How a Service-Focused SaaS Company Handles Feature Requests
Feature requests for your SaaS program are valuable, but can be tricky to track and prioritize. Create a feature request management system with these steps.
Defining RADICAL Support®
Most companies settle for “good” customer service. But the companies who focus on exceptional customer service are the ones that really thrive.
Security Lessons from FedRAMP-Compliant Companies
Could it benefit your company to use some of the official security protocols required for hosting government cloud solutions?
Photo credit: https://writix.co.uk
Hiring a Front Office Manager? Check for These Soft Skills
You may know which technical skills your receptionist needs. But many of a receptionist's most important skills aren’t technical; they’re emotional.
Why You Need to Categorize Your Business Visitors
Every visitor management system should start with an analysis of who comes through your organization’s doors. Here’s what to consider.
8 Types of Front Office Roles and Responsibilities
If you hire a receptionist, they’ll likely be responsible for much more than checking visitors in. Here are some roles to consider.
The Best Customer Support is All About Real Relationships
Authentic relationships between your customers and staff are at the heart of the best customer support teams.
The 6 Ways Business Receptions Can Get Awkward (And How to Avoid Them)
We’ve all been in reception areas that give off weird vibes. Don’t let it happen at your company.
How to Design Your Visitors’ Badges
Visitor badges aren’t complicated — not at first glance. It might seem like designing one would be easy: Choose a template, fill it out, and move on.
However, poorly designed visitor badges can cause problems
When the information on these…
Should Visitors to Your Company Sign NDAs?
There are a lot of ways to accidentally expose sensitive information to your company’s visitors.
Trust us: We’ve heard plenty of cringe-worthy stories on the topic from our customers. (There’s nothing like a confused, unescorted visitor stumbling into a confidential…
Here’s What Happens When Your CEO Takes Customer Calls
Many companies are happy to pay lip service to the idea of being customer-centric.
It makes sense: Companies exist to fill customer needs. If you don’t focus on those needs, your business will struggle.
That’s why most companies are smart…
Featured Business — B Sharp School of Music
B Sharp School of Music inspires students of all ages to “sharpen their minds through music.” The private music school, started by Heidi Garcia, operates out of an old Victorian house in downtown Lodi, CA, with a recently opened second…
Featured Business – Viva MedSuites
Coworking spaces are trendy among small businesses and entrepreneurs. But could they work for the medical community? Judging from the early success of Viva MedSuites, a medical coworking space that opened in Scottsdale, AZ, last month, the answer is…
A New Logo and Website
Over the past two years we focused on modernizing the look of our application and improving our features to make them easier to use and even more configurable. Throughout all of this change, there was one thing that had stayed…
Featured Business — Flying Axes
Looking for something fun to do for your next office get-together or birthday party? How about axe-throwing?
Never heard of it? Neither had Zack Pennington and the team at Flying Axes until they tried it during a trip to Canada,…
Featured Customer: Herkimer Central School District
Herkimer Central School District (HCSD) serves a small student body of 1,200 from kindergarten to grade 12 in Herkimer, New York, just 15 miles east of Utica. The teachers, faculty, and staff who run HCSD believe strongly in preparing students…
CCTV system security in warehouse of factory chemical blur background.
Food Defense Mitigation Strategies: How to Keep Your Facility Safe
You have a food safety plan in place, you’ve verified your foreign suppliers, and your delivery vehicles meet the requirements for sanitary transportation. Concerning FSMA, you’re feeling like everything’s “so far, so good.”
