Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to Collaborative Technologies (Ct). By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to these terms and conditions. These terms outline how we operate and the rules for using our website and services. If you disagree with any part of these terms, please do not use our website or services.

2. Services and Payment

• Services We Provide: Collaborative Technologies provides a range of Salesforce system implementation services, including Customization, Data Migration, Integration, App Development, Consulting, Training, and Support.
• Payment Terms: All services require full payment upfront before work begins. Funds are considered received only when they are deposited into our designated bank account. Once payment is made, funds will be held until the work is completed and approved weekly by your designated point of contact. Work must be approved within 48 hours of submission, or it will pause until resolved. Payments are non-refundable once work is approved or after the initial one-month trial period. Payment processing fees are non-refundable.

3. Transparency in Client Relationships

• Public Storytelling and Case Studies: By engaging with Collaborative Technologies, clients agree to participate in transparent storytelling initiatives, including sharing project successes and lessons learned.
• Consent Process: Collaborative Technologies will seek explicit consent from clients before publicly sharing any information.

4. Handling of Funds

• Funds Not Used (Roll Over): Unused funds from a sprint will automatically roll over to the next sprint. We use a First In, First Out (FIFO) approach to track these funds. Funds can roll over for up to five sprints. After this, unused funds will be donated unless used for an activity. If your funds are at risk of donation, you can select work from our Investment Portfolio Roadmap to ensure the funds are utilized.
• Donations: Unused funds after five sprints will be donated to a 503c non-profit charity of your choice. A voucher will be provided by the charity for tax purposes. If the charity opts for an investment return model, the returns will be shared between you and the charity.

5. Data Handling and Security

• Customer Information: Collaborative Technologies does not access or view sensitive customer data unless required for the project and agreed upon by the customer. We respect your privacy and ensure data is handled according to applicable laws. We may use third-party services, but we do not store or manage data processed by these systems.
• Security: We take every reasonable measure to ensure your data is secure. However, no system is completely secure, and we recommend that clients also safeguard their information.

6. Video Recording and Data Usage

• Video Recordings: As a virtual organization, we record and store all content from our work. This includes all communication and conferencing between our customers and agents, communication between our agents, or any time an agent is performing billable work. These recordings are processed in real-time to create analytics, trigger alerts, and bookmark key segments for analysis during discussions and training. Recordings will be archived but remain accessible for review upon request. All work content must be recorded and submitted. All recordings may be shown publicly for training, demonstration, or other purposes. Any private company data will be retracted or anonymized before public display.

7. Billable Time and Activity Management

• Billable Time: Billable time refers to the time spent working on activities related to your project. Each task is planned with a budget based on the estimated time required. Multiple team members may work on a task if peer review or mentoring is required. Each member's time will be logged separately. Time is tracked in five-minute increments. Clients are notified if there is a risk of going over budget or time limits.

8. Partner Transparency

• Status Updates: Partners must provide timely and accurate updates on task progress.
• Open Communication: All communications, including challenges, delays, or project-related matters, must be shared openly with Collaborative Technologies.
• Risk Escalation: Collaborative Technologies must be the escalation point for any risks that may impact the project, including the partner's ability to keep roles staffed and ensure work is completed on time.
• Termination Due to Discrimination: Collaborative Technologies reserves the right to end a partnership or contract if there is evidence of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

9. Intellectual Property Rights

• Content Ownership: All content created during the project, including code, designs, and documents, is owned by Collaborative Technologies unless otherwise agreed upon.
• Usage Rights: Clients are granted a license to use the content created for the specific purposes outlined in the project agreement. Any other usage must be approved in writing by Collaborative Technologies.

10. Confidentiality

• Confidential Information: Any information disclosed between parties that is not public knowledge is considered confidential. Both parties agree to protect and keep such information secure.
• Non-Disclosure Obligations: Both parties agree not to disclose any confidential information to third parties without prior written consent, except as required by law.

11. Termination of Services

• Termination Rights: Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party breaches any of its obligations under these terms, fails to make payments when due, or is otherwise unable to meet its commitments.
• Effects of Termination: Upon termination, both parties must cease all work, return any property or materials, and settle any outstanding payments immediately.

12. Warranties and Disclaimers

• Service Warranties: Collaborative Technologies warrants that the services will be provided with reasonable skill and care. However, all services are provided "as is," and we make no further warranties.
• Limitations of Liability: Collaborative Technologies is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use the services provided.

13. Dispute Resolution

• Arbitration Clause: Any disputes arising under these terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration, conducted in California, USA.
• Governing Law: These terms are governed by the laws of the state of California, USA.

14. Amendments to the Terms

• Right to Amend: Collaborative Technologies reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.
• Notification of Changes: Clients will be notified of any changes to these terms via email or website updates.

15. User-Generated Content and Blogs

• Blogs and User-Generated Content: If you post content on our website, you must ensure that your content complies with all applicable laws. By posting content, you grant us a license to use, modify, and share it. You retain ownership, but we may use the content for website purposes. We reserve the right to remove content that violates our terms.
• Opinions in Blogs: The opinions expressed by individual bloggers or commenters do not represent the views of Collaborative Technologies. We are not responsible for the accuracy of these opinions.
• Technical Guidance in Blogs: Any technical guidance or advice provided in blogs on our website is not intended to be considered as best practices or guaranteed to be free from defects. The information provided is designed to help users understand general concepts and considerations, and may not be appropriate for every situation or implementation.

