, Board of Commissioners. "The system has made it much easier for our customers to understand their bill, and has been the answer for what the customers have asked for over a decade now." Sync also implemented an ACD (automated call distribution) system that assisted in monitoring the routing and call handling for the customer service center.
Founded in 1988, SYNC Technologies is a customer-driven provider of highly professional services in the Information Technology field. SYNC is Detroit-based, family/minority-owned business enterprise that helps its clients define and implement the use of cutting-edge, high-quality and cost-effective solutions for their Information Technology needs. "We were asked by the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department to use advanced object oriented modeling techniques for this project," said SYNC President Donna Stallings, "It's the first time the City of Detroit has ever used object oriented modeling and as we move forward with the opening of our new office in Atlanta, we look forward to bringing innovative concepts such as this to a broader customer base." SYNC technologies served as the prime contractor and project manager for this integration. The Customer Billing and Management System serves as a model for major metropolitan cities.
"SYNC did an outstanding job of project managing and implementing the new CBMS system. Sync was attentive to our needs, focused and driven in finding solutions to better bridge our overall operations," expressed Gary Watkins, DWSD Manager of Commercial Operations.
"We wanted a system that offered improved billing and the increased capability to collect revenue from delinquent customers," comments James George, Assistant Director, DSWD.
In return, SYNC, after an exhaustive evaluation process recommended sub contractor Systems & Software based out of Vermont, primarily for the applicability of their enQuesta Customer information system (CIS) to DWSD requirements and SYNC's methodology. But the system is also highly regarded for its flexibility to accommodate unpredictable future requirements.
"SYNC did a great job," said Victor Mercado, Director, DWSD. "The system is working. They brought it in on time and I'm happy. Their company is attentive, dedicated and responsive."
For the past 15 years, SYNC Technologies client list has grown to include the City of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, and several nationally renowned engineering firms, as well as smaller clients such as local non-profit organizations and churches.
"We treat each project and client with the highest degree of professionalism and guarantee our work" says Cliff Stallings, vice president and CBMS project manager of SYNC, "It gives us immense pleasure to declare the Customer Billing and Management System a complete success."
About Detroit Water & Sewerage
The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department supplies retail water and sewer services to the City of Detroit's residential, commercial and industrial customers (between 275,000 and 300,000 active accounts). The utility also supplies wholesale water services to 125 suburban communities and wholesale sewer services to 77 suburban customers. DWSD is constantly seeking to improve service delivery to its customers through innovative methods. DWSD's water quality is among the best and its rates are among the lowest in the country.
About SYNC Technologies
SYNC Technologies (www.synctech.com) is a versatile, customer-driven provider of professional services in the IT field. Certified as a Detroit-based, Women-owned, and minority-owned business enterprise, by the City of Detroit and other certifying agencies. SYNC specializes in technical project management, user training and support, web-based application development, security and object-oriented systems modeling and implementation. The corporate aim is to assist clients in defining and implementing cutting-edge, high-quality and cost-effective solutions to meet their Information Technology needs.
About Systems & Software Inc.
Systems & Software is a leading provider of billing and customer service solutions for regulated and deregulated utilities throughout the United States. Founded in 1973, the company has focused exclusively on the utility industry. Through a proprietary implementation and support approach projects are always delivered on time and within budget. While customers focus on their key business operations, S&S is relied upon for complete technology, maintenance and software support. S&S is located in Colchester, Vt.
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