But you aren’t quite done yet. The…
Featured Customer — CHS America
Community Health Solutions of America, Inc. (CHS) is an expert at providing comprehensive care coordination solutions. This includes holistic care management for members, providers, and hospitals. In addition to CHS, the Premier Family of Companies also includes Premier Administrative Solutions…
Feature Update: Visit Summary Emails, Photo Capture Updates, and New Printer Options
When was the last time you updated The Receptionist app on your iPad? We’re giving you a really good reason to do just that this week. Nothing works until you update your app so do that first. The Receptionist places…
Featured Business — K-TECHnologies
It’s a tall order to design, manufacture, and assemble electronic and electromechanical products that absolutely cannot fail — but that’s exactly what K-TECHnologies has been doing since 1997. Located in Buffalo, NY, K-TECHnologies offers electronic manufacturing services for the military,…
Who Has Access to Your Food Facility? How a Visitor Management System Can Help You Comply with FSMA
Implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is in full swing. And now that the food industry is becoming more confident in its ability to meet the food safety requirements of the Preventive Controls Rules, many companies are turning…
Featured Business — Mecaer America
Mecaer America, a division of Mecaer Aviation Group, is located in Laval, Québec, Canada. Mecaer designs and manufactures hydraulic and mechanical systems and components for the aerospace market. Its products include flight controls, landing gears, actuators, dampers, valves, and…
Featured Customer — Riverside EpiCenter
The Riverside EpiCenter, located in the Atlanta metro area, is a bustling event center that serves to inspire and empower the local community. The space spans a massive 113,000 square feet, containing the Bronner Center for the Performing Arts,…
Featured Customer — Luno
The future of currency is changing, and Luno is at the forefront of that transformation. Luno launched in 2013 as a way for people to safely and easily buy, sell, store, and trade Bitcoin, a form of digital currency that…
C-TPAT Security Requirements: Access Control and Visitor Management
Are you thinking about becoming C-TPAT certified? If you move goods across the border, this certification can be a boon for your business. To be accepted into the C-TPAT program, your company must meet a set of minimum security…
7 Benefits of Becoming C-TPAT Certified
If you move goods across the U.S. border, you’ve probably heard of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT was put in place by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The program puts the…
Featured Customer – Denver Public Schools
Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) Emily Griffith Campus is constantly brimming with activity. It gets anywhere from 500 to 800 visitors per day. In fact, the only building in Colorado that gets more visitors is the capitol building!
The campus is…
Featured Customer — Eclipse Screen Printing
Have you ever wondered how your microwave buttons work? Ask Eclipse Screen Printing, a company that has specialized in technical screen printing for the past 22 years. They print the membrane switch that you use every time you heat…
Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
Happy Administrative Professionals Day! To celebrate our customers, we held a contest and asked you to share some stories of the amazing things administrative professionals do for your offices. More than 10% of our customers participated and we got some…
Featured Business — America’s Health Center
The cost of running a healthcare business continues to rise, making it difficult for providers to offer affordable services and still make a living. This situation prompted Nick Porterfield to develop a way to help healthcare providers reduce their office…
New Feature: Visitor Evacuation List
Do you know who’s in your office right now? If an emergency happened, would you be able to ensure that all of your visitors get out? It’s not fun to think about, but emergencies can and do happen. Because of…
Featured Business – Salem Christian Homes
A distinguishing feature of many of our customers is that they care passionately about helping others. That’s certainly true of the non-profit organization Salem Christian Homes. In the 1960s, there weren’t many educational opportunities available for people with developmental…
Featured Business – Fixt
Luke Cooper loves convenient and efficient solutions. That’s why he founded Fixt, an on-demand mobile device repair service. If you have a problem with your phone or tablet, a technician will come to your home or office, fix the…
3 Common ITAR Compliance Mistakes
In the last article, we reviewed the basics of ITAR compliance. At the end, we noted the high cost of failing to comply. Here, we’ll look at three of the most common ITAR compliance mistakes that can lead to…
ITAR Compliance: What It Is, Who Needs It, and the Penalties for Ignoring It
If your company is involved in exporting any defense products, services, or related technical data, you’re probably already familiar with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). And if not, you need to be! These export control laws are designed…
Documentation and Records Management for ISO Certification
Documentation and records management is at the heart of many certification and compliance programs today. It’s also just good business practice. According to a widely cited study by Information Week, between 3% and 5% of an organization’s files are lost…
5 Legal Agreements to Increase Your Office Security
Are you concerned about office security? If you’re like most of the office managers, IT administrators, and executive assistants we talk to every day, you probably answered “Yes — very!” Because security is so important for every business today, we’re…
Featured Manufacturing Business – Optimum Design Associates
Bay Area-based Optimum Design Associates is a sophisticated printed circuit board design and assembly company whose client list includes Honeywell, Boeing, Intel, Applied Materials, and other tech firms on the leading edge of their respective markets.
