Thursday, August 6, 2015

Wi-Fi Basis Of The Internet Of Things In Your Business?

If your business is some sort of food establishment and you want to make sure you have a happy clientele you really must have Wi-Fi. Yes, I know some say that you lose turnover as people tend to eat slower and stay longer when you have Wi-Fi. How often are you at 100% capacity and need to turn away customers?

When we think of all the services the Internet of Things offers your customers giving them access to their home via Wi-Fi is an appropriate thank you for their choice of eating with you.

Having Wi-Fi in other types of businesses isn’t quite as common, but it should be, and for much the same reason(s). My local grocery store provides me Internet access and uses their portal to push specials to me. My frequent shoppers card gives them a vast data file about me and my shopping habits and it will only be a short time for them to put two and two together and know when I am in the store so they can offer me even more reasons to spend even more money before I leave.

My local electronics store has a program where as a member I get access to specials that aren’t part of their regular advertising flyers. How soon will they find a way to track my entry into their brick and mortar store just like they do when I use their website?

Most loyalty programs are now tied to the use of credit cards at the time of check-out.  The Internet of Things (IoT) will allow these programs to become more interactive based on many new ways of looking at and interacting with specific individual consumers.

We expect Wi-Fi as we travel (and power too). Will your travel be tied to the IoT? You bet it will. As you pass through airports, use rental cars or even where you stay and the entertainment you visit. Movie rentals are way down in hotels and motels as the travelers use all sorts of streaming services they already subscribe to. Some hotels have even gone so far as to actively block the wireless access to the national cell service carriers. Something the hotels got their hands slapped for.

Finish your conference handouts on the plane? Need to send them to the printer or even the hotel’s business center so they will be ready when you land? With the right connections this is easy to do. 

Would you like to know the location and needs of your customers perhaps even before they are considering their next move? It’s all about the data, the knowledge that the IoT opens up for your business.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Are You Ready For The Internet Of Things?

The Internet of Things (IoT) has enormous potential to drive economic value and social change. But with 85% of things still unconnected and security threats pervasive, the industry has yet to tap IoT’s enormous potential.

How will businesses be able to use data from sensors and devices to provide intelligence from the edge to the cloud, and that becomes actionable insight as it progresses through the advertising and purchase side of your business?

When will your business join the IoT revolution? Sooner than your competition? After your competition steals your best customers? Do these things keep you up at night?

Your business needs to understand the spanning from edge devices out to the cloud, the roadmap includes API management and service creation software, edge-to-cloud connectivity and analytics, intelligent gateways, and the usage of scalable IA processors. 

Security is fundamental to the roadmap with both dedicated security products, as well as security features that are embedded into hardware and software products will make the consumer comfortable with the whole process.

The IoT is not just about using alarm clocks that start your coffee maker, or about making more regular “things” accessible over the internet. The IoT will fundamentally alter how humans interact with the physical world, and will ultimately register as more significant than the internet itself.

Think about how connected drivers can use their cars in a better way to provide a taxi like provision in an improved “service” to customers wanting a more interactive local travel solution.

Using digital reputations will completely change how work is done. Instead of antiquated (and ineffective) interviews, a technical layer powered by matching algorithms will take information about jobs that need to be done and match them to people who are available (and qualified) to do them. Transportation, household jobs, creative work, mainstream corporate requisitions, these will all be staffed based on the best possible fit, and it’ll happen in seconds rather than weeks or months. Being connected will be as important as who and what you know in future educational processes.

Being connected will be as important when it comes to reaching customers and knowing what they will likely buy and or consume. Even now consumers use their phones to find a local business that meets their needs. Know, like and trust will need to add “Found” to the mix.

The Internet of Things adds a whole new dimension to your Service Management Software.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Internet Of Things In The Coming Months

The Internet of Things isn't just coming soon, it is already here and your customers already using it.

In the past computer users would buy a router with four ports and no WiFi.  Today having a WiFi router is a basic need.  In fact having one that is multi-channel is a very good idea. WiFi is how we using our phones, tablets, laptops and perhaps several dozen (yes, dozens) other connections.

