I remember the signs on bus stands that read – “call this number to report a problem”. But, of course, I and I imagine many others, never called the number, even if something was badly wrong. A similar approach has been used to report other issues as we go about our daily lives, including reporting issues in toilets. But, unless determined, many of us wouldn’t bother. Instead, we’d walk away from the establishment thinking – “that wasn’t very nice”.
In an airport not long ago, I saw a toilet sign informing patrons that they could report issues using WhatsApp. Instead of asking people to phone a number or find someone, they could use their mobile phones and WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp, 1 billion people use its service daily. So there’s a strong likelihood that someone travelling will have a mobile phone and already installed WhatsApp.
Allowing a customer to report a problem without inconveniencing them (by having to go and find someone to talk to) and with as little friction as possible increases the chance that they’ll report the problem and the issue with the facility can be rectified. The establishment can maintain its reputation and will not have to send staff to check the facilities as often. They are saving the business money in staff costs or allowing the company to redistribute staff to other activities.
It is an excellent example of mixing online/technology to meet customer needs in a physical space. It also shows how something that might have traditionally been considered non-digital can use technology to its advantage.