Being an industry leader…
Featured Business – Spa Suites on 116th
Located in Carmel, IN, Spa Suites on 116th is an innovative company that not only rents out suites to beauty professionals, but also provides them with extensive business support. This includes design, marketing, business coaching, and a host of other…
Featured Manufacturing Business – Modus Advanced
Modus Advanced is a leading manufacturer and supplier of die cut gaskets, custom molded rubber, and other materials used in industries such as automotive, medical, defense, agriculture, and construction. Although they are a small company, operating out of their California…
Featured Business: Merrick Academy Charter School
As the first and longest-running public charter school in Queens, New York, Merrick Academy has to keep up with changing trends so it can continue serving its students and their families effectively. When Merrick Academy noticed that its reception area…
3 Types of Software Modern Manufacturers Should Invest In Today
You already have ERP software, inventory software, and supply chain management software. But what about the non-production aspects of your business? Do you still use handwritten logs and ledgers? Do your salespeople still keep lead and customer information in their…
Featured Business: Fairfield County Bank
Since 1871, Fairfield County Bank has been serving its community in scenic southwestern Connecticut. While the banking business has gone through innumerable changes over last 145 years, Fairfield County Bank continues its commitment to service that’s personal and efficient. When…
New Feature: Customized Voice Prompts
Can I customize the audio prompts that visitors hear?
Absolutely!…
New Features: Pre-Registration and Returning Visitor Check-In
A few weeks ago, we launched The Receptionist for iPad version 3.0. (Missed the announcement? Check it out here). But today is the BIG announcement! Today, we’re rolling out two huge new features to make your visitors’ check-in even…
Receptionist Job Description: How to Optimize Your Front Desk Efficiency
Your reception area is the first point of contact for office visitors. As such, it plays a key part in creating a positive impression of your business, and helping reduce office traffic. While many offices are shifting toward digital reception—more…
17 Office Design Blogs You Should Read and Follow
It’s no secret that office design can either enhance or dampen your company culture. Ultimately, the best design for your office is the one that reflects your values and meets your company’s and your employees’ needs. To help you…
The Receptionist for iPad Version 3.0: More Customizable Than Ever!
While you were hopefully enjoying a relaxing summer vacation on a tropical isle, the Engineering team at The Receptionist was hard at work making your office check-in process even more awesome. Version 3.0 includes many more button options so that…
13 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPad Could Become
Your iPad is already your favorite movie theater, cookbook, and gaming console. But that’s just the start of what it’s capable of. Download an app and your iPad can turn into anything from a fish tank to a receptionist. Here…
Visitor Policy and How to Create One For Your Workplace
Clear visitor policy is vital to the security of your employees, clients, and workplace assets. It keeps your workers safe, your equipment secure, and your confidential information, well, confidential. Of course, the nature of your visitor policy will depend on…
Featured Business: eOriginal
eOriginal is the trusted expert in digital transaction management solutions, specializing in the post-execution management of financial asset documentation. As a result of its continuing success, eOriginal has recently transitioned into a larger office space to accommodate its growing staff. …
Visitor Management and Regulatory Compliance: What You Need to Know
We write a lot on this blog about the benefits of visitor management systems for today’s offices, focusing mostly on productivity, brand image, and security. But for companies in some industries, a visitor management system isn’t just…
Avoid These 3 Privacy-Killing Mistakes in Your Office
Network and data security grab lots of headlines, but it’s important to protect customers’ privacy in your physical office space as well. Guarding your clients’ confidentiality in every way is vital to building trust and loyalty. Here are three things…
Featured Business: Sungevity
One of the largest full-service solar companies in the U.S., Sungevity is a trendsetter. Since 2007, they’ve helped homeowners and small businesses navigate the burgeoning industry. They shepherd clients through the entire process of going solar: from design and permitting,…
Lobby Security And The Role It Plays In Your Office
As the first point of contact with your office visitors, your lobby plays an important role in setting a welcoming tone and communicating your brand image. It’s also absolutely crucial to office security. A secure reception area can improve…
Are Your Competitors Using Your Visitor Log to Spy on You?
We all know that a visitor log is crucial for office security. But could a written log threaten the privacy of your customers? The answer is “yes”! Imagine this:
You’ve been developing a breakthrough product in a competitive field.…
Introducing The Receptionist
This summer has been full of excitement for us. We’ve redesigned our app, released a ton of new features, and seen amazing growth in our business. But all of these things pale in comparison to the news…
7 Overlooked Opportunities for Enhancing Your Brand Image
Managing perception of your company is more than just slapping a logo on a product or creating a solid website. To build and maintain a strong brand image, you’ll want to use all the tools at your disposal. Here are…
5 Ways to Build a Stronger Brand Image
We’ve posted several articles recently about brand image — from why it image matters to how to enhance your brand image through office technology, visitor experience, and more. But developing a brand image isn’t a one and done.…
Does Your Visitor Experience Make (or Break) Your Brand Image?
