PLATSFORMS
My work and digitalization now
I work as a sales representative, so my job is mobile work. I have mobile tools with digital applications. I drive a lot every day. I contact customers by phone. I listen to a lot of audio books while driving, it’s a nice pastime.
I use a lot of digital tools in my work:
Microsoft 365
I have become familiar with Microsoft 365 through my work, as I need several office applications for my work. Email is an important tool for me. I send emails to clients and to the office of our company. All official messages are handled by email. The strengths of email are long messages. You can send long messages and large files. In addition, no one expects an immediate response to e-mail messages. I read emails a few times during the working day.
Teams is our company’s common communication platform. It’s easy to designate different channels, so there are dedicated discussion channels for different things. Everyone just needs to remember to turn on the notifications. The possibility of instant messaging and video meetings is also positive. All our meetings are held using Teams. I check my Teams messages after each client visit. Teams is also easy to use on mobile devices. Word, Excel and powerpoint are not used every day, but their use needs to be managed. Using these apps on mobile devices is stickier than on a computer. Fortunately, you don’t have to use them every day.
Genero Sales
This app contains everything you need for the entire sales process of a sales representative. Calendar to schedule appointments, report sales, place orders, etc. The system contains customer contact details, past appointments, tasks, payments, product information and sales materials. I can take photos, make notes and tasks for myself and manage customer relationships. This is an easy and practical tool. It also works flawlessly on mobile devices.
Whatsapp is a channel in our company that we do not recommend for work-related matters. Our team has its own whatsapp group called “coffee break” where we can have informal discussions. Conversations may include work matters, but not any confidential information. Someone might ask for quick advice or share tips. Sometimes we post pictures of lunch, scenery, cars or animals. Informal communication is important because we only see each other a few times a year. Regular communication increases the team’s sense of belonging.
Our organisation has a closed Facebook group where we can share pictures, links, tips or we can share public posts from our clients. The use of this is voluntary, as the employer does not require employees to join Facebook. The channel is good for non-urgent issues.
Tripadvisor
I use Tripadvisor to help me find good lunch restaurants. Sometimes I also review them. I’ve found it to be an easy and quick way to find lunch in a foreign place, so I don’t waste time searching in vain. The app searches for nearby restaurants by location. Usually customer reviews are correct, but not always. You have to use your own judgement as to which things bother you and whether they are important to you.
Google Maps
Google Maps allows me to plan my driving route sensibly and economically. I’ve added customers to my favourites, so the stars on the map show the customer’s distances. This makes it easier for me to plan my driving schedule, so there’s less driving back and forth. If necessary, I navigate using the app.
New digital tools
Because my work is mobile and we already use digital tools, I don’t think I have time for many more. Some of the social media tools on the teacher’s list were familiar to me, but not all. I looked at each tool and will now list the ones I could consider of using in my work.
Todoist
I am a methodical person and like to take lots of notes. I always have a to-do list in my calendar to make life easier. I also use electronic notes in my spare time. I now wanted to check out the Todoist app and downloaded it for myself. It’s nice to discover new apps and test what they are like. I’ll try it out in my spare time first and possibly later use it for work.
I feel “old school” when I’m not on Linkedin. I know it’s worth being there, especially as I work in the private sector. Linkedin is a great way to network, follow jobs in the industry, etc. I have not felt the need for this as I have been happy in my own job and have not felt the need to look for a new job. On the other hand, I could get active and make a profile there. There would be no harm in that, would there?
YouTube
There’s so much content here that you could use it by looking for influencer marketing on competitors’ products. Competitors should always be monitored and YouTube users are of all ages and there is content from all corners. I don’t think I’ll find time for this on a daily basis, but if there’s a new product that is much discussed, I could look for more information about the product here.
Blog
A blog about the job of a sales representative could be interesting. The field fascinates many people, but it is not very well known. An informative piece of writing with a touch of humour could be nice. It would also be nice to have some nice photos of different places while driving around. A sales representative could also review hotels, restaurants and cafés on their blog. And give others tips about different places.
TikTok
Same idea as in the blog, but TikTok is video. A short video would be an opportunity to tell people about the job description. Informative and humorous videos that show the best of the job.
Social media, the pros and cons
The best thing about social media is connecting with friends and family. It’s quick and easy. It’s nice to see what people are up to, although face-to-face meetings are really important. However, if the distances are long, social media can make you feel more connected. On Instagram and Facebook, you see lots of photos of friends. You’d hardly send so many of them to each other on your phone otherwise.
Even some people’s pets have their own profiles on several social media channels. They’re fun, but a bit of a pain to maintain. I have three dogs myself and lately their instagram has been quiet. Occasionally I do a TikTok video of my dogs or with them. But usually I don’t have the time.
Another good thing about Facebook is the various groups. I love it when I can discuss things with people who have similar interests. You always get good ideas and learn something new in the groups. Personally, I belong to several groups through different hobbies.
Then I get into the negative aspects of social media. There seems to be an increasing number of advertisements on social media, and some of them are annoying. If you look at friends’ stories, every story is an advertisement. I understand the need for ads, but too many is too much and it’s easy to get tired of them.
Many people forget their manners on social media. Quite often, discussions are held by extremists and the end result is an argument. We need more friendly, flexible and open-minded people in the debate. As an anonymous person, one lacks empathy for others and it is easy to be mean to a complete stranger. I also encounter some hate speech. In particular, politics, immigration and equality issues generate heated debate, which the administrators often have to intervene in. I have noticed that there are a lot of lonely people on social media. If I comment on a discussion in Iltasanomat, for example, I get about five friend requests from complete strangers within a week. I never friend someone I don’t know on Facebook.
It is said that there is a lot of bullying in social media. I think part of the issue is that short written messages are misunderstood. When there are no facial expressions and gestures, it is harder to interpret the message. You don’t always know what is humour and what should be taken seriously. On the other hand, people who are sick or intoxicated may be on social media and their messages are unclear, causing ambiguity, arguments and ill feeling. People should be more able to ignore messages that provoke an aggressive emotional reaction.
Social media has its good and bad points. I have personally noticed how easily social media can be time-consuming. Everyone would do well to set limits on how much time they spend there. In any case, today, digital is playing a big role and we spend a lot of time in front of the screen.
Self-reflection
The task was very nice. The task took me away and I experienced the joy of knowledge. It was nice to learn about new social media tools. Most were familiar but there were some new ones. I familiarised myself with each of them so that I would remember them in the future. This course made me think about how much digital is present in our daily lives. How did we know how to do without it before? Within reasonable limits, digital and social media are excellent things.