Press Releases

Louisville, KY (January 26, 2012) – Online registration provider ABC Signup achieved a milestone in 2011, retaining more than 95% of its customer base.

The retention rate marked a new high for the nine-year-old company, whose hundreds of customers range from Fortune 500 companies to universities and school districts to hospitals, churches and more. ABC Signup typically sees annual contract renewals hover around 90%, according to Todd Chandler, president of the software development firm. Chandler attributed the 2011 success to a number of factors, all relating to the company’s customer-centric focus.

“Our registration management solution originated from a customer’s need and improved over the years in large part because of user feedback,” he said. “Our willingness to listen to our customers and act upon their recommendations continues to pay dividends in our software’s functionality and in our ability to deliver the level of value that wins their business. I’m not sure there is another registration software provider more attuned and responsive to its customers.”

The 2011 year saw ABC Signup approach customer retention with its usual objectives of providing a superior product and service. The company also conducted a record number of customer reviews, relocated its software to a cloud-based host and updated its registration system to keep pace with changes in browsers and operating systems.

Perhaps the biggest difference in 2011 was the multitude of upgrades made to the software and the corresponding efforts to inform customers about the changes and how to use these and other tools to improve their programs and events.

“In 2011, we made numerous enhancements to our software in terms of new features and functionality, and added a number of customizations to meet the needs of individual clients,” Chandler added. “We also did a better job communicating about these new tools and upgrades through our website, blog and monthly newsletter, as well as through our scheduled calls with customers.”

A 2011 survey marked a key customer feedback effort designed to get a better understanding of business trends, how clients use ABC Signup and what functionality they would like added to the registration software. Among other things, the survey data led to specific enhancements to the software.

ABC Signup’s ongoing dialogue with its customers also generated a number of favorable customer testimonials, case studies and referrals, all of which aid the company’s marketing and sales efforts.

“We believe we have a great product and our customers seem to share that sentiment, both publicly and one-on-one with prospective customers,” said Chandler. “Having customers who are willing to advocate for your product just magnifies the importance of continuing to do the things that earn their business.”

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a web-based software solution that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts, churches, cooking schools, hospitals and business such as ADP, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, LG Electronics, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

Louisville, KY (December 13, 2011) – ‘Tis the season of giving, and this week ABC Signup presented its customers new tools and a simplified user interface for page theme customizations, a significant upgrade to the company’s online registration management software.

The improved interface provides a task-oriented menu making it easier for customers to navigate pages being created with themes, while the new tools simplify aspects of theme setup such as matching the user’s website color scheme and design.

"Two of the most important criteria to our development activities are ease of use and the benefit of the feature or upgrade,” said Todd Chandler, president of ABC Signup. “We believe that these page customization enhancements accomplish those criteria.”

Thus far in 2011, more than two dozen new features or functionality improvements and several client-specific customizations have been incorporated into ABC Signup’s online registration software, most in response to customer requests. Chandler says the company’s customer-centric focus and programming agility set it apart from many of its competitors.

“We developed our core product eight years ago based upon customer feedback, and it has evolved since to reflect the real-time registration management needs of their programs and events,” said Chandler. “We’ve stayed true to our mission of doing just about whatever it takes to provide value to our customers, while many of our competitors are too small to listen or react, and a few are too large to bother with company- or segment-specific enhancements.”

Added Chandler, “The running joke around the office after we publish the release notes of a new update is ‘okay, that’s it, the software is complete,’ when we are fully aware that we must continue to improve our product to stay in step with our customers and hopefully ahead of our competition.”

As a complete registration management system, ABC Signup has more features than most customers will ever use. The software allows program and event administrators to create calendar listings, specific event pages and registration forms linked to and mirroring their organizations’ websites. It allows users to craft automated e-mail notifications – such as confirmations, wait-lists and invoices – as well as program evaluations and surveys. It is used to generate nametags and attendee lists, track CEU credits or certifications, and export a variety of reports.

Even with this comprehensive set of registration tools, nearly every customer has different needs, and some request slight nuances to the system’s functionality or an ancillary feature that require software enhancements.

Customer-specific projects this year drove enhancements in functionality related to payment options, conference features and learning management-type tools. Most upgrades, however, address single, specific features. Some – such as the ability to generate QR (quick response) codes tied to event details – incorporate new tools on the market.

“First and foremost, we work our customers’ ‘wish list’ when it comes to software upgrades, targeting projects that provide the most benefit to our users,” said Chandler. “But, we also add our own unique features, and do our best to keep pace with industry trends.”

Those efforts must be balanced with the unplanned updates required when Microsoft upgrades its Explorer browser or Apple unveils a new operating system. Any third party changes in software or hardware related to Internet platforms require testing and occasional tweaks to ensure that ABC Signup continues to run seamlessly.