When it comes to visitor experience, first impressions are everything. As soon as clients walk into your office, you want them to see who your company is and why they should want to work with you. In other words,…
How We Grew Our SaaS Business by 4x in 15 Months
By Andy Alsop, The iPad Receptionist President and CEO I became President and CEO of The iPad Receptionist in April 2015. Since then, business has exploded, with both the number of locations using the software and our MRR (monthly recurring…
Featured Business: CCS Presentation Systems
Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, CCS Presentation Systems has a long track record of being at the forefront of technology. They offer a full range of audio-visual integration services, including design, installation, training, and maintenance for everything from AV…
How to Enhance Your Brand Image with Office Technology
Satisfied clients and employees are your most effective brand ambassadors. Their experiences in your office space are often a major part of how they interact with your company, and thus how they think about your brand. So when you choose…
Why Your Brand Image Matters
Brand image is one of the most important ways you can build value and distinguish your company from competitors. Business is becoming ever more digital. That means customers have an increasingly wide array of options for where to purchase goods…
Feature Update: User Permissions, Badge Printing, and Multiple Choice Questions
Once again, our engineers have been hard at work on new features to make your experience with The iPad Receptionist even better. Here’s what we’ve got for you this time.
Set user permissions for different members of your team
Many…
Get Ready for Even More “Wow”: The App is Getting a New Look
In conversations with customers, we hear over and over that The iPad Receptionist doesn’t just help their office run more smoothly. It also adds a wow factor to the front desk experience. Well, get ready for even more “wow.”…
7 Emerging Trends in Modern Office Management
With rapid developments in technology and an ever-evolving workforce, office management strategy is constantly changing. So what do you need to know to keep your finger on the pulse and ensure you are managing your workspace in the most efficient…
How to Choose Office Technology That Supports Your Business Strategy
With the myriad options available, choosing office technology can seem like a daunting task. You can narrow your search by focusing on the technology that best supports your business strategy.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Create a…
Featured Business: Robinson Bradshaw
Robinson Bradshaw places a high value on their office security and their clients’ privacy. The North Carolina-based corporate law firm has been providing legal services to clients across the country since 1960. And along the way, they’ve picked up some…
office tasks
5 Common Office Tasks You Can (and Should) Automate
A small investment in automation can save you hundreds of hours in the long run. Automating common tasks reduces mistakes and frees up workers to focus on more important assignments. It also improves your bottom line. Here are some practical…
Press Release: Fitness Center Discovers New Technology to Manage and Grow Business
High-end fitness and training studio Vault Fitness Center manages its visitors, building, and brand with The iPad Receptionist, an innovative iPad-based visitor management system DENVER, CO, June 2 — Vault Fitness Center is both a 24-hour members-access gym and an…
Featured Business: Upland Software
Since its founding in 2010, Upland Software has been at the cutting edge of cloud enterprise solutions. And by any measure, Upland offers an impressive array of them. Tools for managing projects, workforces, and IT investments? Check. Automation software? Check.…
5 Ways Technology is Transforming the Workplace
Successful businesses are always on the lookout for current and future trends in technology. Read on for five ways technology is transforming today’s offices.
Flexible work practices
Studies show that employees are more satisfied and effective when they get to…
3 Ways Your Office Design Affects Your Bottom Line
According to a recent report, only 55% of workers say that the design of their workplace enables them to work productively. And just 49% say their office is a place they feel proud to share with visitors. Clearly, companies…
How to Make Your Office Space Reflect Your Office Values
Of course it’s important for your physical workplace to be functional and engaging. But, as marketing strategist Ivana Taylor notes, that space is also an important part of your overall brand. Visitors and employees alike see your office…
Featured Business: Martensen IP
Intellectual property (IP) law firm Martensen IP more than understands the importance of privacy. Their services focus on identifying and securing the rights that make companies competitive—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, Martensen IP serves…
More Exciting New Features
At The iPad Receptionist we don’t just see our software as a cookie cutter product that you purchase, start up, and use. We see it as an experience between you and us, and you and your visitors. This customizable approach…
Does Your Office Look Like a Place Millennials Want to Work?
Several studies, like this one from Bentley University, show how Millennials are shaping the modern workplace. 86 million millennials will be in the workplace by 2020. So what are they looking for, and how can you keep them…
Does Your Office Technology Put People First?
