The modern world is changing and changing fast. Technology has gone from a pleasant luxury to a necessity in everyday life in just a few short years, and the working world has been evolving right along with it.
While the internet has made nearly every job a tech job, there are some professions that lend themselves to a dependence on tech more than others. Here are a few that downright require the existence of certain technology to get the job done.
Customer Service Rep
Handling customer complaints has come a long way from written letters and phone calls. The industry has demonstrably improved throughout the evolution of technology, from quicker response times to better customer assistance. Now the kinds of software available to customer service teams does a whole lot more than allow conversations to take place.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software gives customer service reps dozens of features to help them keep in touch with the customer and make sure they’re happy. Features now essential for top customer service include user ID to customer record recognition, email marketing integration, and new channels such as instant messaging add ons to your business website. Most even come with analytics tools to gather data on what kind of complaints come up most often so you can start addressing issues before they happen.
Truck Driver
While self-driving trucks might seem like they’re making headlines on a regular basis, the reality is that there are still more than 3.5 million truck drivers on the road in the US alone. And they aren’t using paper maps and punch cards when it comes to logging hours out on the highway.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) have revolutionized the industry by making it easier than ever to track a driver’s Hours of Service on the spot. No problematic paperwork or misplaced forms; the device tracks date, location, time, engine hours, and vehicle miles, along with identification information for the driver, vehicle, authenticated user, and motor carrier.
Not only are the best ELD devices extremely helpful, they’re also mandatory now that the ELD Mandate has gone into effect, stating that all commercial drivers in the US must record their hours of service through electronic logging device means.
Accountant
When it comes to handling money as a profession, counting on your fingers and toes is not an acceptable practice. In fact, the industry has come quite a long way from even bookkeeping machines and green visors, which is a good sign for your money.
Quickbooks — among other accounting software — has made the accountant profession infinitely easier on a day-to-day basis. It allows accountants and small business owners to manage bills, track clients, set schedules, and even scale, all from a comprehensive program. Try that on a calculator.
Cashiers
The cash registers of even a decade ago are ancient dinosaurs compared to the technology found in most retail shops and fast food restaurants today. They were loud, clunky, and often poorly stocked with the coins and bills needed to make change when someone strolls in with a $100 bill and an attitude. Fortunately, those days are long behind us.
Modern point-of-sale (POS) systems can quietly deal with credit card transactions, contactless payments, and sometimes even loyalty programs, using powerful cloud-based technology. POS systems can even track employee performance and other business metrics, informing future decisions about your business. You have to admit, it’s a lot better than doing math.
