Do Tablets Boost Productivity?
Tablet computers (“tablets”) are appearing with more regularity and in different sizes. Since Apple launched the iPad in 2010, tablets have become the new “must-have” executive toy. I finally invested in an iPad 2 having (barely) contained my enthusiasm when the iPad 1 came on the scene.
Which tablet you choose depends on your needs. Mine were to be able to: manage diary, contacts and ToDo lists, produce documents, spreadsheets and presentations, send/receive email, access the internet and listen to music or watch films. I didn’t want a screen that was too small or too big.
In a classic case of “customer lock-in”, I went for an iOS device as I already had an Apple iPod and wanted to be able to continue using iTunes which already synchronised calendars, notes and contacts to my device.
The iPad came with calendar, contacts, notes and email software pre-installed, so I was able to synchronise my calendar, contacts and notes direct from Microsoft Outlook on my laptop. I downloaded other software that I use such as LinkedIn, Facebook and a useful (paid-for) programme (or “App” as they’re known) that handles my task list. I have an App to create, read and edit Microsoft Word and EXCEL documents as well as to read PowerPoint presentations (the “premium” version will allow me to create and edit as well). This synchronises wirelessly with my laptop so it's easy to transfer the documents I need.
My iPad has 32GB storage capacity, built-in WiFi and is a 3G model which means that it can take a Micro-SIM card (this won’t fit into a device that uses a “regular” SIM without an adaptor). As a result, I can connect direct through my mobile service to access email or the internet.
Does the iPad replace my a laptop? To a great extent, yes.
1. It holds the same diary, contacts and ToDo information as Microsoft Outlook on my laptop.
2. It's highly portable, weighing in at 613 grams and measuring 24cm x 8.5cm x 0.9cm – better than the screen of my 15” laptop. It boots up immediately, rather than taking the 5 minutes or so that my laptop does and the battery lasts longer.
3. I can send and receive emails and network with my social and professional contacts from anywhere.
4. I can create, read and edit Word and EXCEL documents, and read PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat documents. Any important documents for client meetings can all be kept on the iPad, replacing bulky paper files.
5. Quality of graphics is excellent, so I can read everything easily.
So far, it does everything that I need it to do. What’s the downside?
1. Less memory than a laptop. Even if memory capacity increases as time goes on, it’ll never compete. This is excellent for discipline as I generally don’t think about what I keep on my hard drive and end up with all sorts of stuff that hardly ever sees the light of day.
2. The iPad 2’s “soft keyboard” requires me to switch from alphabetic to numeric keyboards and back when typing. For certain symbols (e.g. %), I have to switch again. This makes typing long documents a chore and I’m looking for an external bluetooth keyboard to overcome this.
3. The App that creates, edits and reads Word and EXCEL documents only allows “simple” formatting. This isn’t surprising, given that it’s a “lite” version of the full software suite. My solution: prepare “form” letters and quotes on my laptop and transfer them to the iPad. I have to save the documents as lower versions than Office 2010 documents for them to work with the App and to make sure that any formatting will save in the “older” version.
4. Reduced functionality also means that I can’t perform certain tasks like reading the comments that I have made on a Word or a *.pdf document on my laptop using the “full” Word or Acrobat software. A minor inconvenience.
5. The iPad lacks USB ports, keeping it thin. The lack of a VGA output port is a disadvantage when giving presentations using a projector; Apple get round this by selling an adaptor. ACER have included USB and mini-USB ports on their Iconia tablet.
In short, my iPad can and does replace my laptop for portability, convenience and most functionality. As I use the laptop mainly for email, word processing, creating spreadsheets and presentations and surfing the internet, I can now take the iPad on trips on which I would previously have taken a heavier and bulkier laptop. As time goes on, many of the “niggles” above will no doubt be ironed out. I will still use a laptop as my “main” PC, but the iPad is now my “portable” and my productivity has definitely increased.
I have spent more than half my life working in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With more than 20 years in the world financial services industry running different service, operations and lending businesses, I started my own Performance Management Consultancy and work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email . My website provides a full picture of my portfolio of services.Labels: Productivity
Boost Your Sales - Effective Contacts
Businesses rely on selling products or services to make money. Unless you’re very lucky, you’re likely to have competition, so what do you do to stand out from the crowd?
