The CentraTel Telecommunications Academy, part of the CentraTel group, the largest multi-vendor telecommunications distributor in sub-Saharan Africa, recently qualified its 500th learner on its Telecommunications 101 training programme - "An Introduction to Telecommunications".
Telecommunications 101 is a generic telecommunications course designed by the industry for new entrants to the telecommunications industry as well as for individuals requiring a refresher course on existing and/or new technologies. It is a course that moves at a rapid pace therefore not taking too much of an individual`s time out of the office.
The course is designed to assist sales people from any industry to become competitive and competent telecommunications sales people; to inform and educate current sales people on new technologies and shifting markets as well as to provide all interested parties with telecommunications information to better understand the industry.
"Technical personnel often attend our courses as their managers see the value in them being able to recognise up-sell opportunities when they are on site addressing technical issues," says Michael Aitken, group managing director of CentraTel.
"In addition, technical personnel are often asked to evaluate new products and our course assists them to do so," continues Aitken.
Other benefits to attending the course are numerous. Organisations will realise a shorter time period before new sales staff start to begin generating revenue. In addition, managers will spend less time overseeing training and salespeople themselves will have the ability to recognise and exploit various solutions providing them with the competitive-edge required to close the deal at hand.
After completing the course, candidates are qualified to fill positions in the telecommunications field and will have a distinct advantage over those candidates who have not had the opportunity to attend the course.
"We`ve had an array of people and companies through our training programme - from managing directors to financial directors, from office automation companies to information technology organisations," says Aitken.
The Telecommunications 101 training programme covers topics such as industry background and the history of telecommunications, selling skills, telecommunications prospecting and qualifying to subjects such as least-cost routing, voice over Internet Protocol, call centres and telephone management systems, to name a few.
"At the CentraTel Telecommunications Academy we believe the one crucial element that differentiates a good telecoms sales person from an average sales person is experience and knowledge," says Aitken.
"When you`ve got the knowledge, you`ve got the confidence required to provide the perfect solution for your customers," continues Aitken.
The course duration is four days after which each successful delegate receives a Telecoms 101 certificate of accreditation.
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The CentraTel Group, consisting of five companies, namely CentraFin, CentraCell, CentraVoice, CentraTec and Masakhe, is the largest multi-vendor telecommunications distributor in sub-Saharan Africa. The group is committed to telecommunications hardware and software distribution, the provision of least-cost routing, the specialist financing of ICT products and services as well as specialised installation and maintenance.
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