What are these other uses for WiFi in our homes?
Security system, fire alarms, carbon monoxide monitors
Entry monitor cameras
Health and safety monitors 
Baby monitor
Pet collars
Pet Doors
Pool safety and maintenance monitor
Thermostat
Window blinds
Each and every light
Refrigerator
All of your TVs, DVD/BluRay players, 
Your Amazon Firesticks, Apple TV, Cable, Satellite Boxes, Chromecast 
Your TV remote control and DVR
Sound systems, speakers and headphones
Color printers and scanners
eBook reader
Your watch ‘
Your drone(s)
Your SLR camera, your video camera
Children’s toys
Connected game consoles (1, 2 or 3 how many do you have?)
Your cars (not just electrics)

Weather monitors and warning units
On property weather stations
Mailbox monitor
Basement flooding monitors
Water heater
Coffee maker
Alarm Clock
Vacuum cleaners

Is this partial list long enough for you? What are your business or brands plans to work with, utilize the information and data from these devices.  What services can your business offer to these connected people, devices and homes? How will you track that interaction?

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Monday, August 3, 2015

How Will The Internet Of Things Affect Your Bottom Line?

You have seen and heard another new buzz word (or phrase) The Internet of Things. If you are wondering just what are they talking about? 


The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the ever-growing network of physical objects that feature an IP address for internet connectivity, and the communication that occurs between these objects and other Internet-enabled devices and systems.

It is no longer just your computer, laptop, tablet or your phone. It could be your security system, your refrigerator, your sprinkler system or your babies’ crib monitor. It could even be your neighbor’s drone hovering over your backyard.

Is the Internet of Things just part of our connected world or the next game changer in your marketing efforts? Will your bus stop, store mannequin, subway train sign or point of sale machine be part of push marketing that will need to respond and deal with your customer database?

If you don’t join the connected world of “Things” will your competition beat you to the punch? What if your sales terminal could suggest add on sales at the moment of check-out that you can only hope the sales staff will?

As the ubiquitous barcode changed inventory and just in time marketing connected RFID will affect how future marketing and facial recognition will become part of the IoT. Your business entryway can recognize and welcome repeat customers and alert your staff to their likes, wants and more importantly their needs.  After all their connected refrigerator could help you suggest items they may have forgotten. At the very least the fridge could have forwarded the shopping list direct to their phone. Will your point of sale terminal be able to query that same phone?

Is your CRM software ready to grow with your future marketing plans?

IoT may sound like just another alphabet contraction, but in reality, it’s a real technological revolution that will impact everything we do. It's a gigantic wave of new possibility that is destined to change the face of marketing as you know it.

When used in conjunction with a dependable customer relationship management (CRM) tool, the IoT will be able to do more than simply gather and organize client data; it will be able to efficiently and accurately analyze that data as well, providing you with actionable results regarding your consumer base.

How the Internet Of Things will affect your business depends on you.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Friday, July 31, 2015

SMART Service Desk Looks Forward To Doing Business With You

If you are looking for a Service Desk solution for your business you want to know many things about that software product.

Is it scalable, so that it will work now and then continue to grow and support my business needs in the future? How is easy is it to load, implement and use? How quickly will my employees be able to use the software to support our customer’s needs?

Of course the investment your company needs to make to bring this solution online can be a primary concern.

Considering how customizable the SMART Service Desk software is the pricing is not like buying a new car where looking, liking and purchasing is a very set process and amount.

SMART Service Desk software enables comprehensive, best practice based Incident / Case management processes via intuitive, easily adopted, enterprise scale web technology. Integrates core service and support components into one complete Help Desk solution which help you to reduce service costs and increase service delivery operational efficiency. Manage service issues from the initial call; too complete job and service restoration. With SMART Service Desk you can reduce call volumes and encourage user self-service by letting users search FAQs, approved solutions, and workarounds. You can use Increase customer / user satisfaction ratings using surveys.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management software can be either or both a desktop or cloud service based for your solutions and what will be best for your individual business needs.

We think that our price structure will be both surprising and very affordable for your small to medium sized business. A simple phone will allow us to answer all of your questions.