In 2011, the company successfully navigated an altogether different upgrade when it transitioned to a cloud-based delivery system.

“Moving to a true, managed cloud environment allowed us to spend less energy on hardware, disaster recovery and capacity issues and focus more on continued improvements to our software service,” Chandler said. “It was one of the key factors – along with the many customers we added the year prior – that drove our impressive development story of 2011.”

A story that, says Chandler, will continue to be written in 2012.

“We have some exciting projects underway – projects that will not only benefit our customers, but hopefully expand our opportunities going forward.”

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a web-based software solution that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts, churches, cooking schools, hospitals and business such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

ABC Signup, an innovative provider of online registration solutions, was recently named a finalist for the 2011 Inc.credible Awards, the annual business recognition program created by Greater Louisville Inc. – the Metro Chamber of Commerce (GLI).

More than 1,600 organizations were nominated for this year’s awards program. Last Friday, five finalists were named in eight categories, including ABC Signup in the smaller business segment.

“We’ve been fortunate to grow the company in a challenging economic environment, which is a reward in itself,” said Todd Chandler, president of ABC Signup. “That said, it is very gratifying and an honor to be named a finalist among so many nominees.”  

The awards program, now in its 11th year, acknowledges small businesses in the Louisville area that have demonstrated business/civic leadership and/or excelled in areas such as inclusion; green practices/sustainability; innovation/technology; international commerce; non-profit impact; and turnarounds. The winners, which are selected by a panel of 40 judges, will be announced at GLI’s 2011 Celebration of Small Business luncheon on Wednesday, August 31.

[Follow-up: We didn't grab the gold, but a top five finish for one of the two big prizes out of 1,600 nominations was somewhat gratifying.]

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a product of JTC Technologies, which was founded in 2002. ABC Signup is a web-based software solution that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts, churches, cooking schools, hospitals and business such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

A cross-section of providers of training programs, workshops and other events are seeing a slight uptick in activity in 2011 and expect to offer the same or more of such programs in 2012. Each said they save time managing registrations for these offerings through ABC Signup’s online registration software, according to the first customer survey conducted by the company.

“We felt a survey could complement the anecdotal information we get from ongoing conversations with our customers,” said Todd Chandler, president of ABC Signup. “We gained a clearer picture of market expectations as well as customer perceptions about our software.”

While 47% of survey participants said their number of programs or events were about the same thus far in 2011 versus 2010, 40% cited an increase compared to 13% who saw a decrease. Attendance for these events tracked about the same year-over-year for 42% of survey respondents, but 34% experienced increases versus 24% who recorded declines. About one-third of those surveyed expect to offer additional programs in 2012, while 61% project their offerings to remain about the same as 2011.

Customers noted significant time savings achieved through ABC Signup, with 42% estimating they saved at least 50% of the time they had been committing to registration management prior to using ABC Signup. Another 29% placed their time savings at 20%, and 21% estimated their time savings at 30%.

“Time savings is one of our key selling points, so it is gratifying to be able to quantify those savings at such high percentages,” said Chandler. “Over the years, customers repeat the mantra about ABC Signup ‘freeing them up’ to do other aspects of their job or devote more time to improving program content, and this survey indicates they are gaining the time to do it.”

Customers were almost evenly split in choosing their top three features of ABC Signup’s software, with most selecting “registrants enter their own data,” “automated correspondence to registrants,” and “easy access to reports such as attendance or financials.” They cited 24/7 access to register online and e-mail confirmations/reminders as the two top features of ABC Signup from the registrant’s perspective.

When asked what they might improve about ABC Signup’s software, survey participants were less decisive. Of the choices, 30% selected “more report exporting options,” while another 30% selected “other” and wrote in answers ranging from “nothing” to “not such a short timeout period” to “more customization.” And in an unsolicited testament to ABC Signup’s devotion to customer feedback, one respondent wrote, “As we think of new features, they tend to appear, as others must have had the same ideas.”

“From the sales and renewal processes to our regularly scheduled customer reviews to our ongoing dialogue about software features, we are always talking to our customers and upgrading our product to better serve them,” said Chandler. “This survey mirrors a lot of what we hear in individual conversations, but gives us a little more consensus on the market trends and product characteristics so important to our business.”

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a product of JTC Technologies, which was founded in 2002. ABC Signup is a web-based software solution that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts, churches, cooking schools, hospitals and business such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

ABC Signup, a leading provider of online registration solutions, today announced a number of key accomplishments in 2010, highlighted by a 38.7% growth in revenues and record profitability.