Trends and technologies come and go, but people are a constant in all aspects of your business. Whether those people are customers or employees, if you’re not putting them first, chances are good your efforts will fail. So how…
How to Improve Your Company Culture Through Office Design
Your company culture has a huge effect on your bottom line. Studies show that happy employees are more productive, stay longer at their jobs, and help the companies they work for outperform the competition. There are many…
Adding That Wow Factor to Your Front Desk Experience: An Interview with TripAdvisor’s Jessica Moore
In this series, The iPad Receptionist users share their experiences. Jessica Moore, from TripAdvisor travel planning and booking site, reflects on how The iPad Receptionist saves employees time and impresses office visitors.
Why did you first consider using The iPad…
Featured Business: Precise ParkLink
Our customers include some of the most innovative leaders in their respective industries. That is certainly true of Precise ParkLink, which has been a leader in the Canadian parking industry for two decades. If you’ve ever used a Pay…
7 Pitfalls to Avoid When Redesigning Your Office Space
The need to boost employee engagement is spurring talk about the importance of office design. From the unwitting invention of the cubicle to the many variations on an open plan, the workplace environment remains endlessly fascinating. As the nature of…
5 Reasons You Need an iPad Receptionist Even If You Have a Real, Live Receptionist
We sometimes hear comments like, “We already have a receptionist. Why do we need an iPad Receptionist?” That’s a great question.
The answer is that despite the name “The iPad Receptionist,” we aren’t actually suggesting that this software can replace…
Feature Update: Portrait and Landscape Views Now Available
We’ve had numerous customers ask, “Why can’t I use The iPad Receptionist in portrait view?” Until now, we’ve had to say that the app was only available in landscape. Well, those days are gone! Now you can use The iPad…
10 Secrets of Great Workspace Design
Remote workers, startup culture, and mobile technology are revolutionizing the spaces where we meet, collaborate, and work. Open plans aren’t one-size-fits-all, and an increasingly nomadic workforce renders permanently allocated spaces impractical. Here are 10 tips to help you achieve maximum …
7 Tips for Moving Your Business to the Cloud
You know the benefits of doing business in the cloud. But are you ready to make a conscious, company-wide move? Before you do, it pays to carefully consider questions of cost, security, availability, and maintenance. Here are seven tips…
5 Things Your Technology Says About Your Company
We all know the importance of nonverbal communication. In business, the nonverbal signals you send can make or break your brand. Your choice of technology falls into that nonverbal category. It reflects your company’s values and personality, so it’s…
Feature Update: Referral Program, Branding, and Slack Integration!
We’ve been hard at work making your iPad Receptionist experience the best it can be! Here are three new things we wanted you to know about.
New Customer Referral Program
So many customers have referred someone to The iPad Receptionist…
Got Answers to These 10 Visitor Management Questions?
Do you collect data about who visits your office? If not, you could be missing out on information that could help you understand what happens in your company on a daily basis. Here are 10 important questions you should try…
21 Coworking Blogs You Should Read
At the dawn of 2016, coworking communities personify the flexibility and creativity necessary to succeed in today’s professional climate. Staying connected in a distributed workforce also requires a lot of listening. We know you’re busy, so we’ve taken the…
3 Receptionist Software Tools You Need
Your front desk staff works hard. They’re your company’s front line for customer-facing communication in person, online, and over the phone — sometimes all at once. Here are three software tools that will help them work more efficiently in 2016.…
New Features: Contact Notification and Visitor Detail Page
Everything surrounding contact notification and the visitor detail page has gotten a significant upgrade. Check out these beautiful new visitor detail pages! Note the integrated chat client in every version of the Visitor Detail page. Now you can chat with…
7 Best Practices When Using a Visitor Sign-In Sheet
Your office reception area is the first impression of your company that you give your visitors. This includes the way you demonstrate to your guests how you’re managing the time they’re in your workplace. And walking up to a paper…
7 Tips to Make Your Office Holiday Party Awesome
Everyone’s been there. The awkward holiday gift exchange where you get the box of balled-up newspaper or peanut shells. Your supervisor throws a feather boa around your neck and forces you to sing “Santa Baby.” Someone’s caught kissing behind the…
5 Major Office Security Fails That Could Have Been Prevented
We recently conducted a survey of receptionists and office managers. Almost 50% of respondents said their offices have no form of visitor sign-in required for entry to their buildings. A visitor sign-in system may not stop a criminal mastermind, but…