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ASI Proud to Sponsor NAID Shred School – Again!

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ASI Proud to Sponsor NAID Shred School – Again!

ASI’s ongoing support of NAID Shred School continues in 2018. As an Event Sponsor, the ASI team looks forward to attending and participating in upcoming Shred School events.

“If you run a destruction business, you are missing out if you aren’t attending or sending staff to Shred School,” says Jim Macmillan, ASI VP of Sales. “I truly believe there’s no greater learning opportunity than what Shred School provides through in-classroom training and networking with colleagues.”

NAID Shred School horiz logo

ASI Mobile X Is Now Available For Download

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We’re pleased to announce that we’ve released a new app that enables couriers to tap into the power of our software and stay connected with the office while on-the-go.

ASI Mobile X, available for download on the App Store and Google Play, is the newest app from Andrews Software.

The app provides two-way communication between couriers and storage facilities without the use of paper, cords, cables or docks to get in the way. Using a wireless, handheld computer, drivers can receive everything they need to complete the day’s service orders and send orders out. With the app, there’s no need for remote-access software or systems. All they need is an Internet connection and a wireless device. Job-specific notes are easily updated to the driver’s mobile device, where they are highlighted and clearly visible.

While they’re on the road, the app enables add-on service requests to be sent from the office — and it sends completed service orders back to the office, making it easier to track service progress.

Because the app connects across all your locations, including mobile ones, it also enables immediate reconciliation and billing.

Other features of the app include the following:

  • Electronic signature capture: Digital client signatures are imported to shredding certificates and service work orders and permanently archived in Veri-Shred and VCK-SQL. Shredding certificates and work orders can be reprinted on demand, including the signature captured at the time of service.

  • Onsite shredding certificate receipts: Receipts also include signatures of both the client and driver.

  • Point of service electronic documentation: Electronic documentation, such as the Certificate of Service and Certificate of Destruction, can be emailed at time of service, along with courier service receipts of deliveries and pick-up.

  • Multi-market mobile connectivity: Expand your reach by servicing one market or multiple markets wirelessly from a central database.

  • Real-time status of service: The Service Dashboard compiles a real-time “snapshot” of service activity in an intuitive format, easily viewed from a single screen on the handheld computer.

  • User-friendly interface: Equipped with an intuitive, icon-driven interface, ASI Mobile X’s features and functionality are easily mastered. With its centralized “quick-view” Service Dashboard, the application is ideal for staff on the move. The system also integrates with your device’s native mapping application for turn-by-turn directions.

  • Bin details collected at point of service: Allows drivers to capture material type, the bin’s capacity and weight, and designate whether shredding occurs on- or off-site. From Veri-Shred, this information is used to create useful management reports.

  • No data loss: The latest technology prevents data loss, whether due to a battery failure or reset of the handheld computer.

ASI Mobile X replaces previous versions of the app. It is not an update. To use ASI Mobile X, customers will need to install the app and login with existing credentials. For proper functionality, the app must be used with the most up-to-date versions of all related applications. With any questions, customers should contact ASI support.

Learn more. Ready to up your game in the information management industry? We can help. Let’s talk!

ASI CEO Scott Bidwell Tackles Cyber Security at NAID 2018

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NAID Conference Attendees to Learn How to Protect Their Businesses from Cyber Attack

On April 14th, ASI President/CEO Scott Bidwell is set to share his presentation highlighting the threats presented by cyber attacks with attendees of the NAID 2018 Annual Conference & Expo coming to Nashville, Tennessee April 13-15, 2018. Bidwell’s session entitled “Don’t Be Held Hostage” will address:

  • How does a business fall victim to cyber attack?
  • You’re the victim of a cyber attack. Now what?
  • Steps your company can take today to protect against cyber-attack.

“Regardless of company size, without protection against cyber attack, it isn’t a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ your business will be held hostage,” says Bidwell. “Attendees of this presentation will learn what to watch for and how to protect against a cyber attack that could shut down their businesses temporarily – or for good.”

The NAID Annual Conference & Expo attracts the largest concentration of secure data destruction professionals worldwide. It features high-level educational presentations delivered by business and industry leaders and boasts the industry’s largest trade exhibition where conference attendees can access vendors providing the latest shred industry and medical waste technology and solutions.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Bidwell is an integral part of ASI’s growth and success, taking ASI from an in-house solution to a leading provider of RIM software solutions for companies around the globe. Bidwell continues to build upon the company’s legacy of growth through client collaboration and partnership. This includes being an active member of industry associations such as NAID.

New Year, New Solutions

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Forget new year’s resolutions. At ASI, we’re kicking off 2018 with new solutions: ASI Medical Waste Module and ASI Mobile for Android/iOS. Check out the ASI Archive for January 2018 for more info, screenshots and download instructions. If your 2018 business resolutions include tapping into technology to expand your services and you want to provide these services more efficiently than ever before, this is a great place to start!

