Let’s face it, in a world of “same old, same old,” standing out can be a real struggle. But what if the secret to success wasn’t about changing the product itself, but how you deliver it? Think about it, you could be offering something truly unique, but if the delivery is boring and predictable, it’s going to get lost in the crowd.
Think Outside the Serving Tray
Hewlett-Packard VP, Corey Billington, suggests taking a hard look at how you’re serving your customers. He says to break down the steps into their individual parts, then mix them up, rearrange them, or even introduce something entirely new.
Let’s take a look at how this works in real life:
- Fine Dining: You’re probably familiar with the classic fine dining sequence: order, cook, serve, eat, pay. It’s elegant, it’s traditional, but is it exciting?
- Fast Food: Fast food joints flip the script a bit: cook, order, pay, serve, eat. Efficiency is the name of the game here.
- Cook-at-your-table: This is a fun twist: order, serve, cook, eat, pay. You get to be part of the culinary experience.
Hand Over the Reins (and Have Some Fun)
The key to making this work is to find ways to engage your customers. For example, Fire & Ice, a restaurant where you assemble your own ingredients and then they cook them, gave customers a hands-on role in the “order” phase. This adds a fun element to the experience, and it makes customers feel more invested in the process.
Tax Time? Time for a Change
Let’s think about something a little less glamorous: tax preparation. The traditional steps are: client collects information, preparer creates the tax return, client reviews and signs it. But with tax software, the process can be completely revamped. Clients can now collect information, prepare their own tax return, and then have a tax professional review it before signing. Or, the preparer could help with collecting information. The possibilities are endless!
By rethinking how you deliver your product, you can create a more efficient, more valuable, and more engaging experience for your customers. And that’s a recipe for success in any market. So, get creative, think outside the box, and watch your business thrive!
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.