01/13/11 – Are you a “smart”-y pants?
Smartphones and iPads
January 2011 marks a milestone at my company: We are releasing our first in a series of iPhone Apps! Honestly, I cannot remember when I had this much fun waking up and coming into work each day. Smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of our culture, making a lot of things far easier and more convenient, including shopping. Mobile shopping is predicted to be bigger and better in 2011 than ever before and many analysts predict it will one day outperform online shopping.
In case you’re uncertain, a Smart App is a software application that runs on Smart devices, such as the iPhone, Blackberry and Android. The world of Smart Apps is where Business, Technology and Social Media merge to create a platform that allows developers to customize unique experiences onto devices that literally fit in the palm of your hand.
The recent news that Verizon will now be selling and supporting Apple’s iPhone on its network means the prevalence of the iPhone and its apps is poised to overtake the smartphone market. Verizon supports tens of thousands of customers who have expressed interest in the iPhone as long as it had a carrier other than AT&T.
Personally, I love my iPhone and my iPad. (Yes, I’m a tech junkie. What were you expecting?)_If you had a look at my iPhone, here are some of the apps you’d find:
Zagat Restaurant Guide
Local Weather
USA Today
Personal Note Pad – Great for keeping your grocery list or ideas
Worldmate – Travel Schedule
Flight Tracker – = This app tracks flights and let you know exactly what time and gate passengers are arriving at. If the gate changes you usually know before airline employees.
Run Keeper – Uses GPS to track my actual path be it on road or off road for hiking, running or biking. Tracks my timing per mile, elevation changes and allows linking in of an iTunes play list.
Open Table – Provides me ability to make dinner reservations at dozens of the coolest hotspots
At DROSTE, our focus is to continually look for new ways to enhance your customers’ shopping experience and at the same time build customer loyalty. As our team of developers focuses on the future, we invite you to contact Droste today to discover how your business can be enhanced by the great innovations we have to offer.
9/28/10 – Meet our newest team member
Droste Consultants, Inc. is proud to announce the recent hiring of Michael Patno, a Software Implementation and Training Specialist, who joins Droste with over 10 years experience at Kronos and 11 years of experience at Market Basket, where he was a Front End Manager for five years.
Mike, a Boston area native, will be responsible for training our clients, both current and future, in our software programs with special emphasis on our Workforce Management software systems, including Time and Attendance and Front End Scheduler. Mike’s vast experience in the grocery industry and the labor scheduling arena makes him a valuable asset to the Droste team and we are pleased to have him on board.
Mike is currently training with our other support staff members, Linda and Joe. As he is brought up to speed, there’s a good chance you’ll hear his voice on the other end of the phone. Say hi and introduce yourself!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Thanks,
Tom
(tom@drostesoftware.com)
9/17/10 – Big changes and lots of excitement at Droste!
It’s hard to believe that summer 2010 is already behind us and in just a few short months we’ll be ringing in a new year. At Droste, the time has flown by as we prep new products to take to market, meet with new and existing customers and continue to work toward a fantastic Q4.
One of our big changes at Droste is the recent focus on marketing activities. If you know me at all, you’re very aware that my tolerance for marketing ranks somewhere near the lifespan of a fruit fly. However, I’ve come to realize the importance of marketing our products and services so that we can continue to grow.
I’m happy to introduce our most recent hire, Megan Sullivan, as our Sr. Project Manager, a role that includes marketing initiatives. Megan comes to us from sunny Los Angeles, where she migrated to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Southern California. She has worked on and off for Droste over the past three years as a marketing consultant and I’m thrilled we were able to bring her on full-time. Her initial projects will include continued maintenance and updating of our new website, introducing Droste to social media tools and working to develop short product videos that will better illustrate everything our software can do.
Megan’s coming on board at a great time as we’re hosting our annual employee dinner and everyone in the Droste family will be in attendance. We’re happy to recognize and award our employees with a great night of friendship and food as we celebrate 2010 and look forward to 2011.
Until my next post, take care and prosper,
Tom
A Recap of FMI 2010 & News about our iPhone App
June 28, 2010
This year’s FMI Show finished up last month. I must say that, in general, it was quieter than it has been in the past. However, there was considerable excitement around our booth as we introduced our new iPhone app.
As you probably know by now, the iPhone has taken over quite a few aspects of business. When I first got my phone, I was amazed at what it could do and I immediately began thinking how this phone could be used in the grocery business. We are always looking for ways to help our stores become more efficient and cost-effective without compromising customer service. The iPhone app Droste created is aimed at the deli section of the store. iOrder allows you to input your deli order through your iPhone before arriving at the store and then simply pick up once you’re ready. You’ll also have the capability to save your favorite or most common deli orders, making future ordering as simple as a few “touches” and even be able to check your store’s most recent sales flyer before placing your order. You’ll no longer need to pick a number and wait in line. Of course, once customers saw this app, they had suggestions as to other apps we might work on, such as an app that sends a list of the weekly specials to your phone and gives you the store location of those products. Another idea was to create a store shopping list with product locations within the store. If you have had occasion to go to different supermarkets you know that they don’t all arrange their stores in the same way, nor do they always group the same products together. This app would make shopping in a “new-to-you” store a breeze and also make finding a “new” ingredient in your usual store a quicker process. This iPhone furor has been keeping us pretty busy, delaying the post of this latest blog.
The other hot topic at this show for us was our Labor Forecasting and Scheduling software. With the economic issues today, companies are searching for ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency. In conjunction with John Connolly we have the solution that not only reduces costs and increases efficiency, it also improves customer service. That’s a combination you can’t beat. Check us out, you’ll be glad you did.
On a more personal note, Kathy and I, had a fabulous customer dinner with old and new friends at Lupo, a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. In case you didn’t know, I love to cook and experiment with new ingredients. At dinner that night, I learned that one of our customers shares that hobby with me. We had some stories to tell and a few secrets to share.
Until my next post, take care and prosper.
Tom
