The Importance of Good Customer Service

by with No Comment Blog PostsCustomer Service

The Importance of Good Customer Service

By Ejaz Shah  —  2nd December 2020

Fresh out of secondary school I successfully applied for a part-time job to support myself whilst I went through college. As I walked into my first training session, the first thing I noticed was the large whiteboard across the room, with a phrase written across it in big red capital letters:

‘THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT’

This was the topic of discussion and although I can’t remember the name of the trainer, I have never forgotten his words.

Even when a customer is wrong, he is right. For he is in his right to tell you he feels wronged.

What is Good Customer Service?

Good customer service is not simply ensuring a customer’s query is answered, it is much more than that. It is ensuring that a customer feels valued. So how do you make your customers feel valued and ensure their loyalty? I share my top three points that I have picked over the years:

  • Smile

Believe it or not you can smile through the phone. Try it! A pleasant attitude is key to making a customer feel welcomed, part of the family and valued. It is a core necessity. This might seem like I am stating the bare basics, however, when you have taken your 25th call of the evening and Mr Smith on the other side of the call is not happy with the colour of the seats in the Taxi that came to pick him up earlier in the day (this is a plausible situation, Mr Smith might exist…somewhere…) it is very easy to fall into a robotic monotone and forget the pleasant attitude. 

‘I’m sorry Mr Smith that you didn’t like the light grey colour seats and would have preferred dark grey’…

I mean I get it; it is nothing to get excited about, but it is vital not to forget the aim and that is to make our customer feel valued (Mr Smith pays a lot for our taxis).

To ensure we do not fall into this robotic monotone, remember to smile each time you take on a new call. Just this simple act will ensure that you answer in a pleasant and uplifting tone, regardless of how many Mr Smiths you have spoken to already in your shift.

  •  Educate

Knowledge is key. I am sure I have stated this before somewhere in my blogs. Knowledge about your role, your product, your system is key to ensuring you carry out your job efficiently. When you are knowledgeable, you are in a position to educate your caller on what to expect, what the procedures are, how products work and what is most beneficial for them.

Do not underestimate your customer.

Customers will instantly be able to tell if you are lying to them, brushing them off or simply inept at doing your role. However, on the flip side, if you woo them with your knowledge (steady on, let’s not get too carried away), they will trust you, they will be confident in your abilities and thus be more understanding if things were to get delayed/go wrong. Educate your staff, yourself, gain knowledge and educate your customers, it’s the best way to build great rapport.

  •  Listen

Honestly my top three tips would be 1) Listen 2) Listen, 3) Listen and then the others would follow. I CANNOT stress the IMPORTANCE of LISTENING TO YOUR CUSTOMER.

Listen to their tone (what does it sound like?)

Listen to their silences (why are they silent? Are they making a point? Are they wanting an answer?)

Listen to their words – it’s obvious, but carefully and fully listen to what your customer is saying before you answer.

In the role of an operator, it is important to ensure we have the correct information, so great listening skills are so vital, but also make sure to follow that up by repeating and checking information to ensure you have understood the caller correctly. 

A Disgruntled Customer

This always comes up when I discuss customer service. ‘What if I get an unhappy customer? What if I get an abusive customer?’ Now firstly, I believe strongly that abuse should not be tolerated in any setting. In these instances, refer to your procedures and follow through, you still must carry out your role, however, follow the procedure in your business. However, as challenging as these customers can be and the ones that are disgruntled, they could well be handled by utilising the above points I made. 

During one of my training sessions with my last employer, I remember a call came through from one of the operators on the floor saying he had an abusive caller on the phone, who had been warned not to be abusive(which was the business procedure) however, was unwilling to cooperate now. I requested the call be transferred to me, whilst the call handler listened in on the call.

From the offset, I could barely get a word in, the customer was furious and was using abusive language to vent his anger and make his point.  

I listened.

Once he had finished, I let him know that I had listened, ‘I can hear your frustration and anger’.

 I apologised, ‘I am sorry that you feel this way/this has happened’.

I expressed my willingness to assist him, ‘I would like to rectify this for you’.

I referred to our policy/procedures, ‘however, I must advise you that we do not tolerate any abusive language, so can I please ask that you refrain from using that kind of language’.

I then ‘educated’ him on what I could do, step by step, to assist him and resolve this issue.

Honestly, the customer was taken aback, my tone was extremely pleasant and calm, I reassured him that I heard his frustration and anger and wanted to help him, alongside making it clear to him that any abuse would not be tolerated by me.

Now I am not saying this will work on any and every call, however, it is important to always stay in control of the phone call. Remember you are the professional, stay professional and handle the situation, keep yourself composed and do not let anyone rattle you.

New Era OS and Customer Services

At New Era we treat YOUR customers as OUR customers, we go the extra mile on every single call. Each customer is given the same amount of importance regardless of what the nature of the call is. Our training is tailored around each client and each agent is quality checked on a regular basis.

For our Taxi clients, we follow a very strict script where the agents must follow the 5 input & 7 output method. This is a tried and tested method and it ensures no mistakes are made. 

With no setup fee on your first agent, join us today and let us help you take your company to the next level!!

At New Era we treat YOUR customers as OUR customers, we go the extra mile on every single call. Each customer is given the same amount of importance regardless of what the nature of the call is. Our training is tailored around each client and each agent is quality checked on a regular basis.

For our Taxi clients, we follow a very strict script where the agents must follow the 5 input & 7 output method. This is a tried and tested method and it ensures no mistakes are made. 

With no setup fee on your first agent, join us today and let us help you take your company to the next level!!

The Importance of Good Customer Service

by with No Comment Blog PostsCustomer Service

The Importance of Good Customer Service

By Ejaz Shah  —  2nd December 2020

Fresh out of secondary school I successfully applied for a part-time job to support myself whilst I went through college. As I walked into my first training session, the first thing I noticed was the large whiteboard across the room, with a phrase written across it in big red capital letters:

‘THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT’

This was the topic of discussion and although I can’t remember the name of the trainer, I have never forgotten his words.

Even when a customer is wrong, he is right. For he is in his right to tell you he feels wronged.

What is Good Customer Service?

Good customer service is not simply ensuring a customer’s query is answered, it is much more than that. It is ensuring that a customer feels valued. So how do you make your customers feel valued and ensure their loyalty? I share my top three points that I have picked over the years:

  • Smile

Believe it or not you can smile through the phone. Try it! A pleasant attitude is key to making a customer feel welcomed, part of the family and valued. It is a core necessity. This might seem like I am stating the bare basics, however, when you have taken your 25th call of the evening and Mr Smith on the other side of the call is not happy with the colour of the seats in the Taxi that came to pick him up earlier in the day (this is a plausible situation, Mr Smith might exist…somewhere…) it is very easy to fall into a robotic monotone and forget the pleasant attitude. 

‘I’m sorry Mr Smith that you didn’t like the light grey colour seats and would have preferred dark grey’…

I mean I get it; it is nothing to get excited about, but it is vital not to forget the aim and that is to make our customer feel valued (Mr Smith pays a lot for our taxis).

To ensure we do not fall into this robotic monotone, remember to smile each time you take on a new call. Just this simple act will ensure that you answer in a pleasant and uplifting tone, regardless of how many Mr Smiths you have spoken to already in your shift.

  •  Educate

Knowledge is key. I am sure I have stated this before somewhere in my blogs. Knowledge about your role, your product, your system is key to ensuring you carry out your job efficiently. When you are knowledgeable, you are in a position to educate your caller on what to expect, what the procedures are, how products work and what is most beneficial for them.

