I am sitting here at my dining room table composing this blog because I am waiting on the gas company. When I signed up for service I was told someone would call me in a few days to schedule connection. A few days later they did and we set a time a week and half out between 8:00am and Noon.
As I think about that now it comes to me how "ol school" this appointment is. First, with today's technology I can do almost anything right from my laptop. I don't have to go to the bank, in most cases I can pay my bills via the laptop, when you call a place a business there are times you don't even need to talk to a person (although I have to say that is my least favorite form of technology). Computers and robots preform surgery, computers and technicians can fly a man-less plane from thousands of miles away. However, the cable company, the gas company, and the water company can not set a time to come to your home. Amazing this still exist.
Why does it exist, to me the answer is simple. It is either a lack of competition or an overwhelming need for the service. I think both can be true in many cases. I choose this particular gas company because they were the most helpful over the phone. Half of the providers I called did not call me back. The ones I spoke to wanted me to do all the prep work so all they needed to do what just a connection. Although I could have done that I am not a certified plumber so it did not appeal to me to take that path. What is frustrating is this, none of us could operate our business that way and stay in business.
What can we do, well I guess we could chose not to use their services. I did not see that as an alternative. The other alternative as I see it is we could learn from these "ol school" processes and work more diligently in our businesses to make our people not only understand how technology can make them better at their job but also how it can be beneficial to the one who matters the most....our customers.
Kevin M. Breeland General Manager
Residential Mortgage of South Carolina, LLC
breelandk@residentialmortgagesc.com
www.residentialscdailyrates.com
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