We live in a digital world. RedyRef has played an important role in creating digital signage and interactive touchscreen kiosks solutions in multiple environments, from retail to restaurants to travel hubs like airports. What we’ve found is that while humans do like to interact with other humans, we tend to prefer doing it when it suits us and our own timeline, and mainly when it involves people we already know and like. If we can limit interactions at checkout, or find out about a product while shopping without having to find an employee? That’s often what we choose. We prefer to do what we can ourselves, and this is especially true from a generational standpoint. Millennials, in particular, are not just comfortable with self-service technologies, they seek it out. With so many of this generation already in or almost ready to enter the workforce, it makes sense to consider adapting any processes that could be made digital to fit this technologically-savvy mindset.
One area undergoing a digital sea change are lobby environments. And sure, this may not sound as thrilling as discussing the next big thing in self-driving cars; however, it’s something that can be hugely impactful to a business that chooses to implement more technology into their lobbies. Why? Because a lobby area is often the first physical touchpoint — the physical “first impression” — visitors have. Just as having the right website is a powerful tool to reach customers and gain that invaluable first impression, a lobby can do the same in the physical realm. In other words, if you are still having people sign in and out with a paper and pen? You are likely losing image points at the same time.
There are other good reasons to move to a digital visitor management system like RedyRef’s than just enhanced image. There are also security issues to consider. For example, forcing people to physically write in their names means the names are often illegible; that is, if they even bother to use their real name in the first place. A digital system helps ensure most people can be identified correctly, especially when that system also prints a visitor badge. Not many people are likely to want to walk around all day with a badge that says Foghorn Leghorn or Mickey Mouse all day, so it’s safe to assume that digital systems force a certain level of accuracy, and therefore increase the level of building security since everyone who is or has been in the building during a given timeframe can be identified. There are other factors to consider in regard to public safety, including potential fires, robberies or other similar situations where being able to track and account for visitors is incredibly important. Doing so with a paper log is nearly impossible; digital visitor management systems make it easy.
There are additional considerations that should be weighed before making a decision to move to a digital visitor management system like the one we’ve developed at RedyRef. Come back next week when we’ll continue this discussion and find out more. Meanwhile, if you’ve already decided that a digital lobby is right for your company, the process does not need to be as difficult or complicated as it may first seem. The key to success is partnering with an experienced, vertically-integrated manufacturer like RedyRef. Contact us today at (800) 628-3603 today or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your program meets every one of your business’ unique needs and goals.