Research: make sure you know your target and what will interest them. You may sell the same product or service as others, but if you can show why your product meets their needs, you’ll get their attention. Too many salespeople leave the buyer to “guess” how their needs are met. How do you do your research?
Ask questions.
Don’t make assumptions: this is illustrated by the story of the car salesman who sees an elderly man in his showroom and starts showing him “man” cars only to find out after some time that the man is looking for a car for his daughter! Equally, make sure that the person you’re talking to is the one who makes the final decision and is paying. Husbands and wives often shop together for furniture, for example, but whilst one may choose the sofa set, the other has to be prepared to pay for it.
Use logic: buying decisions are based partly on logic and partly on emotion. What are your buyer’s logical drivers? These are the “facts” that you need to find out. Don’t assume anything (see
Don’t Make Assumptions above).
Understand emotions: buying decisions are based partly on logic and partly on emotion. What are your buyer’s emotional drivers? For example, if they’re buying a new car and have small children, safety features may be a powerful emotional driver.
Sell what they want (not what you want or have to sell): I took my elderly mother into a mobile phone outlet to help her buy a new mobile phone and contract. The young sales assistant started showing her all sorts of hi-tech handsets without first finding out what her needs were and what she would use the phone for (see
Research above). Banks have been penalised in the UK a number of times for selling products that weren’t suitable but were sold to meet revenue targets.
If you have done your research, established the logical and emotional drivers of the buying decision, and have what they want, then you can sell them a product that you are convinced meets their needs. If you’re convinced it meets their needs, your sales pitch will be all the stronger because you’re convinced that it really will satisfy your buyer.
A final warning: it takes a brave salesperson to say that they don’t think a product is right for a customer who wants to buy it – are you that brave? You won’t get the sale this time, but you will get
trust.
I have spent more than half my life working in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With more than 20 years in the world financial services industry running different service, operations and lending businesses, I started my own Performance Management Consultancy and work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email . My website provides a full picture of my portfolio of services.Labels: Customer Care, Selling
Improving Customer Loyalty
Would you recommend a customer did not buy your company’s product or service if you felt it wasn’t in their best interest?
The UK has seen its share of companies being forced to compensate customers after being found guilty of mis-selling (Payment Protection Insurance being the latest example). In most cases, staff are under pressure to sell products to generate revenues and are given high targets. If bonuses (or the future of your job) are linked to how much you sell, the temptation to sell to anyone whether the product suits them or not is there and you will find ways of justifying the sale. The banks have proved this, to the cost of taxpayers in the UK, Europe and the USA.
Occasionally, you meet someone who recommends you don’t take their product or service. Such people are rare, but I recently had an encounter with a member of the Customer Service Team of one of America’s largest companies. I had some questions about a piece of software that I wanted to download and emailed the company. They arranged for a representative in the USA to call me (in the UK) at a time that suited me. The rep called on time, and I was able to ask all my questions. As we came to an end, the rep advised me to wait a couple of weeks to download so that any “bugs” could be discovered and ironed out.
No doubt Head Office would cringe at such “irresponsible” behaviour, thinking that not only would it result in a lost sale, but also customer suspicion that their product wasn’t robust. These are usually the ones who are most out of touch with the customer and whose focus is short-term profit against long-term customer loyalty. Yes, you can find new customers, but how much does it cost to find new ones as opposed to retaining existing ones?
My reaction? I felt more loyalty to the company because someone was looking out for my interests rather than those of some faceless corporation. They’re looking long-term to keep my business over the next 5 – 10 years. Too many focus on the next 5 – 10 months when bonuses have been paid, annual results announced, and (maybe) they have moved to another department and so won’t face the consequences of their mis-selling.
The power of the internet now enables unhappy customers to reach out to millions to warn them of sharp practices at companies who place revenues before retaining customers and reputation. Combined with sharp journalism and people being willing to “go public”, hiding devious sales practices is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
I have spent more than half my life working in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With more than 20 years in the world financial services industry running different service, operations and lending businesses, I started my own Performance Management Consultancy and work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email . My website provides a full picture of my portfolio of services.Labels: Customer Care, Selling, Strategy