Tech Tip: Access ASI support & docs with Client Portal

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If you’ve had reason to visit the Support area of the ASI website recently, you might’ve noticed some changes. Specifically, access to all support and help documentation has been consolidated within the customer support portal. The portal is where ASI clients create support tickets and check the status of tickets. With this change, it is also where clients can access all support documents from one site.

This is another step in our 2017 plan to improve client service through improved communication tools. If you’re unsure whether you’re registered, simply click the “forgot password link” to receive an email with login instructions. If not registered, simply click the “Register” link. If you have questions or would like assistance please contact ASI Support.

ASI Supports NAID Shred School

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ASI is proud to continue its sponsor support of NAID Shred School in 2017.  Shred School is designed to provide affordable training to all secure destruction industry professionals and NAID active members in an effort to improve their businesses. Attendees are introduced to the secure destruction industry, data protection legislation, sales tips, marketing best practices, and NAID programs. CSDS can even earn continuing education units.

Tech Tip: Boost client satisfaction with ASI’s online access solutions

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In the spirit of the movie “Jerry Maguire”, ASI’s online solutions “help you, help them” by providing clients with on-demand access and control of their data assets. Whether hosted by ASI or in-house, each solution is completely secure and helps clients accomplish account management tasks, generate service requests, and much, much more.

InfoKeeper™ is hosted by ASI and provides your clients with total control and access to their database through a web server from anywhere in the world, 24/7/365.

VCKweb.NET™ / VVKweb.NET™ are ASI’s online records management solutions hosted, maintained, and controlled by the records center and/or media vault, providing clients with direct access to their information assets.

Contact our ASI support team to help determine which online access solution is right for your business.

From Lost Job to Mega Success

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If you’ve ever been in a position where the carrot being dangled at the end of a stick was juuuuust out of reach, or even taken away altogether, take heart. In 2010, after 11 years of working at Yahoo!, Brian Acton’s job was coming to an end. This networking exchange between Brian and recruiters is an example of how quickly things can change and how that lost opportunity could be exactly what you need to find your own path to success. In Brian’s case, success turned out to be an app purchased by Facebook for 19 billion dollars. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!

TECH TIP: Save Hours on Monthly Invoicing Processes with VCK-SQL

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Now that I have your attention, I’d like to tell you how the recent release of VCK-SQL (ver 9.6.47) makes this possible. It’s called Quick Print Invoices and can be accessed from VCK-SQL’s OFFICE drop-down menu. Quick Print Invoices allows you to specify different invoicing periods using one consolidated form. Depending on your need, invoices can be sorted by: invoice number, invoice amount, company name, and/or customer number. Select one or multiple invoices to preview or print.

I’m happy to provide more info on using Quick Print Invoices for your business. Email me or call me at 800-807-2093, ext. 207. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out what you’ll do with all the time saved using Quick Print Invoices!

FYI, you can access all ASI support and documentation in the customer support portal.  The portal is also where ASI clients create support tickets and check the status of tickets. If you’re unsure whether you’re registered, simply click the “forgot password link” to receive an email with login instructions. If not registered, simply click the “Register”  link. If you have questions or would like assistance please contact ASI Support.

What’s the difference between a partner and a vendor and why should it matter?

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Being an active partner – working side-by-side with our clients – to grow their businesses is a cornerstone of Andrews Software Inc.’s commitment to our customers. Nothing demonstrates this better than our most recent partnership initiative.

Longtime ASI customer CH Coakley had an opportunity to secure a major US-based financial services company. To do so, would require a custom integration between the CH Coakley/ASI operating system and the client’s Infolinx enterprise content management system. Far from working at arm’s length to “assist” President/CEO Mike Coakley and his team, we rolled up our sleeves, pulled our chairs up to the table and through the collaborative efforts of all parties, helped secure the business.

When I say “partner” vs. “vendor” what do I mean? Why should it matter to you?

Primarily, I’m speaking to the fact that a vendor supplies a product or service to a client. A partner, on the other hand, becomes an extension of the client’s business. It matters because a partner assists the client in developing opportunities by contributing substantial knowledge, expertise and resources as needed. Their product/service is but one component of a much broader/deeper relationship. Check out the ASI website for other examples of how ASI works with clients to grow their businesses.

I’m not saying other software companies aren’t working closely with their clients. I’m sure they do. What I am saying is that being a partner with our clients is in the DNA of ASI. It’s a key contributor to our growth and to the growth of our clients. When business opportunities such as CH Coakley’s knock on your door, know that the ASI team is working beside you.

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