Do not underestimate your customer.

Customers will instantly be able to tell if you are lying to them, brushing them off or simply inept at doing your role. However, on the flip side, if you woo them with your knowledge (steady on, let’s not get too carried away), they will trust you, they will be confident in your abilities and thus be more understanding if things were to get delayed/go wrong. Educate your staff, yourself, gain knowledge and educate your customers, it’s the best way to build great rapport.

  •  Listen

Honestly my top three tips would be 1) Listen 2) Listen, 3) Listen and then the others would follow. I CANNOT stress the IMPORTANCE of LISTENING TO YOUR CUSTOMER.

Listen to their tone (what does it sound like?)

Listen to their silences (why are they silent? Are they making a point? Are they wanting an answer?)

Listen to their words – it’s obvious, but carefully and fully listen to what your customer is saying before you answer.

In the role of an operator, it is important to ensure we have the correct information, so great listening skills are so vital, but also make sure to follow that up by repeating and checking information to ensure you have understood the caller correctly. 

A Disgruntled Customer

This always comes up when I discuss customer service. ‘What if I get an unhappy customer? What if I get an abusive customer?’ Now firstly, I believe strongly that abuse should not be tolerated in any setting. In these instances, refer to your procedures and follow through, you still must carry out your role, however, follow the procedure in your business. However, as challenging as these customers can be and the ones that are disgruntled, they could well be handled by utilising the above points I made. 

During one of my training sessions with my last employer, I remember a call came through from one of the operators on the floor saying he had an abusive caller on the phone, who had been warned not to be abusive(which was the business procedure) however, was unwilling to cooperate now. I requested the call be transferred to me, whilst the call handler listened in on the call.

From the offset, I could barely get a word in, the customer was furious and was using abusive language to vent his anger and make his point.  

I listened.

Once he had finished, I let him know that I had listened, ‘I can hear your frustration and anger’.

 I apologised, ‘I am sorry that you feel this way/this has happened’.

I expressed my willingness to assist him, ‘I would like to rectify this for you’.

I referred to our policy/procedures, ‘however, I must advise you that we do not tolerate any abusive language, so can I please ask that you refrain from using that kind of language’.

I then ‘educated’ him on what I could do, step by step, to assist him and resolve this issue.

Honestly, the customer was taken aback, my tone was extremely pleasant and calm, I reassured him that I heard his frustration and anger and wanted to help him, alongside making it clear to him that any abuse would not be tolerated by me.

Now I am not saying this will work on any and every call, however, it is important to always stay in control of the phone call. Remember you are the professional, stay professional and handle the situation, keep yourself composed and do not let anyone rattle you.

New Era OS and Customer Services

At New Era we treat YOUR customers as OUR customers, we go the extra mile on every single call. Each customer is given the same amount of importance regardless of what the nature of the call is. Our training is tailored around each client and each agent is quality checked on a regular basis.

For our Taxi clients, we follow a very strict script where the agents must follow the 5 input & 7 output method. This is a tried and tested method and it ensures no mistakes are made. 

With no setup fee on your first agent, join us today and let us help you take your company to the next level!!

At New Era we treat YOUR customers as OUR customers, we go the extra mile on every single call. Each customer is given the same amount of importance regardless of what the nature of the call is. Our training is tailored around each client and each agent is quality checked on a regular basis.

For our Taxi clients, we follow a very strict script where the agents must follow the 5 input & 7 output method. This is a tried and tested method and it ensures no mistakes are made. 

With no setup fee on your first agent, join us today and let us help you take your company to the next level!!

Taxi, Technology & Outsourcing

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Taxi, Technology & Outsourcing

By Ejaz Shah  —  25th November 2020

Reminiscing about the old taxi offices

“One second King, Sierra pick up from 254 VPR let me know the destination, King head towards CT”

I remember sitting in the taxi booking office, yellow walls and a cloud of cigarette smoke hovering above the desk, phone receiver resting on the shoulder as the main dispatcher spoke to the drivers on the old two-way radio system. Two operators were busy on the phones scribbling the jobs down on a sheet of paper, all 3 of them had a cigarette in their mouth and they were all stressed. I didn’t understand what the dispatcher meant when he spoke to the drivers in short code but he was managing a fleet of over 50 cars and I marvelled at how even though they were all stressed out, they still managed to have a laugh.

King and Sierra were both drivers and Sierra was told to head to 254 Victoria Park Road to pick up and King being directed toward the Clock Tower, I know all the shortcodes now but back then, putting in an 8/10-hour shift was like hard labour, you were mentally and physically drained.

Years later,  I found myself working as a taxi driver and studying in Stafford.  It was the best job you could do while studying as you could pick the hours you did working for the largest company there. Here the driver code names were changed into numbers to make it easier and I remember this one time a driver came through on the radio..

Driver: “Car 84 hat in bush”

Dispatcher: “Car 84 come again”

Driver: “Car 84 hat in bush”

Dispatcher: “Car 84 I don’t understand”

Driver: “Car 84, Hat in bush, head in hat”

I nearly choked on my tea as the office burst into roars of laughter

Dispatcher: “Car 84 are you ok bud”

Driver; “Car 84 on my way back to the office need a break, I am ok”

Dispatcher; “Roger bud”

Now a driver had been assaulted but the way he reported it back had us all in tears. Car 84 could look after himself but if you picture the incident, he had to drag himself back to the car and report it, there was no mobile phones back then.

Taxi and Technology

This has all changed now, you might find the odd small company still using the old two-way radio system but nearly everyone has moved to computerised dispatching systems. The taxi industry has come a long way from where it used to be and there was a massive surge of drivers joining the trade once outsourcing became the new way of business for many leading industries who chose to move their business overseas. Back then you would struggle to find a company with over 500 cars, which is now the norm, the standard as you will find a lot of small companies are now merged into one large company.

Back around 1995 I was introduced to a family friend Ali, a computer geek, who would go around taxi offices and sell them an Excel spreadsheet that he had made. The idea was to get rid of all the paperwork and make sure everything was categorically organised and while he was rejected by quite a few companies, he did manage to sell quite a few too.

This wasn’t an original idea of Ali’s, he had seen a proper dispatch system doing it’s rounds and had mimicked it, not as advanced as the proper dispatch system but the concept was the same and you had to marvel at Ali’s hustle.

That then was the tip of the iceberg, for the taxi companies that refused Ali back then are now using a dispatch system.

Bookings are now taken on a computer, stored on a computer, dispatched to the driver via the computer to the driver’s mobile and the driver’s job history is stored on the computer. This automation of the taxi booking office allows taxi companies to now take more bookings whereas, in the past, they would refuse them when the sheet was full.

I would be lying if I said the assaults on taxi drivers had now calmed down with the introduction of technology – it hasn’t, however, offices are now able to track the location of their drivers and all drivers have an emergency button on the screen, once pressed it alerts the office and every single driver on shift so help does get their quicker than it used to!

Life for the back office has become a lot easier with an easily accessible record of all the jobs done. Accounts at the end of the month or even week are a lot easier to arrange, whereas before you would have to go through the whole paperwork just to find who did what job on a certain day.

Taxi, Technology and Outsourcing

Even though taxi and technology have been working hand in hand since the 90’s, outsourcing did not come into the picture until after 2010. Allthough outsourcing has been in the market since around the 80’s the taxi trade was very late to jump onto the bandwagon.

