Staples tries webcam-driven help kiosks to combat labor shortage
June 20, 2007
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: Experticity is working to mitigate the effects of the current labor shortage in Alberta, Canada, by offering in-store online help through webcams. The Live Video Agent system is in 10 Calgary-area Staples stores.
Customer service reps are accessible through kiosks outfitted with webcams and microphones. Canadian news station CBC reports that Staples has seen more efficient customer service through the kiosks, and customers are receiving products such as business cards in half the time.
"If you can load-balance people where you need them and when you need them, you'd improve your customer service and increase your sales," said D.L. Baron, founder of Experticity, in the video.
To watch the CBC news report on YouTube, clickhere.