The privately held Louisville company, now in its eighth year of business, achieved the growth through high customer retention and the addition of several new clients over the course of the year, including Creighton University, the Des Moines Art Center, Drake University, Konica Minolta, LG Corp., Marquette University and Yokogawa Corporation of America.

“Our ability to grow revenues and profitability in a stagnant year for corporate training budgets and educational funding is a testament to the value of our product and the effort of our team,” said Todd Chandler, president of ABC Signup. “Obviously, the cost savings and efficiencies delivered through our software resonated with those seeking a better solution for administering registrations. We believe this kind of success in a challenging environment bodes well for our future and validates efforts made over the past 12 months to ensure continued growth.”

In 2010, ABC Signup executed a handful of initiatives critical to building its client base. The company added two full-time staff, and in May moved to larger offices (in the Paragon Center, 6060 Dutchmans Lane) to allow for additional expansion. It also attained accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.

In addition, ABC Signup enhanced its software through several product updates during the past 12 months that added or improved functionality. It bolstered its marketing profile – and added a number of resources for its customers – with the launch of a redesigned website, www.abcsignup.com, at year’s end.

“Like most software that supports an online service, product features and a compelling website are critical to rising above the pack,” said Chandler. “These are investments that we feel will move us forward again in 2011.”

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a product of JTC Technologies, which was founded in 2002. ABC Signup is a hosted software service (Software as a Service – SaaS – or “cloud” solution) that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts as well as organizations such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, Kraft, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

(December 28, 2010) ABC Signup today launched a redesigned website, www.abcsignup.com, to better serve its customers and prospects. Key information is now more readily available, navigation has been simplified and the site’s resources have been expanded to provide a more useful, current and interactive flow of information.

“As an online registration solution provider, it only makes sense to better leverage our online presence to attract, inform and signup customers for our service,” said Todd Chandler, ABC Signup president. “We believe this revamped site enables the right prospects to get to our site faster via search, and once there, quickly find the information they need to make an informed decision.”

The site’s new look, accented by chalkboard images, also reflects ABC Signup’s commitment to providing online registration management tools to a niche market of providers of education, training, and professional development events. New interactive elements should make the new site even more valuable to this segment.

“We’ve also added resources that we believe help our customers get the most out of our solution by learning about new software features, sharing best practices and offering input into ways to improve our product,” added Chandler.

Those resources include an interactive blog, a News section, Case Studies and easy access to the company’s newsletter and social media. In addition, a separate server now houses ABC Signup’s online registration software, providing an additional layer of security for the company’s hundreds of customers.

“Our growth coupled with the need to update and retool our website made it a logical move to expand to an additional server,” said Chandler. “This will have no impact on our customers other than to improve our online security.”

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a product of JTC Technologies, which was founded in 2002. ABC Signup is a hosted software service that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts as well as organizations such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, Kraft, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.

(November 1, 2010) ABC Signup recently received full accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), signifying that it currently provides and is committed to practices such as sound advertising, selling and customer service that enhance consumer trust and confidence in business. The company’s application for accreditation was approved during the October meeting of the board of directors of the BBB of Louisville, Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky.

In announcing the approval, BBB President and CEO Charles Mattingly thanked ABC Signup for its “commitment to BBB standards for marketplace trust and to helping the BBB promote a business climate where companies compete honestly and customers buy with confidence.”

Todd Chandler, president of ABC Signup, said his company pursued the accreditation as a means to differentiate itself from the competition and provide a familiar symbol of trust to www.abcsignup.com, ABC’s online “storefront.”

“There are a number of online registration management providers, and many of them offer excellent services,” Chandler noted. “But if I am shopping on the Internet for a service that is provided through the Internet, I want to be sure the provider is someone I can trust. The BBB seal instantly communicates that we are a business that can be trusted to do right by its customers.”

“We are in our ninth year in business and have hundreds of customers – mostly repeat customers – and truly believe that our transparency, integrity and responsiveness play a critical role in customer retention and in our overall growth,” added Chandler. “Our approach to business aligns with the BBB’s values, and nothing communicates that as quickly to a prospect or customer as accreditation and the BBB logo.”

The accreditation process involved a review of ABC Signup’s business by the BBB followed by a presentation for final approval to the organization’s board of directors. Once approved, ABC became listed in the BBB’s business directory, allotted a page on the BBB’s online marketplace and held accountable to the BBB code of business practices.

About ABC Signup

ABC Signup is a product of JTC Technologies, which was founded in 2002. ABC Signup is a hosted software service that automates registration management for classes, meetings, training courses, conferences and other types of events. Clients include various universities and school districts as well as organizations such as ADP, Chicago Tribune, General Mills, Konica-Minolta, Kraft, LG Electronics, National Geographic and Principal Financial.