Concierge service expands online offerings
BCB Technologies' Home Concierge has added an online document directory and aims to expand its subscriber base over the next year.
The Hinsdale-based Web service, which launched in 2005, offers online assistance to organize household records, activities and schedules. This would include contact information for insurance agents, auto maintenance schedule, home repair information and other items.
The consumer Web site is www.BCBHomeConcierge.com and its corporate site is www.BCBTechnologies.com.
With 100 subscribers now, the virtual assistant aims to have about 1,000 subscribers by next year, said co-founder Jolynn Blair. Her daughter and co-founder Amanda Blair created the Web sites and maintains their password-protected files.
For 30 years, Jolynn worked with her husband to grow a global human resources technology company called Cyborg Systems Inc., which was sold a few years ago to Hewitt Associates. After the sale, Jolynn continued to travel and wanted a way to use new technology to help manage their different households.
"Whenever I traveled out of town, I wanted something that would help me to keep it all together," said Jolynn. "I thought there had to be a software tool for us to use."
Amanda had worked with a number of technology firms and wanted to strike out on her own. She decided to partner with her mother to create the online business.
About 100 subscribers so far include first-time homeowners, estate managers, and those who manage multiple homes or rentals.
It's also become a multi-generational tool for those who need to handle another household for an elderly relative or a child in college.
A demo provides a walk-through on the services of the virtual assistant and a 30-day free trial. After the trial, you could sign up for a $150 annual fee.
The document directory enables busy homeowners a chance to store family documents and photos, along with insurance policies, furniture and appliance warranties, child permission slips, vehicle and medical insurance numbers, wills and other things.
This allows access to what you may need quickly in case of emergency, the Blairs said.
Surfing: Wheaton-based Elations Health LLC has launched a discount card Web site at www.easydrugcard.com to help reduce the high cost of prescription drugs. Elations is providing free personalized prescription drug discount cards available for download.
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• The third annual VoIP Conference and Expo will be Oct. 25-26 at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Wheaton. Cost is $145. See www.cpd.iit.edu/voipconference07.
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