The Internet has come a long way in a short period of time, and just how far it can take us as the future unfolds is anyone’s guess. However, as nifty as it may be to update friends every fifteen minutes on Facebook, go shopping without ever getting up from your chair, or watch movies from your iPhone, the truth is, the Information Super Highway doesn’t yet go everywhere. At least not for the coin and card laundry owner.
The NEWS has written before about the many benefits technology has brought to our industry. For example, we have long been advocates for the use of Card Systems in Laundries because of the flexibility they afford, and their ability to manage information and assist in promoting your business.
However, the Internet, for all its wonders, can still be a dangerous place for small business owners, and specifically for those of us in the card and coin laundry business, it still too often comes up short. We will take a look at both of these issues as we discuss the internet and our industry over the next several pages.
The Web and Laundries
One of the most glaring examples of where the World Wide Web still comes up short for laundry owners is in information gathering. Certain items of information readily available in print form are a downright pain to find and access digitally. Things like parts lists and service manuals for example.
Of course, we understand why a manufacturer wants to know who is asking for a service manual for their equipment, but often times, these manufacturers place too many road blocks in the way of what ought to be a simple task.
Instead, it often takes a lot of searching around to find the information you need, and then you will often be asked to “register” and divulge personal information before you can download a service manual or parts list.
And in the case of manufacturers who make both household and commercial machines, sometimes even finding the area of their web site dedicated to coin and card laundry machinery is difficult.
Laundry owners, like everyone else, don’t always appreciate having to share their personal data with an anonymous web server. And we don’t necessarily wish to be added to an E-mail “blast” list. Our spam folders fill up quickly enough as it is.
Of course we recognize that the manufacturers and distributors in our industry are trying to sell their equipment and services, as well they should be. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. But at the same time, no one wants to feel like a sales “target” every time they need a little information. There is a balance that ought to exist, and as a whole, our industry has not yet achieved it.
The truth is, for some things, there is still no substitute for the face to face, one on one relationship the smart laundry owner has with his or her distributor. While the Internet is still too often a one size fits all, check box experience, a solid relationship with knowledgeable professionals remains essential.
There are also times when good old-fashioned printed material still has advantages. For example (if we may toot our own horn for a minute) we can not count the number of times readers of the NEWS have told us that they save old issues for a particular article, to reference later. These old issues and articles are often saved in their laundry’s back rooms, which are often not the best places for electronic media.
This is also why service and parts manuals will remain useful in that good old fashioned printed format. In a coin or card laundry’s back room, they may get dirty, smudged and torn, but they survive. They are stored, abused, referenced and stored again in places you wouldn’t want to leave your laptop or iPad.
It would be great if there was a sort of Wikapedia for the coin and card laundry industry, a place where you could gather up service manuals, sales literature, and sound advice for all things coin and card laundry. But as of now, there remains a great deal of room for improvement when it comes to untangling the World Wide Web for the card and coin laundry owner.
That’s not to say there aren’t some very good websites within our industry. Some of the manufacturers have done a very good job. And we are sure that with the passage of time, what the internet will have to offer for our industry will get even better.
The Web and You
As both a private individual and a small business owner, you no doubt use computers and the internet every day both for your business and for yourself.
We just looked at some of the shortcomings of the World Wide Web as it pertains specifically to coin and card laundries. But there is just as much to know about the most effective and safe ways of using the information superhighway for your other day to day chores.
It is probably a good idea to periodically take a look at both the benefits and pitfalls of the web, and to review some tried and true tips for staying safe and staying productive.
Something every laundry owner who has a computer in their location will want to be sure of is controlling who can and can’t use said computer. Make sure your attendants and others who might have access to a computer in your laundry understand clearly what they can and can not do, and what the consequences are if they misuse that particular piece of company property.
Always, always, always password protect your computers, at home and at your place of business. Be certain that you choose your password based on something you can remember, but that others will not be able to guess. This may require a little more thought than it seems at first. But things based on your social security number, your birthday, or your dog’s name are not a good idea.
It is also a good idea when you set up your computer, to set up both an Administrator account and a secondary user account. You will still also be the user of the secondary account, but here’s the difference: When you set up this secondary user account, do not allow this user account administrative privileges. Then, log in under this account for most of your normal internet activity like shopping, news gathering, etc. This way, if your computer picks up a worm or virus, in most cases it can do far less damage, because the account the virus has attacked doesn’t have full privileges.
Many computer experts also recommend against using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer to access the internet. Mozilla Firefox, Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari all have better security. Simply put, IE is the number one entry point for most computer viruses.
Statistically, there are more Windows computers out there than anything else, and on Windows systems, Internet Explorer is the default web browser. Fortunately, it’s very easy to change that. Simply download Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and go the settings and tell it that you want it to be the default browser.
Something else you must not forget: Avoid clicking on pop up windows that show up stating something like, “YOUR COMPUTER MAY BE INFECTED” and other items that show up with ominous warnings. And while you may already know the foolhardiness of clicking on these, make sure everyone else who may use your computer knows that too – your spouse, your kids, and your employees if they have access to company computers.
Be careful of where you go on the Internet. Most of us are smart enough to avoid bad neighborhoods in the real world and the Internet is really no different. While it is certainly not our place to lecture grown men and women with regard to adult content websites, they are also some of the worst offenders with regards to viruses and fraud schemes. That is just a fact of life.
Finally, make sure you purchase and install some type of anti-virus software, and here it pays to do a little research first. The big players in that market, Symantec and Norton, make effective anti virus programs, but are notorious for slowing down computers. There are some better options, like ESET’s NOD 32, that perform better. Do a little research, and you’ll make a better decision. Happy surfing!
