Online Key Accounts Toolbox
Online Key Accounts Toolbox
Quarterly Report
December 6, 2006
Project Title: On-Line Key Accounts Toolbox
Utility Name & Address: Western Area Power Administration
Energy Services Program, A7800
12155 West Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80228-2802
Key Personnel & Phone #: Project Manager: Ron W. Horstman 720-962-7419
Project Team: Peggy Plate 970-461-7227
Project Team: David Shepherd-Gaw 360-956-2085
Project Team: Linda Witham 360-956-2129
Project Team: Al Pless 706-213-3847
Description: The On-line Key Accounts Toolbox will be a web-based resource focused on promoting energy efficient practices and technologies while supporting key account managers in serving a broad range of key account services. The home page of this tool will encompass and display public access content and resources and include a members-only section where core content within a searchable database will be accessed with a secure and unique password.
Dates: The project has been completed ahead of schedule. A test of the newly developed product by selected volunteers in the utility industry was conducted and revisions were made to the toolbox based on comments received. Future revisions will be made as comments and suggestions are received.
The training, marketing, monitoring & evaluation, adjustments after testing, and maintenance functions will be on-going until the end of this contract period. The following chart outlines the approximate time line this project followed.
Tasks and Estimated Time Line - (ATTACHMENT “C”)
TASK / Date / Time (hrs)1.) Planning - Meeting with Team Members; goals and objectives discussed (initial meeting), develop vision / Aug – Sept 05 / 60
2.) Content Evaluation – Needs assessment from selected utility key accounts (past information) / Oct – Nov 05 / 20
3.) Design of web pages - front end/home page and secondary layers); create visual web interface; create graphics / Aug – Dec 05 / 100
4.) Design of web site - navigation out line, functionally operable, structure, site map, database design, write code and develop administrative tools / Sep – Apr 06 / 200
5.) Implementation - Build site, establish URL and server host / Apr – May 06 / 90
6.) Content Development – Input; assess functionality and usability of site with content / Feb – May 06 / 80
7.) Test – Team members and selected users test functionality and usability / May 06 / 20
8.) Usability - Input from selected key accounts/utility staff / May – Jun 06 / 20
9.) Feedback Assessment – Evaluation of user feedback; modify functionality based on data/usability / May 06 / 40
10.) Publish – Finalize web site / Jun 06 / 20
11.) Training – Hold Teleconference (2) and develop online tools; create tutorial, power point, set teleconference dates / Aug – Jan 07 / 65
12.) Marketing – Plan development / Jul – Aug 06 / 24
13.) Statistical Web Tracking – implement software for analyzing web use (activity) and user (utilities) statistics / Jun 06 – End of project / 32
14.) Marketing – Implementation; advertise to specified audience / Sep 06 / 51
15.) Evaluation – Ongoing review of feedback from users, Management and Reporting (monthly and final reports to include user feedback, problems with website, etc.) / Ongoing / 48
16.) Assistance/User Support – Support via email/listserv and use of hotlines / Ongoing / 34
17.) Maintenance – fix web page/database errors, add new items of interest, link checking, minor revisions / Ongoing / 34
Results to Date: The Online Key Accounts Toolbox has been completed and was unveiled at the APPA Customer Connections Conference in San Antonio, Texas on November 7, 2006. The audience during the unveiling seemed to think the product had value but the real test is yet to come. That test will be the number of key accounts that sign up and use the product. Promotional pieces produced include a press release that has been shared and published by all of the involved sponsors in their respective publications, bookmark magnets for distribution to key accounts reps and key accounts, posters for use on displays, and handouts. There are presently over 100 members signed up to use the toolbox.
Future Plans: Western plans to continue updating this online key accounts toolbox so that it continues to be a valuable tool for key accounts reps and key accounts. Comments and suggestions for improvements will help make the toolbox the go-to resource for key accounts. Additional presentations are scheduled and will be scheduled as opportunities present themselves. We realized that this product will have an experimentation phase and a learning curve that we must compensate for in developing our expectations and future plans. Nevertheless, we are optimistic about its value. Training on how to use the site has been developed and is being distributed. We have begun signing up users of this tool and will continue to market it as opportunities present themselves.
Budget: The entire budget for this project has been used up and the final step of submitting a final report and invoice to APPA for the remaining $6,017 in grant funds is in process.
Additional Notes: This project is a collaborative effort by the following entities:
· American Public Power Association
· Western Area Power Administration
· Southeastern Power Administration
· Washington State University’s Energy Extension Program