Crazy and junky technology

As an entrepreneur, I spend much time keeping up with the latest literature.  I also spend much time coding for my day job and the company I founded.  This week, I received a reprieve of sorts.  I am getting ready for my company trade show.  My experiences further reinforce my belief that, for many businesses, we are way behind the times.

During a trade show, you would expect vendors to use mobile applications to manage buying and selling.  You would also expect them to use their smartphones to conduct business with the help of applications like Square.  No, I am spending the next four days loading primitive Windows CE devices to attempt to handle transactions.  Each device has to be individually updated, and they do not synch with the web but instead over Wi-Fi to a proprietary database; if it sounds like madness, that is because it is.

This would be easy if the system were connected to a secure cloud-based application that worked on the vendor's smartphones.  There is no set-up time.  There are no primitive devices to configure and technology that the vendors know how to use because they use their smartphones all day.  I think smartphones and other mobile devices are the keys to success in this marketplace, and I see too many small businesses letting this trend pass them by.  Even the not-so-small business, which I consider my day job, doesn't seem to understand.  It is frustrating.

This is why when I founded my company, I ensured I had applications that worked on both the web and mobile devices.  You should look into us and find out more. 

It just seems crazy that I have to spend my time supporting obsolete technology.  It is just as crazy that you do, too.

Until next time.