Amazon

I just last night bought some books from Amazon... and as I selected my first a little countdown appeared to tell me that if I completed my purchase within the next 55 minutes (and 17 seconds ... and reducing the whole time...!) I could have my books by one o clock today.

How clever is that ... an automatic sales close ... I found myself cursing if I clicked the wrong button event though I had almost an hour to go!

More clever for me though is the standard this sets. I mean, I like the time countdown as a tool to help a customer buy now, and to upsell to the express delivery, but what I really like is the quality of this approach. I buy a book from my office at 4pm, and can have it by lunchtime the following day. Brilliant.

Regardless of what you make or sell, or what service you deliver, attentions to customers, delivered by market leaders, really should have anyone seriously contemplating how they can adapt an idea like this, or at least the customer-centric approach it offers, for their own business, department or section.

I dont know what the answer is, but if you have an idea of how this could apply to the service industry - particularly training, I would love to read your comments or your email.

Of course ... the only downside would be if the delivery doesnt happen in the next four hours and five minutes ... and counting down!