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Dell and RBC call for Small Business Excellence Award entries
New study underscores positive impact of technology on small
businesses
TORONTO, August 22, 2006 — Dell Canada and
RBC Royal Bank are on the hunt once again for small businesses
using information technology (IT) in innovative ways for the
second annual Small Business Excellence Award program.
Spoils for the winner include $25,000 in Dell products and
services, and a full day with Dell executives, including Chairman
Michael Dell, at the company's headquarters in Round Rock,
Texas. The two runners-up will receive a Dell INSPRION™
notebook.
"Technology is a differentiating factor for many small
businesses. Regardless of product of service, small businesses
are utilizing technology to improve efficiency and customer
service. It was true when Dell was a small business, and remains
so today," said Greg Davis, president of Dell Canada.
"We want to hear from Canadian small businesses that
are using technology in innovative ways to serve customers
and improve productivity, and reward the most exemplary firms
for their efforts."
Added Kristina Depencier, head, Small Business, RBC Royal
Bank, "We know that many Canadian small business owners
are leaders in their field, and have taken a creative and
ambitious approach to incorporating technology into their
businesses. It is important to showcase their efforts and
share their many great best practices."
According to AMI Partners Inc., Canadian small and medium
sized businesses are expected to spend close to $19.34 billion
CDN on IT by 2007, indicating an increased awareness and understanding
of how technology can be used to help solve business problems.
In fact, a growing number of Canadian companies are now using
IT to help improve employee productivity, achieve parity with
larger competitors, better interact with larger suppliers
and partners, and meet evolving business needs.
"These innovative companies are proof that even very
small firms without the luxury of full-time IT staff can use
an integrated IT approach to gain substantial business rewards,"
said Laurie McCabe, vice president at AMI-Partners.
The award was originally established in 2004 in the U.S.
by Dell. Canada's Dell and RBC Small Business Excellence Award
is now in its second year and honours small businesses that
instill the spirit of innovation and apply IT to improve the
customer experience.
Entrants must be small businesses with 100 or fewer employees.
Each must show how their business has used IT to drive a significant
change or develop a competitive advantage in delivering superior
customer value and experience. For a complete description
of the criteria, rules and regulations, and to get an application,
visit www.dell.ca/sbcontest.
Submissions will be accepted online through October 20, 2006.
No purchase or entry fee is required. Winners will be announced
in December 2006.
Panel of Canadian Contest Judges:
- Greg Davis, president Dell Canada
- Kristina Depencier, head, Small Business, RBC Royal Bank
- Howard Honickman, B.Comm, CA·IT, Adjunct Professor
of Management, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management
- John Warrillow, president and CEO, Warrillow & Co.
Last year's award winner, Dr. Jawad Minhas, used technology
in his optometry practice to not only create a more efficient
"electronic office," but also provide higher levels
of patient education. "Winning the inaugural Dell and
RBC Small Business Excellence Award increased my awareness
of how technology can be used to improve the care my patients
receive," said Dr. Minhas. "Every step of the way
Dell has been engaged to ensure the most effective use of
the prize money. This experience will help me extend the competitive
advantage I need to provide my patients with the best possible
service."
About Dell Canada Inc.
Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Dell Canada Inc. is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Dell Inc. Dell Canada is among the leaders
in desktop products, notebooks, servers and storage, and has
offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton. Information
on Dell Canada and its products can be obtained on the World
Wide Web at www.dell.ca.
About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers
innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely
enabled by its direct business model, Dell sells more systems
globally than any computer company, placing it No. 25 on the
Fortune 500. Company revenue for the last four quarters was
$57.4 billion. For more information, visit http://www.dell.com.
To get Dell news direct, visit http://www.dell.com/RSS.
About RBC Financial Group
Royal Bank of Canada (TSX, NYSE: RY) uses the initials RBC
as a prefix for its businesses and operating subsidiaries,
which operate under the master brand name of RBC Financial
Group. Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest bank as measured
by market capitalization and assets, and is one of North America's
leading diversified financial services companies. It provides
personal and commercial banking, wealth management services,
insurance, corporate and investment banking, and transaction
processing services on a global basis. The company employs
approximately 70,000 full and part-time employees who serve
more than 14 million personal, business and public sector
clients through offices in North America and some 30 countries
around the world. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.
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Media contacts:
For Dell Canada:
Elynn Wareham
416-486-5910
ewareham@gcigroup.com
For RBC Royal Bank:
Kathy Bevan
416-974-8810
kathy.bevan@rbc.com
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