Columbus Ohio Startup Brings Video Game Technology to the Telesales Industry

Columbus, Ohio – February 9, 2010 - PAKRA Games ™, a start-up technology company based out of Columbus Ohio, has developed a tool to improve telesales hiring and training practices – through the use of video games. The newest Game, PonyUp ™, is an addition to the existing suite of PAKRA’s web based training and hiring simulations. Their web-based products use gaming technology, typically reserved for casual gaming, to simulate the real working environments of collections, customer service, and banking call center environments; as well as hospital-based patient safety conditions.

PAKRA Games is learning company that offers software-as-a-service that simulates work processes using video games. The PonyUp ™ Game teaches the player, typically someone applying for a job or going through new-hire training at a telesales call center, critical thinking skills through virtual interactions with customers. On the backend, PAKRA provides analytical reporting of the behavioral attributes displayed by the game player and helps answer the question “How can we train this person to be successful at this job?”

Gretchen Gordon, owner and Sales Development Expert at Braveheart Sales Performance, says “The key to improving salespeople’s performance and their behaviors in a selling situation lies with practicing their skills.  I see PonyUp ™ as a great tool in providing opportunities for salespeople to practice and improve their skills, on their own.  The fact that the role playing enables the salesperson to practice in private, but still reinforces valuable behaviors, encourages a salesperson to avail themselves of the tool more.  Which builds a very positive circle of practice, behavior modification and reinforcement.”

How will the PAKRA products help the telesales industry?  Through use of their products, telesales call centers will see agent turnover decrease and the number of booked sales increase.  Agents will be better trained to build relationships with and understand the needs of the prospective customers, overcome common objections, and will be more likely to close sales. Providing a realistic job simulation allows for applicants to opt out of the hiring process if they find that telesales work is not for them.  Using the game in the training process allows agents to learn by doing.   Capturing the decisions made during the game play allows hiring managers, trainers, and supervisors to target their efforts directly towards the skills displayed by the applicant or newly hired agent.

Those who have played PonyUp ™ have expressed how effective the Game can be in the training process.  One individual who has played the PAKRA Game remarked that she learned that “it’s always good to follow any statement with a question to get more information out of the prospect and get them thinking.” Another game player stated, “I like the realism of the situation and the fact that you had to be quick.” Others commented that the Game “is very realistic” and that they “learned a lot about seeking agreement”.

Although PAKRA’s client base is global, their company and products are locally anchored. The entire management team resides in Columbus and all local talent was used in the creation of the products. All video production, audio recording, graphic arts, and voice over talent were locally sourced.

PAKRA’s products enhance training and educational activities through video game and simulation technology.  They provide intelligent data that links game play performance to real work performance, at an affordable cost.

About PAKRA Games:

PAKRA Games is a remarkable learning company offering proprietary software-as-a-service (SaaS) that simulates work processes using games, teaches critical thinking, and provides analytics to businesses for managing their workforce on demand and in real-time.

Media Contact:

Michelle Stewart,
Chief Production and Marketing Officer
PAKRA LLC
614-319-3765