Small Time Texting Looking for Big Results

I saw an article today about Visa testing out texting whenever your card is used. They are looking to cut down on fraudulent card usage, which is a fine objective, but I am not sure most people want to be texted every time they use their card. The novelty will wear out fairly quickly unless they add in some sort of filter mechanism.

Now where texting could make sense is in the SMB market. When I travel I often use a car service to take me back and forth to the airport. Every time I land at my home airport we go through the same song and dance where I call the car service, have to get transferred to the dispatcher, tell them who I am and what door I want to be picked up and they tell me what car number will pick me up. They also tell me how long it will take for the car to get to my door, but I have learned to generally double the time they tell me in their optimism, but that we can talk more about another time.

A much better process would be for me to text them when I land (or after I get my luggage) and tell them what door . They would know from my number who I was and if I had a reservation. They could then text me back with the car number picking me and if there were going to be any delays. The whole transaction done in a few key strokes.

By implementing texting a SMB (Hinsdale Transportation take note) can differentiate itself as being easier to do business with and probably allow the company dispatcher to handle a few more customers and the customers might even be a little bit happier despite the travails of business travel these days.

There are many other ways a SMB can take advantage of texting or other methods of technology if they just think a bit out of the box. Each application of technology may not yield big results, but they all add up to a competitive advantage and who doesn't need that in today's business climate.

Got any ideas or thoughts on how a SMB can leverage technology in new ways, add your comments to this discussion.