Our solutions are not only scalable but we have different solutions that can be a better fit for your specific business needs. Our SMART Service Desk Plus delivers a customer-friendly IT self-service portal, powerful dashboards and reporting, and superior mobility to your organization. With SMART, IT organizations can support ITIL® best practices for IT Service Management (ITSM), consolidating the service desk function with the processes that underpin the efficient delivery and support of service, With PinkVERIFY® certified ITIL® processes in SMART Service Desk Plus; you can be assured of the best practices you will implement for your process and workflow.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Who Is Your Ideal Customer

Is there a right customer? Is there an ideal customer? How would you describe the perfect customer for your brand or service business? 

At some point, most businesses realize that there are at least two types of customers:

Ideal customers,
“Less than ideal” customers

Now, whether you’ve got your ideal customer pinpointed, or you are still in the process of figuring it all out, it helps to have a set of guidelines that you can use to find more awesome customers while minimizing your exposure to problem people.

Could your step one be to learn to love all your customers? Do some of your customer cause you so many problems that they just have to go?

One thing businesses must learn is that not every customer is a good match for them. Rather than trying to win over ill-suited customers, let them go and focus on attracting ones who will appreciate your offerings. The goal is for a prospective customers to know your brand and how you conduct business from the get-go, which will ultimately increase your new business hit ratio immeasurably.

You should leave nothing to chance when it comes to crafting your brand identity. Everything from the copy on your website to the language used in your proposals to the design of your business cards should convey who you are. Even the way you let people go can affect your reputation in the marketplace. If done with great tenacity, these details will effectively pre-filter potential customers to ensure that they are predisposed to working with you.

When marketing to millennials, the most social generation in history by some measures, you have to take into account their network of people whose opinions they trust. That starts with their parents. Not only that, but it may be Mom or Dad who is holding the purse strings.

The long-term view of your customer acquisition program is a job for a customer database. Without one, success is solely measured on response rate and initial sales - not activations, repeat purchases, renewals, and loyalty. This leads to binge acquisition, where an acquisition manager is rewarded for simply bulking up a customer database. That’s a roller coaster ride with giant spikes of acquisition that may not go anywhere.

The real success is not getting customers to go from 0x to 1x (no purchase to one purchase), but from 1x to 2x, then 2x to 3x+. The paradigm shift here is to focus on the best customers, then build customer acquisition programs around finding more of them. This starts with 3x+ buyers and works backwards.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Customer Personalization Attracts New Customers

As a modern marketer you face many challenges. While everyone else is enjoying their summer vacations, many marketers are acutely aware that the holidays that make or break their business is fast approaching and is the most important commercial period of the year.

The seasonal shopping period is crucial because success breeds success. Data collected from high-performing campaigns is a powerful resource for marketers to better understand and develop insights about the way customers are behaving on their brand journeys.

Above all, data allows brands to create personalized, unique and optimized experiences for consumers – finely tuned for each individual preference. Often there’s a tension between the level of personalization being delivered and the amount of data that consumers are being required to give up, and brands have had to tread this line carefully.

Is your CRM software helping you capture the information you need to make the best marketing moves? Are you sure?

Can you use your database to select and send the right message and the best offer to the correct customers?

In our past all marketing was personal. The door-to-door salesman, your bank teller and the grocery store clerk all knew you and knew what you and your family wanted and needed. Not so much anymore. Do you recognize the bank teller that waited on you this week?  Or does your bank push you to the ATM?

Consumers want a more personalized retail experience but are divided on retailers’ tactics and the types of personal information they feel comfortable disclosing, according to a new survey. Nearly 60 percent of consumers want real-time promotions and offers, yet only 20 percent want retailers to know their current location and only 14 percent want to share their browsing history.

The survey showed that more than half of all consumers (51 percent) and 68 percent of Millennials would be receptive if   a drug store tells them to stop buying items online that could react negatively with other medicines; however, a significantly lower percentage (30 percent) of Baby Boomers were comfortable   with this personalization tactic.

People buy from business that they know, like and trust.

SMART Service Desk IT Service Management Software is a great start to creating your very own customer service legends. We know that your satisfied customers will return again and again. Let us help you increase productivity, reduce operations cost and improve customer experience with our ITIL compliant solutions. No matter the size of your business we have your customer retention solutions.

SMART Service Desk
600 West Ray Road
Suite D-3
Chandler Arizona 85225
602-235-0975
info@smartservicedesk.com
http://smartservicedesk.com