 10.01.04 Now Mackay takes its product right to the customer’s backdoor. To the average onlooker, Mackay Communications’ latest marketing tool might look like just an ad on wheels but the Nera Demonstration Van is much, much more sophisticated beneath the bright, colorful packaging. In actuality, the vehicle is a state-of-the art mobile communications unit that can transmit and receive data from virtually anyplace in the world. For now, the van travels all across the state of Florida and into Georgia and South Carolina to allow potential customers a hands-on-opportunity to see what Mackay’s satellite communication products are all about. “This is a public relations van to promote what satellite communications can do for our customers. We are able to take the unit out to anywhere that an individual interested in satellite communications wants to get on board with the latest technology,” said Patrick Fisher, Director of Satellite Services. Once on board, potential customers are treated to a full demonstration of weather reporting, stock reporting, e-mailing and other communication capabilities of the Nera Fleet 55 and Fleet 33 line of satellite products. An experienced technical salesman for Mackay who is extremely knowledgeable of seafaring vessels, satellite communications and the associated software takes the van out almost daily to boat yards, electronics stores, fishing tournaments, marinas, boat dealerships, and other venues. Using two large monitors, the technical salesman educates customers on Nera Fleet capabilities and the advantages they offer over similar systems. He allows customers to use the equipment and software themselves to see how easy it is to operate the communications system that is appropriate for vessels of 36’ on up. We also emphasizes that these Fleet products allows pay-per-use service rather than the traditional pay-per-minute usage fees. Known as Mobile Packet Data Service, or MPDS, the service enables a user to access a web page or other data for an indefinite length of time without being charged for every minute of viewing. Customer feedback has already been very favorable. Fisher said, “It has generated a lot of interest and a better understanding of the products.” To that end, Mackay has accomplished a goal it set about a year ago when Fisher and others at Mackay realized the Nera product name needed more visibility. They wanted to take the product to the customer rather than having the customer come to the product. “Too often, (boating) customers can’t see a demonstration of the services associated with satellite communications. We only had the equipment in showrooms and exhibitions so it was not branded well enough,” he said. “This van was an ideal solution to that problem. Now we can teach people the newer aspects of satellite communication. We can show them that it’s not just a phone call or sending a file like e-mail any more. Our customers can stay in touch with home and have all of the communications that a vessel needs to operate properly integrated into one package, The Nera Fleet”, says Fisher. Call us at 1-877-4MACKAY to schedule a demonstration. |
