Sonic Foundry’s desktop capture platform allows employees anywhere to create videos for clients while reducing travel costs 

MADISON, Wis. — October 02, 2013 — Alliance Benefit Group is using a new desktop capture system by Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), the trusted leader for video content management and webcasting solutions, to take its customer service to a new level.

Using My Mediasite — a platform that allows staff to easily record, upload, share and manage video from wherever they are using the camera on their laptops, computers or mobile devices — Alliance Benefit Group (ABG) employees will be able to record personal video communications for their clients, whether they work in the main office headquartered in Albert Lea, Minn. or in one of the firm’s three satellite locations.

Faced with the need to convey complicated investment topics in an ever-changing regulatory landscape, the employee benefit advisory and administration firm dismissed traditional communication tactics and got creative with unique, rich video-based messaging. 

Mariah Lynne, Marketing and Client Services Supervisor at Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services, Corp., and Abby Murray, Interactive Media Coordinator for Alliance Benefit Group North Central States, Inc., manage and maintain the new video program, including initiatives such as web demos, employee spotlights, service profiles, industry updates, holiday greetings and an education series from industry experts.

“My Mediasite puts the power of recording these videos into the hands of our representatives in those satellite offices. Up until now, we only had one recording system in one studio,” Lynne said. “My Mediasite is a powerful tool in allowing us to continue to meet the needs of our growing client base with high-touch, red carpet-style customer service.”

Not only does this provide more resources for clients, it also reduces travel costs while still delivering personal service to everyone in every location. Presentations traditionally delivered on site at a client location can now be delivered via a live Mediasite webcast.  The consultant presents on camera while viewers ask questions in real-time.

“Mediasite has analytics built right in. We’re able see the viewership and how the presentations are engaging our audience. Plus, because of Mediasite’s indexing and tagging capabilities, our video libraries are searchable, which increases our search engine optimization,” Murray said. “The response has been outstanding since we’ve started implementing Mediasite both internally and externally. We’ve been able to offer training to our employees, and customers are really excited about having video as a resource tool versus having to read documents.”

Learn more about ABG’s video initiative in an on-demand webinar, The Cure for Common Corporate Video, at www.sonicfoundry.com/ABGwebinar.

“Alliance Benefit Group is demonstrating how important video can be as an essential part of the learning and knowledge sharing process, especially for complex topics,” said Gary Weis, chief executive officer of Sonic Foundry. “Enterprise organizations are increasingly pushing the boundaries of video capture and management, and it’s exciting for Sonic Foundry to be a part of these video initiatives.”

Trusted by educational institutions, corporations and government entities, the patented Mediasite video content management and webcasting system quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery and search of live and on-demand streaming videos and rich media.

About Alliance Benefit Group

Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services, Corp. is a full-service employee benefits firm. Consulting services include retirement plan design and fiduciary investment advice, as well as health and welfare services. Alliance Benefit Group North Central States, Inc. is one of the largest full-service retirement plan providers & employee benefits administrators in the country with clients in 48 states.  The firms are part of a national network of independently owned retirement plan consulting, investment advisory, health and welfare consulting and benefits administration firms that operate as licensees of Alliance Benefit Grou