What’s wrong with talking to a human? Apparently it costs too much to talk to a human. And companies are about reducing costs. Companies focus on the bottom line – profits. Businesses don’t consider the fact that the top line, revenues, might be enhanced if their customers had better experiences when interacting with the company.
I recently had another birthday. Thus I’ve even further distanced myself from the working people pack. When you consider that most people work for about 40 years, those over 50 are in the last quarter of their working lives. And, with all the early retirements, there are not many people older than me still working. Or some, as one lady I know, are focused on counting the months and days until retirement.
But let’s consider those who retired 10 or more years ago. Most of them are impacted by technology because their children and grandchildren are “keeping up with technology”. The teens of today have never been without computers and cell phone technology and satellite TV and the list goes on. They are totally comfortable with technology.
One pet peeve of many people, irrespective of age, is dealing with telephone voice prompts. It’s difficult to get through to a person. When I’m calling for help, I never seem to fit into any of the options numbers. There are still people with rotary phones, as in my uncle. I admit I sometimes cheat and follow the rotary phone option. But many times I just tough it out. After all, my career has been in and my company, Noble & Associates Consulting is focused on Information Technology. Technology does not scare me. So, I can do this.
Nevertheless, I was delighted to know there is a website that has the secret to getting to a living, breathing person – without punching 50 buttons. Check out http://www.gethuman.com/.
I keep finding myself drawn to this 2.0 stuff – whether Web 2.0 or Enterprise 2.0. Atlanta appears to have large following and fan base of these concepts and techniques. I’m still working on getting the terms straight. At times, I’m not sure whether I should be using “social media” or “social networking”. One thing I do know: I need to keep tabs on what’s going on with Web 2.0.
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is an umbrella group consisting of technology special interest group communities / societies. The newest society is called TAG Enterprise 2.0, and its focus is to explore and educate on Web 2.0 technology movement. Perhaps this phenomenon could be better described as a revolution and societal paradigm shift. It’s already second nature to the under thirty crowd. The wave is spreading to the over 30, over 40 and over 50 populations. And, this technology is being embraced more and more by the business community.
The first TAG Enterprise 2.0 meeting (March 5, 2008), featured Puneet Gupta, CEO and Founder of Connectbeam. Connectbeam’s product is used behind corporate firewalls for searching, tagging, social bookmarking and social networking. What they add to typical Google searches, is the ability to see
1) Who else in the organization has searched on the same thing?
2) The intent, context or tags associated with the prior searches.
3) The ability to connect with others doing similar searches.
Finally an application and strategy that makes sense for businesses of all sizes. Connectbeam already has an impressive list of clients, starting with Honeywell as their first customer. The implementation of this product enables companies to control their data, integrate with existing IT infrastructure, and incorporate data access and security requirements. Connectbeam’s product allows companies to measure the rate of adoption and increases in productivity as a result of implementing an Enterprise 2.0 framework.
It’s pronounced “Web two dot oh“. And, it seems I’m on track in exploring this Web 2.0 stuff. Web 2.0 is impacting the government as well as the presidential campaign. Many feel that embracing this new technology paradigm is one of the keys to the success of Barack Obama’s campaign. I think it was part of his strategy to implement and use Web 2.0 for competitive advantage.
As I mentioned in a prior article, all are impacted by this new internet / technology revolution. It may be directly by you accessing blogs, joining online social networks or accepting networking connection invitations. It may be indirect by your children or grandchildren helping you to do google and yahoo searches and researches. Or it could just be a societal impact. Whether you like it or not, those who embrace Web 2.0 and other internet features are affecting the way we run our businesses, purchase goods and services, donate money and run political campaigns.
A recent title in the Government Technology hnewletter was “E-Vote: Tapscott Says Web 2.0 Will Determine Presidential Campaign Advantage”. And who is Tapscott? Don Tapscott is author of Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything (Portfolio 2006). In my “What’s a Wiki” article on February 10th, I tried to put mind energy around the concept of a Wiki. Suffice it to say, a Wiki is one of those Web 2.0 things. Tapscott’s “Wikinomics” terms suggests that there is an economic impact to the use of Wiki’s.
Watch out for Wiki’s and Web 2.0. WWW – It’s what’s happening now!
Linkedin is a social networking and connection forum for business people. If you’re in business, check it out. You might be surprised who’s already signed up.
Invite me to join your LinkedIn network. Every opportunity you have to network and build your sphere of influence is important to your success. When you add me as a connection use president@NobleAdvantage.com for the email.
Click the above icon or go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/SandraNoble.
If not already member, then click “Join Now” on the right.
If you’re already linkedin, then click “Contact Directly” on the right.
Let’s look for ways we can help each other have more successful
businesses and make more money!
Sandra Noble
President / CEO
Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc.
Noble Finances
I was recently on an airplane perusing the in flight catalog. Have you ever seen anyone actually order something on a domestic flight? I haven’t. But the fact that these books continue to appear in seat back pockets, is evidence that they are effective revenue generators. And, they have a lot of neat gadgets and things.
The headline for one product talked about boosting your prestige and your hearing at the same time. This product was basically a hearing aid which looked like a Bluetooth mobile phone headset. So the implication was that it is cool and prestigious to walk around with a phone headset in and on your ear. Once again I was reminded that I am probably out of step with mainstream thinking.
Am I the only one who thinks it is sometimes in poor taste to be wearing those “things”. I’ve seen people posing for pictures and even speaking in front of an audience with the above mentioned head gear. Now I know I’m over 50. And I go back to rotary dial phones where you had to stick your finger in a circle slot and rotate for each number. In those days wireless and cordless was unheard of. But, most people who need hearing assistance are over 50 like me. (Although that may change, since the younger generation is ruining their ears with loud music.) I’d be interested to know if the effectiveness of that particular advertisement for hearing aids. Someone thought that was a good idea.
Do babyboomers think Bluetooth is a status symbol? And, do we need to be that connected, where we don’t miss a call? With all these communications & telecommunications, are we really communicating better? Or, just faster and more frequently?
Technology and the world in general is changing fast and I’m constantly trying to keep up. You see I’m ne of those over 50 folks who don’t find it second nature to keep up. But I am and I will.I’ve created this blog to vent, communicate and bolster my position as a viable business person. Have you heard the buzz about those who made it big, i.e. rich, by age 30? Well, that’s impressive. But what about the over 50 babyboomers who’ve perhaps been downsized, rightsized, laid off or fired. And hose who’ve more gracefully retired and now are looking to make a second mark on the world.We’ve got skills, wisdom and business savvy. If we can stay healthy, we have unlimited potential.Power to the “Over 50″ people!