Even while I type this blog there are quite a few taxi companies that still treat outsourcing as an alien concept and something they refuse to indulge in, it reminds me of the times I would go around with Ali trying to sell his Excel Spreadsheet to various offices.

Similar to how technology helped the taxi industry move onto the next stage of transportation, outsourcing is also just that, a helping hand.

Majority of the large taxi firms are outsourcing either just the overflow of calls or having outsourced staff handling every aspect of the booking. It is not only more convenient for taxi companies to outsource, it is also a big money saver. If you have recently seen a local taxi company rapidly growing and advertising heavily, chances are they are outsourcing!

All three do work hand in hand though, without the combination of taxi and technology, outsourcing would not be possible, because of technology it is now possible to have a remote worker on the other side of the world answering calls and booking in jobs as well as dispatching!!!

So, what can be outsourced?

Putting it simply, every repetitive task can be outsourced, below I will list a few for a basic taxi office;

  • Operator/Dispatcher
    • From answering the call and taking a simple booking to recovering a job, modifying it and re-dispatching it back to the same driver.
    • Taking account bookings
  • Online bookings
    • Bookings from your website to bookings done on social media
  • Customer Service
    • Customer complaints through emails
    • Customer complaints through social media channels
    • Customer complaints over the phone
  • Bookkeeping
    • Driver accounts including driver base rents and refunds, vehicle MOT’s and driver licensing
    • Weekly staff wages
    • Promotions, advertising and software fee’s
    • Account job’s

By outsourcing the above listed jobs, a taxi company could save around 70% on wages, this money can then be put back into and invested in the company and its future growth.

Me and New Era OS

Having gone through manual taxi dispatching to computerised dispatching systems with call centre experience from the UK not to mention first-hand taxi driving experience I created New Era OS to help taxi companies grow to their full potential and reach heights which they once thought impossible. At New Era OS we can easily handle all the above tasks in a professional manner that the customer would never guess they were speaking to someone some 4000 miles away.

If you have had a bad experience with an oversea call centre or outsourcing is something you have never tried before, get in touch today and take advantage of the no setup fee with your first agent. We are so confident in what we do we do not ask for anything upfront, you really do not have anything to lose!! 

Keep Your Head Up

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Keep your head up

By Ejaz Shah  —  11th November 2020

“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher

You got to keep your head up, it’s a sad affair across the world, we are really going through some testing times at the moment and certainly in some respects the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be switched off. I wanted to take some time out of business talk and write something that can – maybe – help us a little as we try and navigate through these troubling times.

As I write this, ‘back home’ in England, a national lockdown has been announced. As you know my family and friends all reside there and it’s a worrying time for them. England is just the latest country to go into another full-blown lockdown, other European countries have already placed their nations in lockdown again.

Surprisingly, and thankfully Pakistan it seems has not faired as badly as some thought it would, I appreciate people have differing views on why this is, I have been involved in many debates on this matter. But regardless of opinions, people here have suffered and are still struggling.

It is very easy and completely understandable during times like this to fall into a dark hole and lose all hope. I have struggled and I still worry. At times like this I turn to others that have been/are going through their own struggles. I try and take inspiration from them, try and understand how it is that they are managing/have managed to get through those tough times.

Below I have noted a few real-life stories I turn to for inspiration, if you have the time, do take the opportunity to find out more about them and be inspired:

Amar Latif

Amar

Latif

Amar is a British entrepreneur, television personality and professional traveller. Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18, due to an incurable eye condition, however, he did not let this hold him back. A keen traveller Amar has travelled the world and when he realised that there wasn’t enough support out there for independent blind travellers, he set up his own travel company.

Traveleyes, works with visually impaired and sighted travellers wanting to explore the world, allowing them to experience the world with all five senses. Amar has made many documentaries and taken part in numerous television shows. When I came across him in one of his documentaries I was in complete awe. The sheer determination and the manner in which he overcome such an adversary, left me completely bowled over. I strongly recommend reading up on him or watching one of his many documentaries/motivational speeches, it really does make you feel like you can go out and conquer the world.

Amar is a British entrepreneur, television personality and professional traveller. Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18, due to an incurable eye condition, however, he did not let this hold him back. A keen traveller Amar has travelled the world and when he realised that there wasn’t enough support out there for independent blind travellers, he set up his own travel company.

Traveleyes, works with visually impaired and sighted travellers wanting to explore the world, allowing them to experience the world with all five senses. Amar has made many documentaries and taken part in numerous television shows. When I came across him in one of his documentaries I was in complete awe. The sheer determination and the manner in which he overcome such an adversary, left me completely bowled over. I strongly recommend reading up on him or watching one of his many documentaries/motivational speeches, it really does make you feel like you can go out and conquer the world.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah

Winfrey

A household name, Oprah Winfrey is known around the globe. ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was an iconic programme of its time. Oprah is often described as one of the most influential persons in the world and was for a period of time, the only black billionaire in the world.

However, maybe it was my sheer ignorance, I did not realise the challenges she had come through in her early life, until very recently. Oprah was born into poverty, to a single mother. At the age of nine she was raped; she became pregnant at the age of 14 and lost her child in infancy. I cannot imagine the pain, the dark times, the despair she would have gone through, however, she did make it through all that. For me, her story was shocking but also gave me strength, strength with the knowledge that there is a way through the darkest of times that we face.

A household name, Oprah Winfrey is known around the globe. ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was an iconic programme of its time. Oprah is often described as one of the most influential persons in the world and was for a period of time, the only black billionaire in the world.

However, maybe it was my sheer ignorance, I did not realise the challenges she had come through in her early life, until very recently. Oprah was born into poverty, to a single mother. At the age of nine she was raped; she became pregnant at the age of 14 and lost her child in infancy. I cannot imagine the pain, the dark times, the despair she would have gone through, however, she did make it through all that. For me, her story was shocking but also gave me strength, strength with the knowledge that there is a way through the darkest of times that we face.

Stephen Hawking

A world-renowned British scientist, professor and author, Stephen Hawkings was also known for his appearance and his computer-generated voice. At the age of 21 whist studying at the University of Cambridge, Stephen was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease that causes the nerves that control the muscles to shut down.

At diagnoses, Stephen was given two and a half years to live, he outlived that diagnoses, going on to live until the age 76. Over the years Stephens condition deteriorated, he lost the ability of movement and speech. However, Stephen put all his focus and energy in his passion, completing 15 books in his lifetime on the workings of the Universe. There is a lot to read up on the internet about Stephen Hawkings, that will inspire you to get through the toughest of challenges and to remain focused, however, for me it is his own words that I find the most inspiring.

In one of his last statements, Hawking said, “I hope to inspire people around the world to look up at the stars and not down at their feet.”

At diagnoses, Stephen was given two and a half years to live, he outlived that diagnoses, going on to live until the age 76. Over the years Stephens condition deteriorated, he lost the ability of movement and speech. However, Stephen put all his focus and energy in his passion, completing 15 books in his lifetime on the workings of the Universe. There is a lot to read up on the internet about Stephen Hawkings, that will inspire you to get through the toughest of challenges and to remain focused, however, for me it is his own words that I find the most inspiring.

In one of his last statements, Hawking said, “I hope to inspire people around the world to look up at the stars and not down at their feet.”

