As we know there is a growing trend away from business cards, and maybe for good reason. Before the pandemic, an estimated 27 million business cards were printed worldwide every day. However, according to Adobe data, 88% of business cards distributed are thrown away within his first week.
Instead, business people are turning to technology. Today, instead of asking the person you meet to manually enter their information by holding a physical card, you might offer her a QR code that instantly links to your contact details. It’s also possible that you’ve stumbled upon a secluded location, such as chips embedded in people’s jewelry or acrylic nails, or potential collaborators or customers have bodily implants that transmit information.
Wall Street Journal reporter Emily Glazer joined “Marketplace” host Kai Risdal to discuss the future of business cards. Below is an edited transcript of their conversation.
Kai Risdal: How did you come across this story?
Emily Glaser: This was one of those stories I couldn’t avoid. I kept trying to hand out my business card to people at events. And then there were all kinds of responses, like, “Here, look at this app on my phone that can scan” or “Who’s using business cards anymore?” Or “I’ll write my number on your business card” — something like that. And it literally got to the point where I felt the need to write a story because it was so shocking.
Risdal: Now let’s take a look at some of these. One of them is the QR code. Talk to me about QR codes and how it worked—not how QR codes work, but how the whole business card exchange theory goes.
Glazer: absolutely. So I was at a dinner gathering in New York. At the end of the event, participants exchanged contact information. Then I met Rob Krugman, Chief Digital Officer at Broadridge Financial Solutions. And gave people his QR code on LinkedIn. Basically, when you tap LinkedIn, you’ll see a personalized QR code. People like me can scan it, automatically enter the information into their phone, and connect with them on LinkedIn. Rob also said he uses this QR code in PowerPoint when giving speeches. they were able to scan it.
Risdal: all right. Move up the technology ladder to chips and contact readers that can read elements such as rings. Please tell me the story.
Glazer: Yes, QR codes have been around for a while, but implanting chips in your body is something new. [Harring] We spoke with Derek Peterson, who literally had a chip implanted between his left thumb and index finger. That chip contains his contact information, so when he meets someone new, people can use their mobile phones to download details from him.
Risdal: Now, I must say that your story has many examples where the phone was not reading well enough, had to be repositioned, and tried multiple times. So it doesn’t just boop. You are now ready to go. right?
Glazer: yes. Again, this was what I observed. I was at a business roundtable in Washington DC. Private Robert Smith, a billionaire in his equity, had something like a plastic hotel room key card with a large QR code for exchanging contact information with attendees. rice field. And then I watched them wrestle for a minute or so. He was making sure his thumb wasn’t covering the cord. Attendees placed their phones at different angles. And finally, he literally switched to another card with a darker QR code. And voila. And when I spoke to him later, he said in a statement that he would pass this on, even if it took a little longer and it wasn’t perfect because it was still better than entering the information manually .Traditional paper business cards.
Risdal: Like me, you probably have a pile of old business cards in one of your desk drawers, tied up with a rubber band or something.
Glazer: You don’t know, Kai, you don’t know
Risdal: I’m sure. Are they still useful? Enter the 21st century? what are you going to do
Glazer: Well, have I joined the 21st century? This is a much bigger question than I intended to answer today. So funny, Kai, after this article came out, our office had a new desk and I literally brought every business card I had in a box from moving from Los Angeles to New York. The rubber band literally broke, and I’ve shoved it in the bottom of my cabinet drawer ever since. But I love the process of meeting someone and exchanging cards, it spurs conversation.
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