In any business, big or small, efficiency is key. It’s an ethos that should seep into every aspect of the puzzle, It’s what makes an enterprise tick, click, and grow to new levels. Business inefficiency, where it crops up, can waste a lot of revenue. Also, it drains workers of energy and enthusiasm. When inefficiency presents itself in the workplace, it has to be addressed. 

The term “business efficiency” is actually quite specific. It is what we use to describe how well a company produces output in relation to the input required to produce it.

Smart technology has taken business efficiency to a whole new level. And these whip-fast system improvements aren’t only for the behemoths of the business world. On the contrary, smart technology is an applicable change for any business, regardless of size. Let’s look at the details of how and why.

 

 

Improved Wait Times 

 

Smart lockers have made big improvements in wait times. We see this in examples such as prescription pick-ups and mail desks. Smart lockers help business staff in organization and efficiency. Additionally, customers receive immediate notifications. This vastly improves customer satisfaction. People know within seconds that their items are ready. Plus, they know that their items are safely stored. 

For example, let’s look at Boston College. There, a dining service has successfully implemented self-serve kiosks, mobile ordering, and smart lockers. It is a slick, quick, and contact-less approach. This better serves students in a very particular context. Students place orders in just over 60 seconds. 

A manager of a cafe on the campus explains thatIt all boils down to that old-school customer service: It can free you up to have more time to talk about the menu with a customer, to say hello as they’re passing by, to welcome them, to show them how the kiosks work. New technology doesn’t change that need for old-school service.”

This whole process will lead to vastly improved retail efficiency. Automated retail lockers lead to smoother, faster, improved systems – to the delight of customers, workers, managers, and CEOs alike. 

 

Business And Customer Safety 

 

But quickly, let’s circle back to the fact that items in automated lockers are safe. This is because this is an important factor. It’s an element that should not be underestimated, especially in our current societal climate. 

Customers, residents, and clientele are prioritizing safety more than ever. This isn’t surprising. We’re navigating the aftermath of a global pandemic. Each day, we’re seeing scary levels of inflation which are now at a 40-year high and climbing. Criminal activities such as porch theft continue to plague neighborhoods where people deeply depend on deliveries. 

Customers are looking for businesses and supply chain practices they can trust. Resources are precious and many folks do not have the wiggle room for error. As a result, they are flocking to businesses that utilize smart technology for added security. Customers are absolutely paying attention to this and paying bigger bucks for it. 

In the case of automated retail lockers, customers feel more in control and involved in the process. They know that their toiletries and formula are ready on arrival. People know that their medication is in a temperature-controlled locker. They know that the IT gear is safe. These scenarios improve various processes, and therefore improve business efficiency. 

 

24/7 Customer Support

 

And finally, businesses gain even greater efficiency with automated retail lockers due to the 24/7 customer support that smart locker companies provide their clients. This aspect relieves and redistributes some of the pressure and responsibilities that would otherwise fall on valued workers. Their precious time on the clock can be better spent cultivating and growing a thriving retail business, while the ins and outs of picks ups and tech troubleshooting can take place between qualified smart locker technicians and the individuals in need of support to retrieve their items. 

Overall, our businesses need to reflect our progress as a species. Our enterprises should be as smart as the smart technology that we’ve invented. “Business intelligence” will continue to transform retail, caregiving organizations, and community spaces. Of course, automation is something that some people are suspicious of. However, we can evolve our businesses, enterprises, and philanthropy to utilize this automation in a positive way. Real peoples’ time can be better spent in more sustainable, satisfying, and equitable ways.