Usage of NFC enabled Tabs as business support tool/device
By: Amit Bhushan Date:27th Jan 2016
The usage of mobile has gone up manifolds and it has become almost ubiquitous. Many business owners (reference here is about retail shops) can be seen flaunting the latest ‘’Smart” gizmos, and wouldn’t mind to boast about their online availability, not only on mobile but also on social media like What’sApp, Facebook, Twitter etc. Many of these gizmos are often obtained as a result promotions by major brands to entice these retailers to push wares to customers. However the usage of technologies (hardware + software) in actual day to day business is yet to register any significant increase. What has mostly happened in limited push mainly on the back of somewhat more organized promoters with relatively cleaner business models relying of technologies such as desktops/laptops mainly for purchase or billing or inventory management and here as well one can cite duplicity of efforts rather than any seamless transactions. The day-to-day transactions between sales agents of such brands with these retailers still rely on paper slips, tracking which is a herculean task.
If the brands decide to automate these manual task, it can be most easily done by leveraging of NFC enabled Tabs which support agents of brands to exchange invoice related to sales, while Tab program app allows retailer to store the data in appropriate ledger record. Such devices also have potential to support brands to monitor store performance and other associated activities such as impact of any ongoing brand promotions by the brand itself or any other competitor etc. The challenge would be educate retail store person to start using the device for record keeping for multiple brands, or for sales activities like billing so that appropriate inventory management/profitability monitoring is supported. This may require devices and apps to mimic the retailer’s language for stock and inventories and allow him to keep records of ‘’all’’ purchases. Appropriate ‘’scan’’ apps to convert paper bills to electronic records or such tools may be additionally needed for faster adoption, subject of course to the comfort of the retailers. Support for easy print of bills to customers so that devices can act as a complete book-keeping tool may be some other value enhancers.
While we are witness to a surge in e-commerce basis digital connectivity and there is noise and clamour around this in media, very little effort is actually spent to harness the potential of devices and technologies alone i.e. without leverage of the power of internet. This is the case even though the cost of devices themselves have fallen making them much more affordable while cost of internet access through these devices still remains relatively high. So it is a case of corporates remaining fixated on internet and ignoring other potential benefits (given local conditions which are different as opposed to conditions in developed world where internet is rather affordable while cost of devices were pretty high when most consumers were adopting such devices and now their markets for devices is dominated by high end brands). Given the hype and slow delivery, this has every potential to tarnish the buzz going around since even when reach of internet is expanded, it is still going to be damn expensive for most of the common people given their income levels. Also the brands are seen by retailers as enjoying the buzz; which allows them to be reached at discount to customers directly, bypassing the retailers; while doing almost nothing to improve the lot of retailers. May be its time that the brands try upgrading their old supply chains using technology as well or else the retailers may develop stronger bonds with ones’ who supports them the most.
By: Amit Bhushan Date:27th Jan 2016
The usage of mobile has gone up manifolds and it has become almost ubiquitous. Many business owners (reference here is about retail shops) can be seen flaunting the latest ‘’Smart” gizmos, and wouldn’t mind to boast about their online availability, not only on mobile but also on social media like What’sApp, Facebook, Twitter etc. Many of these gizmos are often obtained as a result promotions by major brands to entice these retailers to push wares to customers. However the usage of technologies (hardware + software) in actual day to day business is yet to register any significant increase. What has mostly happened in limited push mainly on the back of somewhat more organized promoters with relatively cleaner business models relying of technologies such as desktops/laptops mainly for purchase or billing or inventory management and here as well one can cite duplicity of efforts rather than any seamless transactions. The day-to-day transactions between sales agents of such brands with these retailers still rely on paper slips, tracking which is a herculean task.
If the brands decide to automate these manual task, it can be most easily done by leveraging of NFC enabled Tabs which support agents of brands to exchange invoice related to sales, while Tab program app allows retailer to store the data in appropriate ledger record. Such devices also have potential to support brands to monitor store performance and other associated activities such as impact of any ongoing brand promotions by the brand itself or any other competitor etc. The challenge would be educate retail store person to start using the device for record keeping for multiple brands, or for sales activities like billing so that appropriate inventory management/profitability monitoring is supported. This may require devices and apps to mimic the retailer’s language for stock and inventories and allow him to keep records of ‘’all’’ purchases. Appropriate ‘’scan’’ apps to convert paper bills to electronic records or such tools may be additionally needed for faster adoption, subject of course to the comfort of the retailers. Support for easy print of bills to customers so that devices can act as a complete book-keeping tool may be some other value enhancers.
While we are witness to a surge in e-commerce basis digital connectivity and there is noise and clamour around this in media, very little effort is actually spent to harness the potential of devices and technologies alone i.e. without leverage of the power of internet. This is the case even though the cost of devices themselves have fallen making them much more affordable while cost of internet access through these devices still remains relatively high. So it is a case of corporates remaining fixated on internet and ignoring other potential benefits (given local conditions which are different as opposed to conditions in developed world where internet is rather affordable while cost of devices were pretty high when most consumers were adopting such devices and now their markets for devices is dominated by high end brands). Given the hype and slow delivery, this has every potential to tarnish the buzz going around since even when reach of internet is expanded, it is still going to be damn expensive for most of the common people given their income levels. Also the brands are seen by retailers as enjoying the buzz; which allows them to be reached at discount to customers directly, bypassing the retailers; while doing almost nothing to improve the lot of retailers. May be its time that the brands try upgrading their old supply chains using technology as well or else the retailers may develop stronger bonds with ones’ who supports them the most.