A Few Last Words

As I mentioned above, I write this solely as a means of seeking inspiration from others that have got through tough times. I completely understand that we all face our own battles and it is okay to struggle and feel down. However, know that we are all in this together and together we can help each other get through our tough time, be it by inspiration, support or that chocolate cake we baked earlier.

Do what you need to do during these times to make yourselves and your loved one feel happy, secure and well. Remember this will end. There will be a time after this. Keep your head up!

If you need to reach out and talk to me, please feel free to do so. Feel free to share how you are feeling in the comments below, who inspires you and what you are doing to get through these difficult times. Together, we will get through this.

New Era CEO Ejaz Shah

What is Outsourcing?

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What is Outsourcing?

By Ejaz Shah  —  21st October 2020

What is Outsourcing?

In simple terms outsourcing is when a company hires a third party to perform certain tasks. We have seen examples of this in the banking trade, where several large companies have transferred their Customer Services departments overseas to an outsourcing company.  These tasks which would have been conducted inhouse, would then be performed by the third party.

A company can decide to outsource any part of their business. The most common are the repetitive tasks such as call taking or admin work, however, you can have outsourcing companies that provide full HR departments, web development and lone worker support.

New Era OS is one of these companies, we can undertake almost any task, please take a look around our website for more details.

Why do companies Outsource?

Majority of the time companies outsource to save money, however there are many other reasons too. Outsourcing a repetitive task enables a company to concentrate on more important issues whilst ensuring their core values and high standards are maintained. Space saving is another reason, you can have a team of 20 plus agents answering your phones, but your office does not need to be extended to house them as it is all outsourced. Finally, sometimes it is better to let a company who specialises in that certain field to deal with that certain task, that way you know you have professionals and experts in that field handling your work.

How does Outsourcing work?

If done correctly and with the right outsourcing company, outsourcing can work very smoothly. Whole departments could be based overseas, however, the efficient communication can make it seem like the department is still inhouse. To get it up and running is very simple:

How does Outsourcing work?

If done correctly and with the right outsourcing company, outsourcing can work very smoothly. Whole departments could be based overseas, however, the efficient communication can make it seem like the department is still inhouse. To get it up and running is very simple:

  1. Both companies liaise to discuss what sections of the business need to be outsourced and what the requirements and specifications are.
  2. The outsourcing firm, equipped with the specifications and requirements, will then train their staff up to the required standard.
  3. At the arranged takeover date, the outsourcing company will take over their delegated tasks, and continue to carry them out for the agreed period.
  4. Most firms bill monthly with some having contracted terms stipulating payment-up-front terms.

At New Era OS we are perfectionists, we have a strict policy of only taking on a new client on either a Monday or a Tuesday at the latest, for our onboarding department needs a week to collate all the requirements from the new client and relay the information to our training department. The training package for the operator is then tailored around these requirements, ensuring the operator and New Era as a whole, are delivering everything that the client requires of them.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one.

The benefits of outsourcing are endless. Cost-saving, timesaving, space-saving, are just a few of the key benefits of outsourcing. However, it is imperative to find the right outsourcing company, the best way to do this is to take the time to get to know the individuals behind the company. With the right company behind you, you can take your business from just surviving to expanding.

There isn’t one.

The benefits of outsourcing are endless. Cost-saving, timesaving, space-saving, are just a few of the key benefits of outsourcing. However, it is imperative to find the right outsourcing company, the best way to do this is to take the time to get to know the individuals behind the company. With the right company behind you, you can take your business from just surviving to expanding.

At New Era OS, I personally take time out to meet/discuss matters with any new company we are taking onboard. Building strong, longstanding, relationships is very important to me. If there are any further questions you have, or you just want to discuss Outsourcing further with me, get in touch and I will personally take the time out to go through matters with you.

New Era CEO Ejaz Shah

The Benefits of a Call Centre & Outsourcing

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The Benefits of a Call Centre & Outsourcing

By Ejaz Shah  —  13th October 2020

Call centre n. an office in which a large number of people work using phones, for example arranging insurance for people, or taking customers’ orders and answering questions

(Oxford English Dictionary)

A Brief History

Less than 50 miles from my hometown of Leicester is the origins of the first known call/contact centre in the UK. Back in the 1960s Birmingham Press and Mail had PABX (Private Automated Business Exchanges) installed in order to have rows of agents/advisors handling customer contacts. In the 1970s the call centre technology expanded, with telephone banking and sales as more industries started to conduct their customer service over the phone. It was in 1983, the term ‘call centre’ was first published and recognised by the Oxford English Dictionary and the 1990s saw the international expansion of call centres, with call centres becoming the ‘front line’ of businesses across the world. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that we saw the trend of outsourcing, with big businesses seeking to cut costs by transferring their call centres overseas. Call centres now are an integral and vital part of a business and an equally important source of jobs.

Outsourcing

The difference today is that it is no longer just big businesses that outsource their call centres. Due to the expansion of technology and the need to save costs in order to remain/become successful, more and more smaller businesses are outsourcing. In todays ‘Covid’ climate, this need to save costs is not to remain/become successful but to simply stay afloat, making outsourcing one of the most vital decisions a business can make in its quest for survival.

For someone that has spent many years working in and with call centres, I have seen first-hand the importance of call centres both to the businesses and the employees. Below I state some of the benefits I feel the call centre has to provide to businesses looking to outsource and some advice to employees looking to succeed working in one:

Working in a Call Centre

In the UK the call centre provides jobs for people from all walks of life. Students find it an ideal job to fit around their studies, parents find it helps with work/life balance and new graduates see it as an opportunity to grow and move forward in their careers. I have personal experience of a friend who left school at 17 and went straight into working at a call centre, over the years he worked his way up to a ‘Multiple Area Manager’. The opportunities the call centre provides to its employees are unlimited and I believe the success is purely down to the individual.

 

For me it is disappointing to see that Pakistan call centres are not viewed as job opportunities where an operator/advisor has the option of growth or progression. Yes, I have encountered individuals that have been in the field for a long time and have succeeded in building their careers, however, such opportunities are few and far between.

My advice to anyone wanting to work and succeed in a call centre is simple:

  • Be wary of clauses in contracts – a contract is an agreement which is beneficial for both parties, call centre owners tend to use jargon and put in clauses where they can restrict you from earning a living. Be careful of what you sign and make sure you are receiving all the benefits outlined by the government.
  • Master your trade – to succeed in your role, you need to master it. Pay attention with the training, ask questions where you don’t understand and persevere. Use all the resources that are available to you to upskill yourself.
  • Expand your wings – only once you have mastered the role you are being paid to do, take on extra duties. Ask to ‘shadow’ other departments or take notes at a meeting. The more you can learn about the business the more opportunity you have to offer new skills and progress in the business.

At New Era we have a very simple straight forward contract, it is a piece of document that shows the date you started working with us, your job description and our code of ethics/conduct. We do not use jargon or have hidden clauses. We are building a business where we want staff to want to come and work for and with us. We employ staff with the aim to have them with us for many years to come, so if the motivation is there to grow with the business, we will fully support it.

Using a Call Centre as a Client

Cost saving is the biggest benefit of outsourcing, followed closely by time saving (which in itself is cost saving, for time = money).

On average you can get someone answering your calls for less than half of what you would pay in the west. You save the time in not having to recruit or train agents and if you do end up building a team of outsourced agents, you only have to deal with the one person, rather than all of them individually.

If you run a 24-hour office, then monitoring staff at all times, especially those on the graveyard shift is both difficult and time (cost) consuming. By outsourcing, you have staff working for you that are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you require a large team of agents/operators then you need to consider the office space to cater for them. By outsourcing you eliminate that extra cost completely, if your team grows, your overheads will remain the same.

