Leading Technology Companies Leverage SSPA Data and Strategic Insights to Strengthen Their Service Offerings and Delivery

SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2007 - The Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) is pleased to announce Approva Corp, Agilent Technologies, Pillar Data, Plantronics, Seagate Technology, SonicWall, SprintNextel, Symantec Corp, Unisys and Verint  joined or renewed their association membership in June.

“The investment in SSPA by these and other companies shows the ever-growing importance of services to technology companies,” said Stephen Smith, executive director, SSPA.  “The SSPA’s new Inquiry Service, our Industry Benchmark Study, and other intellectual property offer both the strategic insight and the operational tools not available anywhere else. These are important assets to technology companies who understand the value of offering superior service.”

The new SSPA Inquiry Services are now included in every SSPA membership.  Inquiries are accommodated in half-hour conversational sessions or with concise responses delivered via email.  This enables members to draw on the SSPA knowledgebase and the experience of key SSPA experts to improve the operational excellence of their services organization, or simply to validate what they are seeing in the maintenance and support market.

Coming in July, all SSPA members will enjoy a new and improved Industry Benchmark Study. The new release will have a more powerful survey engine, be easier to use and provide improved graphical reporting capabilities.  Based on member feedback, the new SSPA Industry Benchmark Study also expands the questions and criteria specifically in the areas of outsourcing and field & depot services.  Detailed information regarding this enhanced tool is forthcoming.

To assist SSPA members in their quest for the highest levels of operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and profitability, the SSPA has just completed a new Organizational Development Program (ODP).  This program is designed to assess, improve, recognize and certify services organizations. The SSPA will also be releasing the details of this program later this month.

To learn more about these and the other benefits of SSPA membership, please contact Diane Brundage via email or by calling 408.354.7136x212.

About the SSPA
As the industry’s foremost professional association, the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) is a key resource for the information and best practices needed to make better business decisions. It brings together the best minds from across the industry spectrum – from established companies with successful track records to the pioneering newcomers with out-of-the-box ideas. The SSPA also partners with thought leaders like J.D. Power and Associates and the Wharton School to create programs that benefit the industry. For more information, visit www.thesspa.com.