by Paul Lalley

Created on: June 20, 2008   Last Updated: June 21, 2008

Anybody notice that the speed at which information is delivered in the business realm has increased in the past 10 years? If you hadn't noticed, chances are your buggy whip emporium is due for a little technical update.

Your customers or clients want information now. Right now. And if you don't have that information, if you can't answer the clients' questions, you're pounding sand and blowing smoke. No one expects the sales rep, customer care rep or account representative to have all of the answers all of the time, but these client contacts better be able to get that data to the customer like today.

Information Velocity in the 3-D
In the real world, information travels digitally these days. Oh sure, you can run to the FedEx drop box once in a while, but emails get there faster and with FTP services fighting for your attention, there's no reason that big honkin' blueprint file can't be uploaded to the FTP site where it can then be downloaded by the client. It's instantaneous.

And you and your company look good.

Information is also sent via cell phone, PDA, networks, intranets and camel caravans. The ability to get a proposal, a bid or marketing collaterals into the hands of the prospect quickly often determines whether the client is closed and becomes a part of the business' expanding client base. Or not.

If your 3-D biz isn't capable of delivering the goods with blazing speed now measured in nanoseconds, ooo-eee, your competitors are going to eat your lunch and your breakfast and your dinner. Fast is good. Slow is death in this Age of Digital Communications.

Field reps need data fast wherever they are. They require access to the home office server to pull up client files, specs and other business details from a coffee shop hotspot three time zones away or from a remote location half-way round the world. The ability to access client data NOW separates the pros from those working out of a spare room at home.

You can call anyone FREE using Skype. No excuses there. Sure, telephone time doesn't replace face time but it'll do in between handshakes. So call that iffy, on-the-fence-client using Skype. You'll strengthen the impression of client care and, if the client is a Skype subscriber, the call is free.

Fax it. Email it. Scan it and send it as an attachment. Use file transfer protocol sites, open a password protected on-line home base listing individual rep activities, new assignments, new projects all the office news available wherever the company rep is in the world.

On-line

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