OFFTEC launches Techno Notebook Initiative

The initiative has been implemented in cooperation with Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Intel and Microsoft, as part of OFFTEC's commitment to supporting the backbone of the educational system in Jordan.

The Techno Notebook initiative strives to accomplish several goals such as improving students' academic results, reducing pressure on computer labs and administration costs, enhancing educational institutions' academic reputations, bridging the gap of cooperation between public universities and local IT providers, developing students' computer skills and preparing them for future careers.

Ibrahim Jararheh, General Manager at OFFTEC IT Solutions said: 'There are a few common challenges that people face when buying laptops such as purchasing power, price sensitivity, availability of spare parts, after-sales customer service and lack of training and know how. With the Techno Notebook initiative, our aim is to overcome these challenges and any barrier that prevents academic users and even businesses from obtaining notebooks.'

He added: 'OFFTEC has taken into consideration the financial difficulties faced by academic users with limited income and mounting responsibilities through coordinating with the Ahli Bank to offer financial facilities and installments in order to purchase the Techno Notebook.'

A first of its kind Intel-based Techno Notebook was produced by the most reputable original equipment manufacturers, powered by students and managed by OFFTEC, where students received invaluable hands-on experience on the analysis and maintenance of IT products. Additionally, OFFTEC has established a customer service center at the JUST campus under the quality assurance umbrella of ISO 9001:2000, where several students are given sales and business training to promote the Notebook and gain real life experiences.

Jararheh said that 'So far, we have established two main service centers, on JUST campus and in Amman, with plans to expand to other universities and private schools. These service centers will be equipped to solve the agony of notebook maintenance that customers have lived with for so long. With this service, the longest a customer will have to wait to get their notebook repaired is 48 hours, which is unprecedented in the notebook market.'

He added: 'These service centers will be used for software installation, redeployment testing and hardware upgrade. As far as prices, we are working very hard with our vendors and partners to maintain prices at 15-20% less than the prices of other laptops with similar specifications in the market.'

As part of the initiative, OFFTEC has conducted several training sessions on technology and its various uses and benefits to a wide range of audience members, encompassing students from different majors and professors, as well as interested individuals. The initiative has also been very successful in creating internships for students and job opportunities in the fields of pre-sales, sales and post sales.

It is worthy of mentioning that Techno Notebooks are being offered to business users and a long list of educational institutions in Amman, who will also be supported by the service center at OFFTEC's head office.