60 Seconds on Business
Wireless technology for higher profits

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

How can you use wireless technology to improve your bottom line and deal with your competitors effectively? Three keys will enable you to grab onto handheld tools and make the most of them for your business.

First, make them friendly for your customers. Nextel has a new phone that enables customers to have access to a calendar, contacts and wireless e-mail. They think convenience will sell. Celenese lets its customers check inventory, pricing and order information via handheld devices linked to the company Web site. Customers get training and equipment, and loyalty is ensured.

Second, make them easy for your employees. FedEx has DADS, a digitally-assisted dispatching system that remotely schedules and directs drivers to pickup locations.. This allows for increased efficiency in scheduling and the opportunity to squeeze in that extra pickup that buffs out the bottom line.

Third, make them desirable for your partners. Most firms now have strategic partners and the notion of creating added value for your partners is smart business. For example, start-up company 2Scoot needed several partners to make its business plan work and they had to adapt their wireless approach as a result of alliances with Texas Instruments, Nokia and Tricon, owners of fast food chains Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

Dr. Drake Beil can be reached at drake@60secondsonbusiness.com.