TTEC launches new online bill-paying system

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC) has launched a new online Cash Receipt System to increase customer satisfaction. It was officially launched on August 27 at the TTEC Arima Service Centre on Sorzano Street, although it was actually implemented on August 20. Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment, Pennelope Beckles, TTEC’s general manager, Denis Singh, AGM administration, Ruthven Adams, commercial manager, Irwin Thompson, and acting area manager of distribution East Felix Alleyne, were on hand to endorse the benefits of the system. TTEC had published a tender specification in March last year and an offer was made to Core Business Technologies of Rhode Island, USA, at a cost of approximately $1.8 million.

After the design, configuration, installation and testing, there was the roll out of the system beginning at head office on June 25, and completed with the implementation on August 20, at the South Quay office. The system uses the latest in computer and communications technology to facilitate real time updating of customers’ accounts, eliminating the need for customers to get a duplicate bill when making payments, should they not have a bill. Apart from the convenience the service offers TTEC customers, it also provides ready information for managerial decision-making. Bills now carry a bar code and the cash receipt system uses the bar code and a bar code scanner for the easy input of customer information. A customer display is also included, which provides the customer with transaction information, as it happens, for easy verification.

In addition, the system offers a high degree of expansion and is customisable to meet current needs, as well as facilitate growth, allowing TTEC to adapt to the changing needs of customers. Approximately 347,000 customers throughout the country are now able to access the system at any one of the 14 TTEC service centres in Port-of-Spain, Chaguanas, San Fernando, Point Fortin, Curepe, Arima, Sangre Grande, St James, Marabella, Penal and Scarborough. After the launch, the minister was given a tour of the control room at the Stanley P Ottley Building, where she got the opportunity to see how the Scada system, which facilitates the monitoring and management of TTEC’s distribution system throughout TT, operated.