Product category:
Programming aids and applications
News Release from: Padtech | Subject: Smartdiary
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 July 2006
Smart cure for no-shows
Missed appointments cost British industry billions of pounds a year with the NHS alone losing a staggering GBP575 millions annually due to patients who fail to turn up.
Time costs money - and missed appointments cost British industry billions of pounds a year with the NHS alone losing a staggering GBP575 millions annually due to patients who fail to turn up Now Cheshire businessman Phil Dunlop has come up with a means of enabling industry to fight back with an office diary system that is so smart that it automatically reminds clients and customers about their appointments
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Affordable, comprehensive document control offered
Electronic control can provide a secure, convenient solution, and a package is designed to deliver comprehensive quality standards document control at an affordable price.
Robot rogramming costs reduced by up to 30% by PC
A robot operations simulation package, running on a normal office PC, has halved product introduction times and cut robot rogramming costs by up to 30%.
"Our Smartdiary software is a business diary that not only automatically synchronises appointments for multiple users but it can be programmed to send text messages to customers to remind them that appointments are coming up," said Phil, MD of Padtech whose software has scooped a prestigious IT award for innovation.
"Customers are telling me that the savings they make from avoiding missed appointments more than covers the investment in our software after just a few weeks of use.
Not only does it offer an efficient diary solution for multiple users in a business but it's an efficient way of helping clients make their appointments on time".
Further reading
Simulation arrives at optimum production system
How to design a new production line that optimally employs just-in-time and cellular manufacturing techniques was solved through simulation techniques.
Applying maths benefits engineering organisation
A new version of the industry-standard solution for applying mathematics to engineering, science and other technical operations delivers organisational benefits.
One customer Ian Wills, owner of Britain's busiest MoT station in Deptford was one businessman who knew, only too well, the devastating effect missed appointments could have on business.
With up to one hundred cars a day going through his Test Centre at Deptford, missed appointments were becoming an annoyingly expensive problem leaving staff and equipment standing idle when clients failed to turn up.
"The problem was that by the time you realised a client was not going to make an appointment you had very little time to fill that empty slot," explained Ian during a break from work.
"Most wouldn't call to cancel and others admitted they had simply forgotten they had booked in".
Then he was introduced to Smartdiary, partly because of its ability to automatically text individuals to remind them of their appointments.
"Now our computer system automatically sends a text to all customers two hours before their MOT test is due reminding them of their appointment and asking them to confirm their booking," explained Ian.
"We have found we get far fewer missed appointments and those that can't make their slot usually call us to inform us.
"That means we have a reasonable time in which to fill their slots.
It has transformed our business and helped us become a much more efficient business.
Smartdiary has solved our problem virtually overnight and I am delighted".
Phil Dunlop, who lives in Crewe added: "The Test Centre is typical of many business who can adapt the Smartdiary solution to enable them to operate more efficiently and effectively.
"Time management is central to the smooth operation of most businesses and Smartdiary gives owners and managers a greater degree of control of their diary operations.
• Padtech: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
