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The Antelope Valley Telebusiness Center in northern Los Angeles County provides service to 28 telecommuters from 11 different companies. Each day the center (with 20 workstations) is used by 11-14 telecommuters. In the last six months, very little marketing has been done. However, a site administrator has just been hired and a new marketing plan is underway. The marketing activities include letters and phone calls to both employers and potential telecommuters. Based on her experience, the site manager has concluded that employers are most comfortable allowing their management staff to telecommute, although telecommuting seems least appropriate for managers, as they have usually dropped out. The employees involved in data processing have had the most success as telecommuters. Nineteen companies have used the center since it opened in January 1993, and 8 have dropped out for various reasons, including employee job changes and residence relocations.
The Apple Valley Telebusiness Workcenter in the high desert area of San Bernardino County, is currently being used by 14 telecommuters from 6 different employers. Center utilization averages 3 to 4 telecommuters per day.
The Bay Area Telecommuting Development Program (BATDP) currently has two prototype telecommuting centers in operation. One center is located in Concord, and the other is in San Jose. Both centers opened in September 1993. The rate for a private office is $600 per month and a cubicle rents for $400 per month. The Concord site has 14 cubicles and 3 private offices and is currently used by 2 telecommuters, each telecommuting one or two days per week. The center is near a large mall with a residential neighborhood behind it. The telecommuters are paying the monthly rate for the use of the center. The San Jose site is located one mile south of an expressway in a business area. The location has ISDN capability for video-conferencing. The site has 16 cubicles and 2 private offices. Currently, two telecommuters are using the center and paying an hourly rate for its use. The hourly rate is set at market value for these telecommuters. Marketing activities for the two centers have included: news releases, 8000 pieces of direct mail, radio and print advertising, exposure at trade shows and transportation fairs, a radio talk show, and a sign in front of the centers. The project administrator has noted that none of these marketing strategies were very effective for the centers. He feels that once a center changes from a funded center that is free of charge to a self-supporting center, interest in using the center decreases dramatically.
The Highland Telework Center in San Bernardino County changed hands on January 1, 1994, and is now under management by the City of Highland. Currently, the center is being re-located across the street from its initial location to city-rented space. The new location has 6 workstations in private cubicles and a conference room. No private offices are available. The 1200 square foot center provides service to five telecommuters and has marketing plans to increase the number of users. One plan is to contact local residents and employers and provide them with information about telecommuting. If interest is expressed, an attempt will be made to coordinate a telecommuting arrangement. Also, the City of Highland has expressed the importance of pooling its efforts and experiences with other Southern California centers to develop a large scale, regional marketing plan. The City is currently interviewing to hire a new site coordinator. In the interest of improving the center, interviews will be arranged with the telecommuters to determine if any changes can be made to the center to improve their level of satisfaction.
The Ontario Telebusiness Workcenter in San Bernardino County is also changing hands and will be managed by the City of Ontario as of January 1994. Currently, the center houses employees from seven different employers, and with 15 workstations, averages five telecommuters per day. Similar to the City of Highland, the City of Ontario wants to increase utilization of the center. To accomplish this, an attempt will be made to bring in additional funding from a variety of new sources, and to diversify the types of workers using the center. The center has a fiber optic link installed, which is currently not being used, but which could support advanced telework activities in the future. Short term future plans include using insights offered by the site manager to support marketing activities and better fulfill the needs of telecommuters and potential telecommuters. The City of Ontario has also cited regional marketing as an important tool to increase their pool of telecommuters. Long term plans are for the center to be self-sustaining. Currently, each workstation costs about $500 per month, while rent of only $100 per month is being charged, requiring outside funding to continue operation.
The Telecommuting WorkCenter of Riverside County averages use by 4 telecommuters per day. A total of 15 telecommuters use the site. These telecommuters work for three different organizations. In this center, each organization provides computer equipment for its own employees. Marketing activities for the center are on-going, with the current focus being on the small employer market which to date has not been pursued. Plans in the near future include moving the center to a smaller facility, as costs are too high in the current 8800 square ft. building.
The Simi Valley Telework Center in Ventura County has been open for a year, but currently is not being used. The center features a reception area and four workstations, but local companies have not expressed any interest in using the site. Past marketing techniques have been focused on presentations to employee transportation coordinators. In the near future, a more aggressive marketing plan will be applied in an effort to bring in telecommuters. The marketing will target higher-level company executives and attempt to establish a formal program. The center administrator is applying for funding through the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account (PVEA), available to programs addressing energy conservation.
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