SmartSource® Becomes Microsoft® Partner – Now Offering Full Suite of Microsoft® Software on Its Computer Rentals
September 24, 2012 by Joshua Siegel
Filed under News & Events, Press Releases
SmartSource has further enhanced the convenience of technology rentals by becoming a Microsoft® Partner (https://mspartner.microsoft.com). Through its new affiliation with the Microsoft® Partner Network™, SmartSource can now provide its customers with PCs fully loaded with the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office licenses. SmartSource CEO & President Mike McClernon believes the ability to offer Microsoft software to its customers is a way to enhance customer service, while also supporting high standards for software licensing compliance.
“This will allow us to hit the same high standards for software licensing adherence as our corporate clients,” said McClernon. “They are fully licensed at their corporate locations – now they can be for their rentals, too. By addressing our rental customers’ needs for software, we’re helping promote compliance without requiring burdensome administrative processes and reporting. It’s a complete hardware/software solution.”
SmartSource is one of the few computer rental companies participating in this licensing program and, as the nation’s largest computer rental source, hopes to set the industry example for commercial rental licensing.
As a Microsoft Partner, in addition to better meeting customer needs, SmartSource also gains a new revenue stream associated with the software licenses.
About SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals
Founded in 1984 and formerly known as Rent-a-PC, Inc., SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals serves broad-based corporate IT, association, professional AV and trade show technology rental needs. The company is widely recognized for its outstanding customer service, technical expertise, geographic reach, breadth of product, and end-to-end solution. Its extensive line features brand name products from Apple, Dell, HP/Compaq, IBM, NEC, Eiki, Meyer, Stumpfl, and others. Among its products are computers, servers, copiers, professional AV equipment, LCD and plasma monitors, kiosks, digital signage and video walls. SmartSource employs over 250 including over 100 field technicians. Its 23 strategic locations are in: Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; College Station, TX; Dallas, TX; Englewood, NJ; Eugene, OR; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Long Island, NY; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; and Washington, DC. Kirtland Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Cleveland, Ohio, holds a majority interest in SmartSource Rentals. For more information, visit: www.smartsourcerentals.com or call: (800) 888-8686.
Hauppauge, NY…
Contact: Donna M. Autuori FOR IMMEDIATE
Autuori Corporate Communications, Inc. RELEASE
(631) 321-0045
Popularity: 21% [?]
EXPO Report: Tradeshows Generate 600,000 Tons of Waste Per-Year
September 10, 2012 by Joshua Siegel
Filed under Community & Organizations
Enough is enough! With SmartSource’s Digital Signage and Digital Document Libraries, we can help you significantly reduce waste and remarkably cut your printing expenses.
Instead of printing all of the materials to distribute to attendees, SmartSource can load it into a digital document library where you attendes will have instant access on almost any device. Digital signare is not only informative, it’s interactive, and a great way to engage with your attendees!
For more details, visit our website at http://www.smartsourcerentals.com/trade-shows/digital-document-library.html
***Article below taken from EXPO. Full link: http://www.expoweb.com/article/report-tradeshows-generate-600000-tons-waste-year ***
As the second most wasteful industry, the convention industry has room for ‘green’ improvement. Here are tips that can help you ‘green’ your show.
From banners and booklets to flyers and samples, tradeshows can pile up several tons of trash before, during and after an event. About 600,000 tons of trash is generated every year by convention goers, making the tradeshow industry the second-largest industry to produce the most amount of waste, after the construction industry, according to data in a report from Smash Hit Displays.
The data, which analyzes information fromRepurpose America, Inc. and Trade Show Geek, among others, shows that about 60 million people visit tradeshows each year generating 20 lbs. of waste per person, or over 1 billion lbs. of total waste.
SEE ALSO: SPECIAL REPORT: Greeening The Expo Industry
Though large-scale live-events produce a great deal of waste, there are ways to reduce a tradeshow’s environmental impact while increasing revenue and reducing costs. Here are some tips the report outlines:
- • Replace Paper With Technology. Instead of spending money on printed materials for brochures, handouts and flyers, utilize USBs loaded with digital brochures, and have exhibitors take advantage of interactive devices like tablets or iPods to replace large booklets through apps that attendees can directly download. QR codes are also an easy and inexpensive way to share digital content that would be normally printed. If there must be physical materials, having a printer on site to supply information on-demand is an efficient way to save paper.
- • Recycle Materials to Reduce Waste. Encouraging exhibitors and attendees to use and distribute eco-tote bags, recycled pen and paper notepads, recycled cardboard and eco-friendly cups and cutlery can be an easy way to reduce a carbon footprint. If worried about cost, consider developing a sponsorship opportunity around the initiative
- • Make It Easy to Recycle. The report suggests creating “waste-reduction stations” throughout the tradeshow floor. By using three, color-coded and easy-to-read bins that are labeled for cans and bottles, paper,and waste, attendees and exhibitors are not only encouraged to recycle, but it is easy for them to do so. Hire a volunteer to staff the stations and act as a “waste expert” to educate individuals and ensure materials are placed in the proper receptacles.