With the money saved, if you are able to reinvest it back into your business, it gives you the opportunity to further grow your business. I always advice my clients to use that money for advertising, the more you advertise, the more work you get and so on.

However, to successfully outsource and save money, you need to ensure you select the right outsourcing company.

New Era Outsourcing Specialists

At New Era, we don’t make false promises, our talking is done on the call centre floor, where our promises are met. Our charges per hour might not be the cheapest, but the training and continuous monitoring that goes on behind the scene is something we simply do not compromise on. We pride ourselves on being the only call centre with training methods similar to ones used in major UK call centres and taxi offices combined.

  • No setup fee for your first agent – we are confident in our abilities; we know we can assist in making your business grow. We don’t charge a setup fee for the first agent, because we will prove ourselves. When your business grows, you will increase the number of agents you need, it is only a matter of time. However, if it’s just the one agent you need, that is fine, you get that with no additional charges.
  • Staff monitoring – we have dedicated members of staff whose sole purpose is to monitor the work of our agents. We reward our agents on carrying out their roles at the highest of levels. Agents scoring 90%+ in quality scores are rewarded with bonuses.
  • Monthly reports – three months down the line we provide our clients with monthly reports including quality, punctuality and attendance scores for each agent. Feedback from the shift manager and the agent him/herself is also shared. We feel this gives our clients a clearer picture and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Outsourcing can be one of the most beneficial decisions a business makes, especially in these current ‘Covid’ times. You can help keep your business afloat, save money and see your business grow, alongside eliminating the stress of unwell staff and providing social distancing office space.

 If you are interested in working with New Era OS, as either an employee or a client, leave your details on our contact us page and someone will be in touch. 

Also do comment below with your experiences of working in call centres and outsourcing, I would love to hear from you.

New Era ~ A New Approach

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New Era

A New Approach

By Ejaz Shah  —   7th October 2020

For those of you that have read my previous blogs, I hope the one thing that you have picked up on, is my passion about my job. I am not simply passionate about making money or having my own business – I would be lying if I said these factors didn’t play a part, of course they do, however, I am passionate about everything to do with my job.

I write this blog knowing that some points might seem controversial, this is not my intention. It is important for me to be clear and open with everyone and that is exactly what I want to do here. I want to share with you my vision and the outlook for my business. The points I make here are purely based on my experiences and I am fully aware there are limitations to this, therefore these are not generalisations I make but purely statements on what I have experienced and what I hope to achieve in the future. 

The dream from day one was to start a business that was different to others. Different specifically in it’s approach.

Now see I have many years experience in this field, right from front end to back end duties. I have worked alongside many different characters from many different walks of life and from each and everyone I have taken something. Collectively these learnings are what I have implemented in my business.

When I first entered this industry in Pakistan it was a huge shock to my system and unfortunately not in a good way. I had been fortunate to have worked in businesses in the UK where I really relished going into work and giving my all, as did all those around me. I specifically recall fond memories from my time at a national company call centre in the UK, where majority of the staff had been employed for five plus years, they loved their jobs and were so dedicated to what they did. I know it sounds cheesy, but the company really had a family feel to it. Everyone was keen to play their part in the success of the business and were rewarded – rightly so – for their efforts.

New Era moto

My introduction to call centre life in Pakistan was somewhat different. Therefore, when the opportunity came, I knew I had the experience, the knowledge and the desire, to make a change, to build a business with a ‘feel good’ factor to it, similar to what I had experienced back in the UK. I envisioned a place where I could offer employees a place where they were valued, a place where they were appreciated and the opportunity to grow. At the same time, I wanted to be absolutely dedicated to my clients, working with them, for them and for their customers. That very idea is where the moto of New Era came about. New Era OS, working with you, for you, for your customer!

So how have I gone about this and what does New Era have to offer:

Employees

There is no single person that makes New Era. It is a collective effort by every single member of staff, irrelevant of your title or your salary and this includes me. I alone cannot make New Era a success, the success of New Era is in the hands of the entire team.

I recall one thing that I couldn’t get my head around when I first came to be working in Pakistan was how staff were treated depending on their ‘level’. Simply put if you were not one of the big bosses, the senior employees, the one with flashy job titles, you were not treated with respect. I fundamentally disagree with this notion.

I remember pulling in the cleaning team one day into my office and telling them that they were employees of this organisation, the same as everyone else and they had a designated – important – job role, no one had the ‘right’ to give them extra duties apart from their line manager. When I say the right I mean they were being used to run personal errands, heat food for staff ‘higher up’, wash their lunch dishes, they were treated as personal ‘butlers’, though the term butler comes with more respect then was ever bestowed upon them. Heartbreakingly, these individuals did not feel they could say no, so they did everything that was required of them by the business, doing their own jobs as well as running around doing personal chores for those that viewed themselves as more ‘important’.

This quite frankly ‘toxic’ mind frame filtered down the business and employee chain, with each member of staff looking down on those they considered to be more inferior to them. Now let me be clear, this wasn’t everyone, there were those that played no part in this. But this mentality was never challenged, it was deemed okay, I learnt this first-hand myself, as my intervention with the cleaning team did not go down well with the management team, apparently this is the way things are done here.

Well no, not in New Era. Right from the offset the approach we take is to ensure satisfaction and satisfaction goes hand in hand with success.

At New Era a waiting list is used to select candidates for interviews based on their capabilities. This is a new era of call centre work, so once part of the New Era family, employees have the chance to grow and advance in their career and be rewarded along the way. We got rid of the hourly pay that is common here in call centres and put our staff on fixed wages with paid holidays. Overtime is paid as overtime and wages are in the bank by the end of the month. We want our staff to want to come into work and feel valued. We know how important these benefits and bonuses are to our staff.

Clients

A thing I noticed very early on here in Pakistan was that the owners of a lot of the call centres here are overseas citizens with a business in the west and the setup here in Pakistan to purely support their venture in the west. This divided interest, or in some cases, lack of interest to the business in Pakistan, is reflected in the way businesses are ran.

With New Era there is no divided or lack of attention. I am 100% dedicated to New Era, my time is completely dedicated to our clients without having to worry about my own business in the UK.

Again, with clients too, we use a waiting list, and to those currently on the waiting list,we ask for patience. We are perfectionists, we have a strict policy of only taking on a new client on either a Monday or a Tuesday at the latest, for our onboarding department needs a week to collate all the requirements from the new client and relay the information to our training department. The training package for the operator is then tailored around these requirements, ensuring the operator and New Era as a whole, are delivering everything that the client requires of them. Each client has a dedicated member of staff to address any issues or queries and we only move onto onboarding the next client, once both the current client and the New Era team are completely satisfied that the onboarding process has been a success. We are our biggest critics. We believe everything should be done precisely from inception and then this very perfection should be maintained throughout. This is our only project, New Era. We are not side-tracked by any other investments; our focus is to build this into a brand that can be trusted by clients worldwide and give security to our work force. I know there are many of you out there that share my vision, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you in person. Let’s work together to build the infrastructure that provides equal and fair opportunities to all and enables the many to reap the success of their dedication and hard work. Once again, please comment below and share your thoughts and stories and pop over to our main page to learn more about New Era

My Life Lessons

by with One Comment Blog PostsBlog StoriesCustomer Service

My Life Lessons

By Ejaz Shah  —  29th September 2020

I have some breaking news.