16. Apprenticeship Program

• Apprenticeship Program: The apprenticeship program at Collaborative Technologies is designed for individuals without a professional background in cloud-based software. Applicants must not have a professional background in cloud-related software fields. Formal or informal schooling, including internships, is acceptable, but state and federal salary requirements limit the program to newly educated or those re-educated from other fields. The program is initially available only to California residents, with a focus on Orange County. Applicants from other counties will be considered as openings become available, based on application order and seniority. Apprentices must agree to start at a "Learner" pay rate for the first 160 hours. After this period, performance will be evaluated, and pay rates will adjust accordingly.

17. Intellectual Property (IP) Profit Sharing

• Customer or Financer Share: 10% of the profits from the IP will be allocated to the customer who initially has the implementation. If the customer is an internal financer, they will receive this share.
• Implementation Team Share: 10% of the profits will be distributed to the team responsible for performing the implementation.
• Sales Team Share: 10% of the profits will be awarded to the sales team that successfully sells the implementation.

18. Anti-Corruption Policy

At Collaborative Technologies, we believe that the implementation of changes is just as important as the changes themselves. We prioritize the highest business and personal standards, driven by core values of communication, continuous improvement, and adding value. This applies equally to our commitment to complying with anti-corruption laws. Our Anti-Corruption Policy extends to all employees, partners, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of Ct.

Purpose of the Anti-Corruption Policy

This policy outlines acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors to ensure compliance with laws, such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act. This includes compliance with all laws prohibiting improper payments, gifts, or inducements of any kind to or from any individual, whether in the private or public sector.

Key Areas of Concern

• Gifts, Entertainment, and Hospitality: Gifts and hospitality are acceptable if they are reasonable, proportionate, and comply with company policies. All gifts must be in good faith, with no intent to influence decisions.
• Facilitation Payments: Facilitation payments are strictly prohibited. Any uncertainty should be discussed with the Legal or Ethics and Compliance departments.
• Procurement Process: Supplier selection must be transparent and free from bribery or corruption. All tender processes must follow Ct's internal controls and ensure fair competition.
• Political and Charitable Contributions: Political contributions from company funds require authorization. Charitable contributions must align with Ct's business conduct and policies.

19. Compliance and Reporting

Violations of this policy are treated as serious offenses and can lead to disciplinary actions, including termination. Employees and business partners must report any suspicions of corruption immediately through designated reporting channels.

20. Governing Law and Changes to These Policies

Governing Law: These policies are governed by the laws of California, USA. Any disputes will be handled in California courts.

Changes to These Policies: We may update these policies from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website, and by continuing to use our services, you agree to the updated terms and policies.

21. Data Retention

• Retention Period: We retain your data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
• Deletion Requests: You can request the deletion of your data by contacting us. We will process such requests in accordance with applicable laws.

22. Third-Party Services

• Third-Party Providers: We work with third-party providers that may have access to your data. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only authorized to use your data as necessary to perform services on our behalf.
• Data Sharing: We do not share your data with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. Data may be shared with third parties for legal or regulatory reasons.

23. User Rights

• Access to Information: You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. You can request this information by contacting us directly.
• Correction of Information: If you believe the information we hold about you is inaccurate, you have the right to request a correction. We will update the information promptly.
• Data Portability: You have the right to request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This can be done by contacting us.

24. Children's Privacy

• COPPA Compliance: Collaborative Technologies complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
• Age Restrictions: Our services are not intended for children under 16, and we require verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from minors.

25. International Data Transfers

• Data Transfer Mechanisms: If we transfer your data internationally, we ensure it is protected under the same standards as if it were processed within your home country. We use approved data transfer mechanisms, such as standard contractual clauses, to safeguard your data.
• Compliance with Local Laws: We ensure that all international data transfers comply with local data protection laws, and we obtain your consent before transferring data to jurisdictions with different data protection standards.

26. Security Measures

• Data Protection: We implement a variety of security measures, including encryption, access controls, and regular security audits, to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction.
• Breach Notification: In the event of a data breach, we will notify you and the appropriate regulatory authorities within the time frame required by applicable law. We will also provide information on the steps we have taken to mitigate the breach and prevent future occurrences.

27. Event Management

• Age Restrictions: Participants must be at least 18 years old to attend our events unless accompanied by an adult guardian. No one under the age of 16 (or the appropriate age according to California laws) may register for an account or attend our events without appropriate supervision.
• Sponsor Responsibilities:
  • Table Attendance: Sponsors are required to have representatives manning their tables throughout the event day. This ensures engagement with attendees and effective representation of sponsor interests.
  • Setup and Teardown: Sponsors are responsible for setting up their booths before the event begins and ensuring timely teardown after the event concludes.
  • Event Presence: Representatives should be knowledgeable about the sponsor's offerings and available to interact with event participants during all scheduled breaks and sessions.
  • Signage: Sponsors must provide appropriate signage displaying their company name and logo at their designated booths. Signage should be professional and clearly visible to event attendees.