- • Green Materials for Booth Displays. Encourage your exhibitors to have green lighting, like LED lights and fluorescent lights. It’s not only environmentally friendly, but can save money on electrical costs. Providing information to your exhibitors about recycled aluminum, green flooring, eco-friendly stains and finishes and eco-glass takes away the research effort for exhibitors while encouraging environmentally friendly polices for your event.
Popularity: 1% [?]
SmartSource Named Top-Rated Technology Contractor by Exhibitors at the Offshore Technology Conference
September 5, 2012 by Joshua Siegel
Filed under News & Events
Score another one for SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals (Hauppauge, NY, www.smartsourcerentals.com), the nation’s leading provider of computer, audio visual (AV) and trade show technology rentals and services. In what is widely-regarded as one of the most prestigious industry events in the world, the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC, www.otcnet.org), SmartSource was named the top-rated technology contractor by OTC exhibitors. The achievement stemmed from the “2012 Offshore Technology Conference Attendee and Exhibitor Conference Evaluation” survey based on the responses of 976 conference participants. SmartSource came out on top in a list of 19 companies. SmartSource CEO and President Mike McClernon noted that the achievement was especially gratifying, as this year, his company was named the Official Computer and Technology Rental Provider for the 2012 Offshore Technology Conference which occurred this past spring.
“What better way to document our commitment to meeting the needs of OTC conference exhibitors and attendees than to be rated by them as a top service provider,” said McClernon. “It is gratifying to know that our attention to service quality, technical proficiency and customer satisfaction is being recognized where it counts most – with the end users.” In addition to the company’s effective systems and technical competence, McClernon credited SmartSource’s extensive core offerings, as well as its expanded line of interactive technologies as reasons why the company receives such positive reviews from the marketplace. These leading-edge technologies include: iPads, SmartCharge™ Kiosks, Mobile Device Charging Stations, Friendlyway Kiosks, Touch Screens with software for Digital Document Libraries and Digital Signage, Audience Response Systems, Plasmas with Twitter feeds, Video Walls with different content on some or every screen, and a Lead Retrieval system with custom data selections. Plans are underway for SmartSource to launch a new offering — iPads with self-service kiosks.
McClernon and his team at SmartSource can also relish the fact that its top-rated performance this year follows its top-three ranking last year; a clear sign of the company’s consistency in its high performance.
In addition to rating OTC contractors, the survey also measured the attendees’ and exhibitors’ overall conference experience as it relates to such areas as: technical content, spotlight on new technology, networking, social events, food quality and OTC branded offerings such as the OTC Parkway Outdoor and Reliant Arena Exhibits and OTC on Demand tool. While the survey pointed out some areas which could be improved, a large majority (92%) indicated that they would “probably” or “definitely” exhibit at OTC 2013 – always a positive sign for conference coordinators. The complete details of the “2012 Offshore Technology Conference Attendee and Exhibitor Conference Evaluation” survey can be obtained at:
http://www.otcnet.org/2011/pages/exhibitors/documents/11OTC_Report.pdf
The Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environment protection. This event, which is held annually at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, attracts over 70,000 attendees and 2,500 exhibiting companies representing more than 110 countries. SmartSource has been supporting this prestigious conference for almost a decade. OTC 2013 is scheduled for May 6-9, 2013. For more information, visit: www.otcnet.org
About SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals
Founded in 1984 and formerly known as Rent-a-PC, Inc., SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals serves broad-based corporate IT, association, professional AV and trade show technology rental needs. The company is widely recognized for its outstanding customer service, technical expertise, geographic reach, breadth of product, and end-to-end solution. Its extensive line features brand name products from Apple, Dell, HP/Compaq, IBM, NEC, Eiki, Meyer, Stumpfl, and others. Among its products are computers, servers, copiers, professional AV equipment, LCD and plasma monitors, kiosks, digital signage and video walls. SmartSource employs over 250 including over 100 field technicians. Its 23 strategic locations are in: Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; College Station, TX; Dallas, TX; Englewood, NJ; Eugene, OR; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Long Island, NY; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; and Washington, DC. Kirtland Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Cleveland, Ohio, holds a majority interest in SmartSource Rentals. For more information, visit: www.smartsourcerentals.com or call: (800) 888-8686.
About OTC
Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection. OTC is held annually at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas.
OTC ranks among the largest 200 trade shows held annually in the United States and is among the 10 largest meetings in terms of attendance. Attendance consistently exceeds 70,000, and more than 2,500 companies participate in the exhibition. OTC includes attendees from around the globe, with more than 110 countries represented at recent conferences. OTC is sponsored by 13 industry organizations and societies, which work cooperatively to develop the technical program each year. OTC also has two endorsing organizations and ten supporting organizations. OTC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 13 representatives; 11 from OTC’s sponsoring organizations and two from OTC’s endorsing organizations.
Contact: Donna M. Autuori FOR IMMEDIATE
Autuori Corporate Communications, Inc. RELEASE
(631) 321-0045
SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals Named Top-Rated Technology Contractor by Exhibitors at the Offshore Technology Conference
Hauppauge, NY…
Popularity: 2% [?]