A couple of weeks old, so not quite ‘breaking news’, but let’s pretend…

Ladies and gentlemen, yours truly has reached a milestone.

No, the extra pounds around the waist have not been shed – I’ve added to them! Not quite a martial arts maestro just yet, I’m still visualising that goal through old Bruce Lee flicks!

However, and this might surprise you, so do take a seat. Although my dashing not-quite-side-profile-but-its-my-best-angle photograph might not show it, my friends, I have reached the golden age of 40!

I know, you’re shocked, I completely understand, stay seated.

Forty is a big age, and although you do not feel it as time rushes you by, looking back now, there is so much that I have experienced, both the good, bad and ugly. Through these experiences I have gained so many lessons, some really painful ones and some really useful ones. Where these personal life lessons have been really beneficial to me and I’m sure will be in time to come, I have also looked at others, to gain wisdom from the lessons they have learned in their lives. 

In this blog I have decided to share some of the most valuable lessons that I have gained, from people that inspire me:

1. “Make your own luck” - Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee for me really was the ultimate, he achieved so much in his short life. His work ethic, his commitment, his focus, everything about him is something we can learn from. His achievements speak for themselves, the biggest achievement being, that he did it all himself.

“You have to create your own luck. You have to be aware of the opportunities around you and take advantage of them”

2. “Do a job you love” - Steve Jobs

I am living proof of this lesson. I tried many other ventures, trying to find something I loved, my purpose. I knew what I wanted, but at the same time, I didn’t know what I wanted – does that make sense?! In the end I worked hard at what I enjoyed; it was what I was good at, and it has led me to where I am today, in a job that I love. Find what you love, you deserve to be happy in what you are doing.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matter of the heart, you’ll know when you find it”

I am living proof of this lesson. I tried many other ventures, trying to find something I loved, my purpose. I knew what I wanted, but at the same time, I didn’t know what I wanted – does that make sense?! In the end I worked hard at what I enjoyed; it was what I was good at, and it has led me to where I am today, in a job that I love. Find what you love, you deserve to be happy in what you are doing.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matter of the heart, you’ll know when you find it”

3. “Life isn't a race” - Confucius

In this day and age, we are constantly fed with images, posts and tweets of the amazing lives others around us are living. If we turn our social media off, we get it from our elders, ‘son, have you seen Mr Hussain’s son’s best friends, cousins wife’s, brothers, work colleagues, second cousin? He’s a doctor, your age, soon to be a surgeon, vah vah!’ Don’t compare yourself to others. Your progress in life is personal to your experiences. Just keep at it, don’t give up and you will get there – where you want to be, not necessary where those around you are.

“It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop”

4. “Women are leaders” - Muhammad Ali Jinnah

My mother gave birth to me, nurtured me. I grew up with my four sisters, my wife stands by me at each turn, my three daughters give me life daily. I have existed amongst women and I am better for it. No explanation is needed for this. We will only succeed in life with our women standing beside us.

“No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men”

5. “Be patient” - Bill Gates

 ‘Sabr’. This can be tough to implement. We tend to seek immediate gratification, because we need the satisfaction. But we also know that in time what is meant for us will not forsake us. Keep reaching for those goals, but be patient, your time will come.

“Patience is a key element of success”

6. “Leave your mark on society” - Rosa Parks

All of us will leave a mark on society, in a big or small way, positive or negative. The type of mark we leave is down to us. This has never been more important than it is today. We are living in a world where people are making divisions amongst us, let us instead work for each other, to make a better society, for us, for our children, for the future.

I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.

7. “Educate! Educate! Educate!” - Malcolm X

For me this is the key to everything. I have said this before on my previous blogs, you must educate yourself, in order to be the best version of yourself and achieve your goals. Education is not limited to the classroom; life is a journey and we are constantly learning. Those that will strive ahead, are those that are prepared for tomorrow, by learning for it today.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”

8. “It's not bragging if you can back it up” - Muhammed Ali

The man that amazed the world with his talent and quick wit. His achievements in the ring were what bought him acclaim and worldwide fame, but I say it is his actions and words outside the ring that make him the Greatest. Of. All. Time. Let’s try and emulate the good in him.

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”

9. “Time is of essence” - Anna Wintour

This lesson is similar to that of patience; however, I view the importance of timing as so crucial that I needed to include this. We rush in everything we do; it has become second nature to us. However, I have learnt this lesson, in painful ways. Rather than rushing to achieve something, learn, prepare and execute your plans with precision and at the right time.

“It’s always about timing. If it’s too soon, no one understands. If it’s too late, everyone’s forgotten”

10. “Save for a rainy day” - My Grandfather

This is not a direct quote, this is a piece of advice my father has repeated to me throughout my life, a lesson that was passed on to him by his father. Although, in my youth this piece of advice might have gone over my head, since I have become a father this has been one of the most important and relevant advice I have gained. I always worry about my family’s well-being, like every father does, and I have taken it upon myself to implement this lesson in my life.

“Son, regardless of what you earn, always save something, even if it is the bare minimal amount”

Wrapping it up

There are so many more I could have added to the list above, I am constantly inspired by those around me. I hope the ones that I have included provide you with some inspiration.

At this milestone I am more excited than I have ever been. Life has blessed me in so many ways, for that I am eternally grateful, however, I have so much more I want to achieve. So please friends, raise your glass, your cup of chai, coffee, green juice (really?!), here’s to the next forty years 😊

I receive comments, messages and emails from all you wonderful readers, and I am as inspired by your aspirations, determination, dreams and plans as I am by those individuals I have mentioned above. So please comment below with your life lessons, the lessons that inspire you and I look forward to reading them.

Just before I go...

For those that know me personally will know I have been a fan of Tupac since school days so I could not leave this blog without including a couple of quotes from the legend himself!!

  • “During your life, never stop dreaming. No one can take away your dreams.”
  • “Pay no mind to those who talk behind your back, it simply means that you are 2 steps ahead.”
  • “For every dark night, there’s a brighter day.”

If you want to grow, want to achieve, join us at NewEra, and together we will succeed. Go over to our contact us page for more information.

The Joys of Parenting

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The Joys of Parenting

& what we can learn from our Offspring

By Ejaz Shah  —  15 September 2020

Parenthood... Parenting...

The joyous time in your life. A blessing. You nurture them, you give love, watch them grow, you feel love.

Love…Nurture…Grow…Love…Nurture…Grow… who am I kidding…?!

Screaming…Crying…Sleepless nights…Dirty nappies…Vomit on my new shirt…Vomit on my old shirt…Vomit on all my shirts…

I was excited at the thought of being a first-time dad, but when my first daughter was born, I was terrified. Not because she was an ugly baby, oh no, she was the most beautiful baby I had ever set my eyes on. But the thought of being totally responsible for another human being completely terrified me. The feeling wasn’t as daunting when the second one arrived, I was experienced, I had been here, I could do this…surely?! But when the third one arrived, optimism went out the window. Terrified is not the word. PETRIFIED. I was petrified. It was me against a house full of girls!!

Was I being punished here?! I mean daughters are blessings, I 100% agree with that. I am a blessed man but at times I felt like an atoned man. They’re not sweet angels, don’t be fooled, they’re devils in disguise. Take my eldest child, she’s always right, like always right, I’m the parent but she’s always right?! And that sweet smile of hers…ruthless! The middle one, I’m sure I have spent ¾ of my life savings on her alone, but I always say no to her, I don’t know how it happens?! The third one, the less said about her, the better. I am too scared to even talk about her and she’s just turned one!

