When one thinks of the Apple iPad and how such devices are used, Sonoma County wineries are likely not the first type of business to come to mind. However, at Jordan Winery in Healdsburg, California, executives recently purchased 97 of the tablet computers for each of their employees.
Already, the investment seems to be paying off. Sales staff use the devices to show off the company's product to potential buyers, while sommeliers are trained with the computers and visiting guests are greeted with iPads that educate them on the winery.
On an industrial level, workers even use their iPads to determine temprature and quality control among the winery's numerous wine and fermentation tanks.
"Now we're at a point where we can have this really cool dynamic presentation that people can move with their fingers, and see beautiful imagery that goes way beyond the two-dimensional world," Lisa Mattson, Jordan's director of communications, told The Street.
Jordan Winery is among a number of small businesses that have begun adopting tablet computers to help improve operations. A survey by Techaisle recently found that 2 million iPads have been purchased by small businesses since the product's release, marking an adoption rate of 20 percent.
As emerging mobile payment technologies allow for iPads to be used as cash registers, thereby bypassing purchase lines, many other wine experts are hoping such technologies will offer a boost to small business and make it easier to incorporate in California's wine country.
Tags : ca, operations, small business management
Posted: Dec 16th, 2010