Technology and Gadgets / PLUGGED IN
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3 Quick Tech Tips Not all improvements require a complete overhaul. Here are three easy ideas that take only minutes to implement.
GPS dog collars
Some innovations don’t need to be put to use within the confines of the exam room. By hosting an attractive and well-placed retail section in the lobby, a practice can boost revenue without requiring any additional labor.
Additionally, a video message board (mentioned previously) can further drive retail sales when used as an advertising tool.
One of the latest gadgets to include in a retail section helps owners find lost or wandering animals. Global position system (GPS) technology is now advanced enough to be contained within the smallest acces- sories, such as a pet collar.
Multiple pet GPS systems are available on the market, but when clients buy one from their trusted veterinarian, they know for sure that they are getting a reliable product.
Pet GPS systems start at more than $100 and go up from there, so even the slightest markup can provide a decent profit, while requiring minimal effort other than selecting a quality product to feature.
Bookmarklet apps (website aggregators)
Before, when practitioners came across an important document they wanted to share with employees, they would email the link and hope everyone clicked on it or, worse, print out a copy for each employee. Now, when you discover an article you’d like to share, whether it’s critical to the practice’s operation or simply an amusing reprieve from business matters, you can use a bookmarklet app to store it in a central location that all employees can access.
Trends magazine, April 2012
Cut out the latter step with a desktop uploader, available free from multiple software publishers. Simply click and drag pet pictures into the program and they are automatically uploaded. No waiting for Facebook’s servers or entering repetitive information, so you can get back to work right away.
These apps even work across multiple platforms. If you are at home on the weekend and come across an item of interest, by clicking “read later” or a similar option, the page is saved for later viewing on the office computer system. If a practice has multiple locations, employees can access the article from any office by using the same account. This feature can save bandwidth and storage space, and ensure that everyone is up to date on the latest impor- tant information.
Facebook uploader
Social media has become an integral part of any business, especially a veterinary practice, where a positive relationship with clients can serve as the best advertising, gaining new customers by word of mouth. Many practices already use social media sites, like Facebook, to post pictures of happy patients and their owners.
But for those still using a traditional digital camera to take photos, rather than a smartphone with a high- resolution camera built in, uploading to Facebook can be tedious. Users must first transfer the files to a computer and then go through Facebook’s web- based upload process, which requires users to fill out multiple data fields and preview each picture.
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