With the advent of smart
phones and Internet-based instant messaging, it’s no wonder the average person
assumes that pagers are an extinct relic of the past, like roller skating or LP
records.
Surprisingly, good
old-fashioned pagers still have their use in a contemporary setting. While the
paging industry has dropped considerably revenue-wise in the United States,
there are still several key markets that seem ideally suited to paging systems.
Take the restaurant
business as an example: Many restaurant owners have discovered that the best
way to manage customers and ensure that orders are delivered to waiting tables
smoothly is through a paging system. Some restaurants offer customers coasters
that light up or vibrate to alert them to waiting orders or vacant tables. This
unique system ensures that the restaurant’s ambience remains pleasant.
The healthcare industry
is another crucial market that benefits from a well-organized paging
system. Hospitals are often vast, complex organizations that have
little to no cellular coverage. In addition, cell phones are known to interfere
with sensitive hospital equipment. To alert patients to a doctor’s appointment,
pagers that vibrate or light up without causing much disturbance are the
efficient way to communicate with patients. Furthermore, a separate paging
system for nurses and doctors can be used to discreetly inform them of certain
hospital duties.
As a third example,
public places where cell phone usage and intercom systems are frowned upon can
also benefit from an efficient, personalized paging
system. Large churches often have daycare centers where parents can
leave their children in order to attend services. Cell phones are expected to
be turned off inside the main sanctuary. Parents can be handed customized
pagers that may vibrate or flash information discreetly if a child is in urgent
need of a parent’s attention.
The three scenarios I
just mentioned constitute just some of the myriad ways a well-organized paging
system can ensure that certain organizations are well-managed and
stress-reduced. Paging systems are cheaper than many competing technologies;
are far more reliable as communication tools in environments where cellular
coverage is not possible; and they have the added advantage of being far less
intrusive than other communication systems. Far from being a dusty, anachronistic
relic, it can be utilized as a vital tool in our society.