Important information for eLABORATE readers, prosthetists and technicians

Over the past 18 months, we've been implementing a new IT infrastructure in our offices centred around a state-of-the-art customer relationship management (CRM) system. This new system is now operational and manages all aspects of our business. Using this system, we believe we will be able to offer a far greater level of service to everyone working in dentistry. The implementation of this new system, however, may affect how you receive eLABORATE in the future, so please read on to ensure you continue to receive the magazine as before.

A people-centric system

A major change with our new CRM system is that we now focus on people rather than businesses. From the perspective of eLABORATE readers, this means that we will no longer send copies of the magazine generically addressed to a dental laboratory; rather, all copies of the magazine must now be addressed to an actual person.

Over the past six months, we've sent out several letters to laboratories receiving eLABORATE on this basis and requested the name of a contact person in order to transfer the subscription to the new system. Whilst the vast majority of labs have now responded, we still have some on the old system who have not supplied us with a contact name. Future copies of eLABORATE will no longer be sent to these labs until this information is received. If your copy of eLABORATE is not specifically addressed to you, then please contact us to ensure continuity of your subscription.

Other changes

The 892 technicians and 1264 prosthetists already in our new CRM system now have secure access to our new online web portal for dental professions located at www.dentalcommunity.com.au.

Access to the secure areas of this website is via individual IDs and Passwords that will be distributed in coming weeks. There is no charge to use this website, however certain services within the website are available for purchase.

Once you obtain your ID and password, you can log in to the website and check your personal information, information we have recorded about the laboratory or denture clinic where you work and you can check your subscription. We particularly encourage all prosthetists and technicians to ensure they are linked to their place of business as this will become important for future services we will introduce.

In coming months, we will introduce services to:

• Help patients find denture clinics. We already help patients find dentists through our website - www.dentist.com.au - and we will soon allow patients to search for a denture clinic as well. Through the Dental Community, you can control how your information is presented here.
• Help dentists to find dental laboratories. Through the Dental Community website, you can enter information about your laboratory that will subsequently be used by dentists looking for specific services that you provide.
• Help dental laboratories to find products and services including custom made componentry.
• Allow you to complete questionnaires for CPD points online based on articles in eLABORATE and elsewhere.

We will continue to keep you updated on all of these initiatives and look forward to seeing you in the Dental Community.

Joseph Allbeury

Editor and Publisher