Not all transactions work out well.
Transactions of technological advancements that is.
I have recently experienced 2 wins and 2 losses.
Win 1. Need for USB has been removed.
I needed to print sales training manuals that I recently updated. Standing in the queue, from my mobile device, I accessed the cloud based document, converted it to PDF format and I emailed it to the print shop.
Before I would need to convert and save from PC, store the information on USB drive and hand the USB drive into the store so that they could print.
Awesome to have that need removed.
2. Spotify connection to Shazam.
Shazam is software that can listen to music and identify the artist and song title. Shazam has advanced to save the “shazamed songs” into saved playlist.
Another advancement Shazam has had is that it can automatically listen to songs (instead of me needing to manually select listen to each individual song). I went to a club on Saturday night that was playing fun dancing songs. Having put thw autoshazam function on, I picked up 30 songs that I can add to customized playlists later.
The big win recently though is that I have linked my Shazam program to Spotify. Now, when shazam picks up a song, it automatically gets added to a playlist in spotify.
Amazing experience.
Now, my two losses.
1. SA Home Affairs.
They have built a new improved service when you can apply and pay online.
One step forward.
The system however recently is down. My new ID is issued and phyically available.
When I requested a new copy, they captured my finger prints.
However to collect, they need my fingerprints to active the ID.
Even though they have captured my fingerprints, I cant collect my now readily available ID. Their system wont allow for it. Just doesn’t make sense.
No off line provisions have been put in place. Department just enters a stop mode. Nothing gets done.
2. MTN delivery of new mobile.
I understand we are dealing with R12 000 equipment. To hand it over to someone who claims to be the recipient, and is not, is a risk.
I understand their concerns.
I also can understand that there are chancers, who can try claim that they havent received the phone when instead they have.
The delivery communication is broken though.
The drivers should phone the recipient when they are on route. Give approximate arrival time.
My experience was different.
Was told the afternoon to expect delivery between 1pm and 5pm.
Last delivery, the driver arrived after those hours.
I went out for lunch. Guilty.
Upon my food arriving, I get a call from my office. Driver needs me to sign for parcel.
I tell him i will be there in 20min.
I drop my lunch, rush across. Get there, driver is gone.
I wait 25min for driver to return.
He doesnt.
I decide to return to my lunch, where I left my wife waiting.
Upon returning to lunch, driver calls. He is back.
What a waste of time. What a horrible experience.
I left written consent for staff to sign acceptance on my behalf. Not accepted.
Such bad communication. So close minded in terms of user flexibility.
Such a bad transaction.