I mean I love them to the moon and back, which parent doesn’t love their children. But if I made it to the moon, I’d stay there, for a gooooood while. It is not easy being a parent. 

Parenting is a role which you can never be prepared for. Read as many articles as you want, as many parenting books as you want, babysit as often as you want. All the knowledge and experience in the world, cannot prepare you for your own ‘bundle of joy’. I mean I had my fair share of experience with my nieces and nephews, but was I prepared? Oh no! I can clearly remember soon after my first was born, the nurse asking if I wanted to put her clothes on. She was so small and fragile, I graciously declined and watched from afar. 

My Three ‘Angels’

My first born aka ‘always right’, was a very good baby. She slept through the night, ate all her food and kept most of it down! We were constantly reminded of how lucky we were to have such a good baby. Looking back now, she’s nine, and I don’t know where the time has gone. I was apprehensive, scared and in new territory, but time really has flown. If I was to give any advice, it would be to cherish each and every moment you have with your child, because it’s true, they really do grow up fast.

My second child, ‘the big-money-spender’, is six now. To her credit, she was a delightful baby, like her sister. However, two months in and a small rash on her forehead developed into full blown eczema all over her small body. My baby really did suffer. She spent nights awake, itching, bleeding and crying. My wife and I would rotate shifts between us, staying up to look after her.

My first born aka ‘always right’, was a very good baby. She slept through the night, ate all her food and kept most of it down! We were constantly reminded of how lucky we were to have such a good baby. Looking back now, she’s nine, and I don’t know where the time has gone. I was apprehensive, scared and in new territory, but time really has flown. If I was to give any advice, it would be to cherish each and every moment you have with your child, because it’s true, they really do grow up fast.

My second child, ‘the big-money-spender’, is six now. To her credit, she was a delightful baby, like her sister. However, two months in and a small rash on her forehead developed into full blown eczema all over her small body. My baby really did suffer. She spent nights awake, itching, bleeding and crying. My wife and I would rotate shifts between us, staying up to look after her.

It was a testing time for all of us, and one of the main reasons for my move to Pakistan (I’ll explain this more in a future blog). She missed out on a lot in her early years, due to her eczema, but has that held her back – hell no! She’s making up for lost time, in supersonic speed (and cost)!

And finally, the one I fear the most, my youngest.  An angelic baby for the first 6 months of her life, she would lay there watching her sisters like a hawk, entertaining us with her babbling. As soon as she hit the 6 month mark, she stepped it up a gear or two! She causes havoc around the house, nothing remains in its place, the window blinds are her climbing frames, my laptop her personal stomping ground, our phones she uses for her practice catapult shots. It’s not just me, she bullies her sisters, her mother and she doesn’t stop until she gets her way! She runs our house. 

So advanced

Jokes aside, even though they are so similar in so many ways, they all have their own individual little personalities. So, when it came to ‘parenting’ and where something worked with one of them, it didn’t necessarily mean it would work on the other one too. With every child it was like being back at square one again and starting a new trip down the parenthood lane. You have to learn new methods of feeding, bathing and putting them to sleep, it’s all one big learning curve. Though one thing I have noticed, the kids of today are way ahead of where we were when we were their age, they make us look dumb!

I recall an incident when my brother was around 4/5 years old. My dad had recently purchased a VHS player (google this if you do not know, they were big in my day!) and the old VHS cassettes could only be inserted into the video player one way, if you forced it in the wrong way the VHS player would throw it back at you. So, on this particular day we had a room full of relatives gathered, joking and laughing together and I was sitting there watching my brother trying to insert a VHS cassette into the VHS player. He tried every side and seemed to be at it for what seemed like forever! Finally, he succeeded and managed to successfully slot it in. The joy from the elders as a result of him successfully completing this, what now seems like such a mundane simple task, was euphoric. Everyone was clapping, cheering and praising him for simply turning on a VHS player and inserting the cassette. What a smart boy?! I mean my one-year-old uses my mobile phone more efficiently than me! She dives straight into YouTube, skimming through all the videos until she finds one that takes her fancy!

I suppose in our days the VHS player was the equivalent to the iPhone of today, when it comes to latest gadgets. Times have changed, we’ve become so much more advanced than we ever have been, especially in the last 10, 20 years and so have our children, they do today what we will learn to do tomorrow!

‘Wave-gate’

When my first-born was around 4, we headed to our local shopping centre, father and daughter, me in the driving seat, her dressed in her favourite fairy outfit, in her car seat. Shortly into the drive I was cut off by an impatient driver, not wanting to curse in front of my little fairy, I signalled instead with a rude hand gesture, mouthing the curse words out purposefully to the driver. Instantly my eldest turned to me and asked, ‘baba what does this mean?’, as she performed my rude hand gesture back at me. Under pressure, I said the first thing that came to mind ‘oh baba was just waving at an old friend beta’. Thankfully and to my relief that reply seemed to satisfy her and we continued with our journey.

Once in the shopping centre we entered the lift to go to the floor we needed, alongside us was an elderly couple in their eighties. The couple were delighted with my first-born’s fairy dress; her fairy wings attached to her side and the little crown on her head, she soaked up the attention, grinning from ear to ear. The elderly couple were to leave a floor before us, and as they exited the lift, they turned around to wave goodbye to us. The last thing I saw, as the doors closed on them, was the look of sheer horror on their faces. As my gaze dropped down to my little one, I saw why. My first-born was enthusiastically waving back at them, with the same rude gesture she had seen me use earlier.

“But baba, you said that’s how you wave to friends?!”

“No no no darling, baba was angry when he waved like that”

“So that’s an angry wave?”

“Yeh beta angry wave”

Nothing more was said, and we continued with our shopping with ‘wavegate’ put firmly to the back of our minds. This was not a story I wanted to repeat to the missus.

Later that evening when we sat down for our meal, much to the disappointment of my first born, my wife had cooked vegetables. 

via GIPHY

“But baba, you said that’s how you wave to friends?!”

“No no no darling, baba was angry when he waved like that”

“So that’s an angry wave?”

“Yeh beta angry wave”

Nothing more was said, and we continued with our shopping with ‘wavegate’ put firmly to the back of our minds. This was not a story I wanted to repeat to the missus.

via GIPHY

Later that evening when we sat down for our meal, much to the disappointment of my first born, my wife had cooked vegetables. 

Tears, tantrums and much pleading later, my wife stood firm, the food had been served and it was all she was getting. As my wife took her seat, my first-born rose on hers and with the most passionate of moves I’ve ever seen her display, she went into a continuous display of my ‘angry wave’, right in her mother’s face.

via GIPHY

Change is coming

Change is happening all around us whether we like it or not. We are changing, time changes us, it changes our priorities, our way of thinking and our outlook on life. Successful and more at ease are those who learn to adapt and adapt quickly.

So, whilst we struggle to rear our offspring to the best of our capabilities, what can we learn from them? The key thing I say is simplicity. A child is simple, they’re still grasping knowledge and understanding, so they look at everything in the most simplest of ways.  

This as adults we know, is usually the best of ways to tackle matters, especially when faced with a problem or when a key decision has to be made.

 

Change is happening all around us whether we like it or not. We are changing, time changes us, it changes our priorities, our way of thinking and our outlook on life. Successful and more at ease are those who learn to adapt and adapt quickly.

