St. Francis Xavier University

Successfully managing these large groups while offering a plethora of professional planning services can be challenging. The University’s Conference team must be on their toes at all times. This also means all resources and equipment, including software, must meet these same standards.

In 2008, Bob Hale, Ancillary Services Director, and his talented team were at a crossroads. His conference business was growing at a rate of about 5% each year over the last 10 years. Considering the uncertain market conditions he determined that without the proper conference and hospitality management software system this growth could be in jeopardy. He needed an integrated and powerful business tool flexible enough to handle the variety of events and programs they oversee every day. After corresponding with trusted colleagues on the subject of software he was impressed by Kinetic Software’s reputation and the reliability of its suite.

Bob said, “With a slowing economy, it was a strategic move we had to make in order to remain competitive in what is quickly becoming a very crowded marketplace.”

Since the implementation and installation of the Kx software system, he hasn’t looked back. The system has exceeded expectations by helping streamline his operations while maximizing his staff’s productivity. When asked how the software has improved his department he said, “Kx has made a huge impact on the way we do business.” He elaborated, “With Kx we’ve improved our response times with prospective customers.” Kx’s automated contracting and communications technology provides Bob’s staff with information instantly. “We’re able to offer accurate quotes for all functions without having to wait on other service providers.” Other ancillary service departments are also reaping the rewards of having the system. With the click of a mouse, Bob sends out detailed notifications to his entire support crew alerting them of programming changes and updates. The reporting functionality is key to providing the highest level of customer service especially for the most demanding groups.

With the Kx system managing most of their business processes, the University’s Conference and Special Events department has positioned itself as a leader in the collegiate conference community. When asked about what’s on the horizon with the conference program, Bob quipped, “As for the future of the Conference and Special Events department at St. Francis Xavier University the sky’s the limit.”