As promised, here are the results from the survey I did recently on the subject of using newer technologies in the workplace. All the respondents (just over 50 in all) are subscribers to my newsletter. First I'll show each question and the results and then offer a brief comment.

1. Which of the following do you use on a regular basis in your work? Please check all that apply.

Email.......... 92%
Cell phone.......... 82%
PDA (example, Palm Pilot) .......... 28%
Instant Messaging .......... 26%
Pager .......... 18%
Bar code reader .......... 8%

2. Which of the following do your managers and employees use in their work? Please check all that apply.

Cell phone.......... 81%
Email.......... 72%
Instant Messaging .......... 14%
Pager .......... 14%
Bar code reader .......... 9%
PDA (example, Palm Pilot) .......... 7%

Let's consider the results now of these first two questions. By far the most widely used technologies are the cell phone and email. I don't think any of us would find that unusual. What I am impressed with, however, is the frequency with which instant messaging was listed. This technology, which until recently was the sole property of teenagers and college students, offers very prompt contact with someone and the possibility of an inexpensive real-time conversation and rapid file sharing. Further, the inclusion of voice and video over the internet make it possible for instant messaging services to function like a video phone, at no extra cost.

3. Do you have a website for your business?

Yes .......... 58%
No .......... 42%

This might seem like a low percentage of businesses to have a website, but given the number of small shop owners in my subscriber list, it's not so surprising to me. However, I have seen some excellent websites promoting small automotive service operations and they appear to have been constructed relatively inexpensively (thought they are still attractive and professional looking).

4. If you have a website for your business, how do you use it? Please check all that apply.

Simply as an online brochure .......... 86%
To generate leads .......... 38%
Sell products or services over the web ...........28%

This breakdown, I think, is comparable to the use of business websites in general. As a way of generating leads for a business, a website is a very powerful tool. And it doesn't really cost any more to enable your prospects to contact you from a website than it does to simply post an attractive online brochure.

5. Which of these features of the internet do you or your employees use on a regular basis at work? Please check all that apply.

Search websites for needed information .......... 98%
Participate in technically-oriented online discussion groups or bulletin boards .......... 45%
Participate in business-related online discussion groups or bulletin boards .......... 40%

The popularity of the web as an information source is phenomenal and will stay that way for a long time I think. What I am impressed with here is the regular use of online discussion groups. I follow a couple of these for my own business and find them very useful. I am glad that others have as well.

As an aside, I wonder if any of you would recommend any online discussion groups that you think I should follow in order to stay more in tune with the aftermarket? Please let me know by email. Thanks.

6. Of all the recent technologies you or your employees use, which has had the greatest impact on your business?

Internet .......... 47%
Cell phones .......... 21%
Computers .......... 18%
Email .......... 1%
Industry-specific computer programs .......... 1%

I think the low numbers here are due to the fact that this was an open-ended question and only about half the participants answered the question. Plus, I think that many who listed computers were probably also thinking of the internet and email in making their response.

7. Are you using any recent technologies in your business that have not been named in this survey?

Those listed were:

RFID
Nextel combined phone and pager
Credit card readers
Wireless network
CAD

8. Of all the recent technologies you use in your business, were any introduced to the business by younger employees?

Those listed were:

New applications of existing applications
Instant messaging
Text messaging via cell phone
CAD

Slightly more than half of the respondents said that none of the recent technologies were introduced to the business by younger employees, while about 15% of the respondents said they were the younger employee! One person said all their recent technologies were introduced by younger employees.

This last question was a stab in the dark. While this was hardly a scientifically designed survey, I think the results show that many of the respondents are very much in touch with current technology. For this reason, I think it makes sense that few of the respondents credit their younger employees with introducing the technologies aside from some of the text-messaging uses. After all, most of the respondents are using the recent technologies more readily than their employees (see the results of questions 1 and 2).

On the whole then, people who responded to this survey are using some very innovative technologies in their businesses. And I doubt if they would continue to use them if they weren't clearly showing a benefit. If you are not yet following any online discussion groups, for example, consider doing so. If you have clients with whom you need to stay in touch regularly, maybe giving them access to instant messaging would be faster than email and more convenient than the phone.

If you have any questions about these survey results, please feel free to write or call.