So, whilst we struggle to rear our offspring to the best of our capabilities, what can we learn from them? The key thing I say is simplicity. A child is simple, they’re still grasping knowledge and understanding, so they look at everything in the most simplest of ways.  

 

This as adults we know, is usually the best of ways to tackle matters, especially when faced with a problem or when a key decision has to be made.

 

However, we adults, we like to think and think and think. We are experts at creating mountains out of molehills by overthinking. Let’s just simplify matters and take it easy.

Secondly, have you noticed how children pick up new things? They are constantly observing their surroundings, monitoring everything around them, constantly feeding their imaginations and growing wiser for it. We adults get so consumed with matters at hand, that we adapt a tunnel vision and lose all sight of all the great things we have surrounding us. I have made it a habit to take time out weekly to try something new, explore a different avenue, experience something different. It’s made me grow and helped me switch off from day to day matters. I strongly recommend this.

As I finish this blog, I simply say to all the parents out there, you’re doing great! Don’t be hard on yourself, take each day as it comes, and enjoy as much of it as you can, because time really does fly. And grow with your children, learn to switch off, learn to simplify, learn to observe and take in all the good that is surrounding you.

But before I go, a warning. Children, they observe everything. EVERYTHING. I have lived to tell the tale above, learn from my errors…

Please feel free to use the comment section below to share your parenting tips or disasters! I look forward to hearing all your tales. 

To become a member of the New Era family, register your interest here, I look forward to welcoming you.

The Taxi Service

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The Taxi Service

By Ejaz Shah  —  7th September 2020

The name “taxi” is a shortened abbreviation of the word “taxicab” which was first documented in March of 1907 in London. Two words: “taximeter” and “cabriolet” are the origins of the word “taxicab”.  The word taximeter was invented in 1891, which was and is used to record distances and calculate the fare.  The word Cabriolet refers to a horse drawn carriage where the driver stands in the back of the carriage. But if you indulge further the name “taximeter” itself is derived from the Mid-Latin “taxa”, meaning “tax or charge”.

Recently I was reminiscing about old times and how far things have come since I was a child.

You’ve probably not heard of the good old Datsun; it was a car manufactured by Nissan and they phased the range out in 1986. My father had it in the colour brown, an unexciting, unalluring, nothing-special-about-it brown car but I loved it. I can still picture myself, glued to my window, nose pinned hard against it, waiting for my father to turn the corner into our street. My timing was always on point, the second I would see him turn in, I would race out of my bedroom, down my stairs, out the front door and on to the street. By the time my father pulled in outside our house, I would be waiting. He couldn’t – wouldn’t – refuse, and off we would go for our daily ‘rides’ in dad’s car. I loved every second of those rides.

My father went on to have many cars, after the Datsun, the other cars that had an impact on me, were my father’s taxis. My father’s first taxi was a black and white, C reg, Vauxhall Cavalier. Although the car was his pride and joy, he always dreamt of owning an ‘actual’ taxi, the famous London black cab. He worked hard and a few years later, he finally fulfilled that dream of owning his very own London Black cab – only he didn’t drive it in London, and it wasn’t black!! My father bought it in maroon and spent every spare second he had polishing it!! I really do believe it was his one true love (sorry mum!).

The taxi industry has come very far since my father’s days and so have the actual taxis. The other day when I had a few spare minutes I decided to plunge into the history of the taxi and see how it has developed over the years. I find these evolution stories fascinating and I share here with you some key points of the evolution of the taxi and its industry:

Brief Taxi History

The world’s first dedicated taxi was built by a Mr Gottlieb Daimler in 1897. It came equipped with the newly invented taxi meter and was named Damiler Victoria. In the same year, Mr Friedrich Greiner, an entrepreneur from Stuttgart, Germany, took the Damiler Victoria taxis and started the world’s first motorized taxi company.

Before this and even some years after this, horse-drawn carriages, or ‘horse cab drivers’ were still used across the world, from Paris to London and New York. However, by the end of the 19th century the new motorised taxis were taking over. 

The world’s first dedicated taxi was built by a Mr Gottlieb Daimler in 1897. It came equipped with the newly invented taxi meter and was named Damiler Victoria. In the same year, Mr Friedrich Greiner, an entrepreneur from Stuttgart, Germany, took the Damiler Victoria taxis and started the world’s first motorized taxi company.

Before this and even some years after this, horse-drawn carriages, or ‘horse cab drivers’ were still used across the world, from Paris to London and New York. However, by the end of the 19th century the new motorised taxis were taking over. 

In London, ‘Hummingbirds’ had taken over the roads. Walter Bersey, a British electrical engineer, had designed a fleet of electric battery-powered taxis which when driven, would make a humming noise, and so came the aptly given nickname.

Across the pond...

Developments were occurring in America too, where the New York taxicabs were initially imported from France. In time they were domestically manufactured, with the first domestically produced Taxicab built in 1908, designed by Fred E. Moskovics. Mr Moskovics went on to play a key part in organising the first Yellow Taxicab in New York and the famous yellow colour of the New York cab. You know that saying, ‘behind every successful man is a woman,’ well this definitely deserves a shout out. It was the wife of the owner of the manufacturing company that suggested the taxicabs be painted yellow so that they would stand out!

The popularity of taxis and their development intensified in the early 20th century. In the 1940s, two-way radios were introduced in taxis, so that taxi drivers and dispatchers could communicate. And in the 1980s, ‘computer assisted dispatching’ was first introduced. Yes the 1980s, but that’s a subject for another blog.

Taxis in Pakistan

But what about Pakistan, I hear you ask? Well in my research I found the earliest form of something similar to a taxi was the rickshaw. It was the Chinese that introduced it in India to transport goods initially and then from 1914, they were used to transport people. However, the rickshaw wasn’t how we know it today. Rickshaws were human drawn, can you imagine the sheer effort needed for that?! But they were hugely popular, especially as a job opportunity for the hundreds and thousands that were migrating from small villages to the big cities.

However, in the 1960s, these human drawn rickshaws were outlawed by the Pakistani government. By this time, they had already become less popular. The new auto rickshaws were all the rage. Nowadays, we have the ‘chand gari’ or ‘Chingchi/Chingchee’ motorcycle rickshaws and the Piaggo manufactured autorickshaws. All still hugely popular modes of transport used around Pakistan. Well used around most of Pakistan, it wasn’t until I moved to Islamabad that I was made aware of the fact – much to the disappointment of my daughters – that rickshaws are banned in this city!

Of course, there are numerous privately run services across Pakistan, consisting of cars and minibuses, majorly run by Uber! But in the larger cities yellow taxis are common, and similar to their contemporaries across the world, they are designed with a meter. 

How far we have come...

From my ‘personal childhood taxi’ – my father’s old Datsun, to his London Black Cab and to where we stand now with Uber….

It’s incredible to look back and see the development of such a hugely used mode of transport. I find that in life we get used to our day to day routine and get caught up in our daily plights that we don’t realise how far we have come, until we decide to take a moment out and reminisce about our past.

I hope you found the information I have provided above as interesting as I did. I’d love to hear from you and your stories of childhood, your first family car, the most unique form of ‘taxi’/transport you have used and do let me know of any key points from the history of taxis that I may have missed out. I am eager to hear and learn from you all, so please do comment below.

And if you would like to join an evolutionary business, that aims to thrive in its field – whilst sharing interesting facts and stories – go over to our main page for more information on NewEra and register your interest with us today. Welcome!