Poll Results: Smartphones on the Sales Floor
Consider this scenario: An employee in aisle 4 is staring into the screen of his phone. What are the chances he’s looking up competitors’ pricing or product information demonstrations, or some other useful communication?
And what are the chances he’s texting with a friend or playing Angry Birds Space Wormhole, or some other frivolous activity?
Therein lies the essence of this week’s HBSDealer poll question: Are smartphones in the hands of sales-floor staff a blessing or a curse?
After about 130 votes, here are the results:
45%: Curse. Focus should be on customer, not the phone screen.
40%: Blessing. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
15%: Take ‘em or leave ‘em.
There’s no doubt that smart phones can help a sales staff. They provide mobile access to training and information, as well as valuable business articles including those of HBSDealer.com.
But, as the plurality of readers seem to agree, smartphones can also be a distraction. Consider, for example, the extreme case of a staffer texting a boyfriend or girlfriend about a pending break-up.
The poll remains open on the right side of the page (or scroll down your mobile device.)
And what are the chances he’s texting with a friend or playing Angry Birds Space Wormhole, or some other frivolous activity?
Therein lies the essence of this week’s HBSDealer poll question: Are smartphones in the hands of sales-floor staff a blessing or a curse?
After about 130 votes, here are the results:
45%: Curse. Focus should be on customer, not the phone screen.
40%: Blessing. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
15%: Take ‘em or leave ‘em.
There’s no doubt that smart phones can help a sales staff. They provide mobile access to training and information, as well as valuable business articles including those of HBSDealer.com.
But, as the plurality of readers seem to agree, smartphones can also be a distraction. Consider, for example, the extreme case of a staffer texting a boyfriend or girlfriend about a pending break-up.
The poll remains open on the right side of the page (or scroll down your mobile device.)