You've heard this before, but it's worth saying 100 times more: Manufacturers, in general, are horrible communicators.
Anything we can use to improve our communications skills with customers, prospects and our own suppliers deserves a strong shout.
Have you heard of Skype? If you haven't, I'll make this simple:
Skype allows you to make phone calls and chat (instant messenger IM) over the Internet. It's free to call/chat with anyone that has Skype downloaded onto his or her computer. Works all over the world. For very little money, you can up the account to communicate with landline or cell phones. It's genius. It's Web 2-point-whatever. Slip "Skype" references into conversations on the shop floor to up your hipness quotient. You're welcome.
What makes Skype so powerful for many manufacturers is its global capabilities. It'll connect you with anyone with Skype, and its IM and file transfer capabilities can improve communications with nodes in your supply chains - no matter where they are.
Skype is particularly useful for those of us with international customers & suppliers. Skype's IM utility can take up some slack by reducing language frustrations, and you don't need me to tell you the benefits of a phone call over an Email.
But along with Skype's value for your business, there are several tools and services you can add to Skype that allow you to record conversations and IM exchanges to help document product life cycles, customer relationship management, and project deviations and adjustments. (Skype currently doesn't provide recording capabilities.)
Here are a few recording utilities for your review (these utilities are either free or cost very little):
Skype plus a recording addition can quickly and inexpensively give your business tools that improve communications with your customers.
