In case your head is already spinning by the dizzying array of channels through which you can service customers, here's another one. Near field communication technology provider, Narian Technologies is launching what it's calling “the next generation in customer service” involving the use of near-field communications tags.
Near field communication (NFC) is a set of standards for smartphones and other devices that establish radio communication between devices by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity (a few inches apart). The technology allows for contactless transactions, data exchange and simplified setup of more complex communications, like Wi-Fi. Communication, is also possible between an NFC device and an unpowered NFC chip, called a “tag.”
Narian's NFC customer service technology works like this: a customer taps an NFC-enabled phone to a Narian enabled NFC Tag, which is embedded into millions of NFC phones that customers are already using today. A retail employee is then paged, and must tap their NFC ID Badge to a customer's phone, which quickly confirms to store management that the customer has been attended quickly.
According to Narian, customers lose as much as one hour each day simply waiting for service or trying to find it, in every type of store or restaurant. Businesses lose $2 trillion in sales opportunities every year thanks to poor customer service. This technology, says the company, makes it easy for both consumers and management to make sure that employees get to customers.
“NFC is here today, but most people don’t even know it,” said Einhar Rosenberg, CEO of Narian Technologies, in a statement. “The reason people don’t, is because it’s pushed as either a mobile payment technology, or a novelty for hobbyists. The reality is that NFC is the fastest growing, and most powerful technology today. Narian realized years ago, that NFC could make lives better, in a completely new and revolutionary way. To be frank, customer service sucks today, and takes too long. Whether consumers are trying to get service at a restaurant, or find help in a store. The simple fact is that everyone has experienced a lack of quality, when it comes to service.”
Narian says it wants to provide businesses and consumers with a smart and intuitive technology designed to not solve the service dilemma entirely, but at least make it better. The company is offering a free trial of their NFC customer service technology.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.
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