Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/447632
4 FEDA News & Views Brad Pierce President Restaurant Equipment World brad.pierce@rewonline.com The President's Message As we start the new year, I'd like to share some thoughts on technology advancements that companies in our indus- try should consider embrac- ing in 2015. The backdrop for these thoughts is the realization that our commercial end-user customers have changed. They're now thinking and acting like retail-oriented consumers. Their expectations of accessibility, connectiv- ity, speed and information have been altered and our industry isn't living up to those expectations. Here are some areas where I think we can collectively do a better job of embracing technology: Accessibility- This is the first item because it's perhaps the easiest to fix. Mobile isn't the next big thing, mobile is now. Customers expect to do every- thing they can do on a desktop com- puter right from the convenience of their smartphone. One recent statistic shows that more than a billion people access Facebook each month from a mobile device and 30 percent of all visi- tors never browse from a desktop, ever. Yet, when you visit a majority of dealer and manufacturer websites in our indus- try, you're stuck with a traditional desk- top layout that is largely unusable on a mobile device. Implementing responsive web designs and/or redirecting visitors to a mobile-friendly site easily solves this issue. There's no valid reason why your organization shouldn't have a mobile- ready website in this day and age. Connectivity- End users have become accustomed to having total connectivity with devices used in their homes. I can control my garage door, air conditioner, alarm system, televi- sion and more from both smartphone apps and desktop web interfaces. Yet, when it comes to commercial kitchen equipment, only a handful of vendors have implemented these technologies for managing and monitoring the equip- ment that end users depend on for their livelihoods. Temperature monitoring is the most notable example of real prog- ress being made, yet we've still got a long way to go. Years ago, the first steps were taken toward creating a "connect- ed kitchen." The time has come to make that vision a reality. The days of pulling off panels to read a series of lights for managing and monitoring equipment should go by the way of the rotary dial telephone. Speed- Most Consumers have become accustomed to life happening quickly. Whether it's using an app to hail trans- portation or ordering a new television, technology has changed the perception of time. I recognize that we're often dealing with the reality of niche and/or custom manufacturing, but that's irrel- evant in the mind of the end user. They want to easily order products from deal- ers and receive them quickly. Anyone in the industry can list all the reasons why lead times take weeks (which are valid), yet the companies who innovate and change the game to produce and deliver goods more rapidly will win. Outdated Practices vs. the Modern-Day Demands of Our Customers continued on page 28 There's no valid reason why your organization shouldn't have a mobile- ready website in this day and age.