Customer Internet Access

Access to information is key to stellar customer service. ASI’s ability to give customers Internet access to their bills – through ASI’s eAccess – can provide enhanced customer satisfaction. eAccess gives utility customers immediate and timely accessibility to their billing information…any time, any where.

Features

The demand for customer on-line information is stronger than ever and continues to grow. With ASI’s eAccess, your customers can have on-line interaction with your company 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including:

• Account information such as due dates, account balance and other billing details
  
• History of billing details with graphs
  
• Reprint of previous/current billing statements

Functions

ASI’s Customer Internet solution is easy to use, and the information available is encompassing. Once they log onto the Internet, your customers can request on-line information such as:

• An e-bill
  
• A delinquent notice via email
• An email reminder before the account becomes overdue

Benefits

Because ASI’s Customer Internet application runs on the IBM eServer iSeries, it directly interfaces to the ASI Utility Database, creating endless customer service possibilities, including:

• Ease of use with online payments via electronic check or credit card
• Increased service requests
• Access to data – calculation of estimated utility bills based on customer-entered meter readings, and detailed readings for commercial/industrial customers

Customer Phone Access

ASI’s Customer Phone Access system – iMessaging’s iVoice -- provides interactive voice response solutions, giving customers access to account data through the convenience of the telephone.

Features

A caller simply presses keys on the telephone to retrieve information that is specific to his personal utility billing account. iVoice “speaks” the desired information back to the caller automatically. The system also offers:

• Password protection
• Accessibility – 24/7 availability of information
• Simplicity – No special equipment is needed. The system easily hooks up via analog telephone lines and can scale from 2 to 48 lines.

Functions

Through the telephone, customers have access to account data such as:

• Current account balance
• Last payment amount and date
• Current bill due date
• Current penalty amount and date
• Scheduled cut-off date

In addition, iVoice can be customized to meet your utility company’s needs, such as providing outage information and tracking.

Benefits

ASI’s Customer Phone Access system maximizes data and customer service while minimizing cost and errors. Benefits to the utility include:

• Reduced costs – replaces more expensive delivery methods and off-loads customer service personnel
• Improved response times and communication. Callers can dial up information when they need it so your Customer Service staff can concentrate on “business-critical” issues rather than routine, repetitive inquiries.

Reporting System

ASI’s reporting system is a user-friendly report writer that utilizes Seagate Software’s Crystal reports to enhance your organizational reporting requirements. Called EasiReport, ASI’s software product can easily access data and create the reports you need.

Features

ASI created EasiReport as a way for users to write reports quickly and concisely. The software has features that make the reports look better, which includes added graphics. Other features of our reporting system include:

• Graphical interface to the ASI products database
• Easy-to-use interface provides online wizards to help create customized reports
• Quick access to data needed for reporting. Ability to save data as Excel, Word, Comma Delimited File, PDF Format, or plain text.
• Ability to save the report on your PC or network for archiving
• Variety of report formats, from a simple report (query) to enhanced summary reporting, all with the capability to drill down to the data in detail
• Format options--such as adding graphs to a report, changing column size or fonts
• Ability to change the color or font attributes to any line on the report that meets your criteria. For example, set all negative amounts to print in red.

Functions

ASI’s reporting system is easy to navigate and delivers functions that benefit both you and your customer, including the ability to:

• Create the report on your PC and share it with others
• Save the created report and the format on your PC or network
• Run the report at any time using updated data
• Create a new report by copying another report and making changes

Benefits

With ASI’s reporting system, you will see the following benefits as soon as you run the first report:

• Increased flexibility due to elimination of custom reporting programming
• Enhanced sales data with monthly sales by rate
• Increased service tacking with work performed by category feature, customer past due listings, and detailed general ledger transaction information.

Wireless Service Connection

ASI’s software that provides wireless service connection – called EasiOrder – simplifies common service issues while enhancing customer service. The software operates over a wireless mobile phone network and provides up-to-the-minute text data to connect utility field workers with your customer service departments.

Features

ASI’s EasiOrder works by transferring text information to all the designated mobile phones in your utility’s network, allowing everyone access to accurate and current information. With this software, you can assign short-notice work orders with ease because of the following features:

• Online assignment of service orders
• Online access to service order processing
• Consistent online service request information

Functions

ASI’s Wireless Service Connection software eliminates the time associated with common service issues such as new customer cut-ons, leaks, disconnects, and reconnects. Other functions include:

• Timely communications of service work order performed
• Timely notification of work to be performed

Benefits

The benefits of ASI’s software allow you to better serve your employees and customers. Benefits include:

• Increased safety by eliminating interruptions while driving or performing service
• Increase productivity through consistent, timely communications between all departments
• Improved customer service through centralized electronic workflow
• Enhanced communication between the office and field

Online Screening of New-Service Applications

ASI offers utilities an easier way of screening new-service applicants through a partnership with ONLINE Utility Exchange. A complete integration of ONLINE into ASI’s system allows ONLINE Utility Exchange reports to be pulled without leaving work order entry screens or re-entering information about prospective service clients. This dynamic application screening technology allows applicants to be screened in seconds, reducing time and cost. The result is the reduction or even the elimination of bad debt.

Features

ASI’s Online Screening solution is a convenient resource that empowers customer service representatives to actively reduce – if not eliminate – bad debt at the point of application. Customer service representatives can pull the ONLINE Utility Exchange reports in seconds, allowing them to make proper deposit decisions based on credit risk. The graphic reports provide:

• Social Security number verification and fraud prevention
• Credit risk posed by the applicant
• Other unpaid utility bills by the applicant
• Suggested deposit to be charged by your company to mitigate risk

Functions

A customer service representative can pull the ONLINE Utility Exchange report without ever leaving the ASI work order entry screen. All data transfers that drive the decision and power of the reports occur quickly and automatically behind the scenes. To access the report, a customer service representative only needs to:

• Enter application information into work order entry screen;
• Click on Command Key, which pulls up ONLINE’s application screen;
• Click on Submit Application button, which will return the report in seconds

Benefits

Utility companies can reduce their risk of bad debt by screening customers at the point of application who may not have fulfilled prior utility commitments. This technology allows your company to:

• Prevent application fraud by identifying the misuse of Social Security numbers
• View the credit risk of doing business with a new service applicant
• Receive an objective deposit decision within guidelines the company sets
• Provide tools required to eliminate letters of credit, while moving credit decisions to a customer-friendly environment
• Re-prioritize the need to pay utility bills in the minds of utility customers
• View applicants’ prior experiences in paying utility bills