In the 21st century, businessmen must use all of their time effectively in order to compete. In the past, executives may have relaxed on their daily train commutes, but no more. We are seeing the dawning of the caboose office – Internet-enabled train cars that support WiFi and cell-phone usage. The productivity gains available to businessmen are staggering to contemplate.
Throughout the world, new train cars are being outfitted with the latest electronic gear. It is only a matter of time until your local train on the Indian Railway (IR) joins the revolution. In America, Railers for IPod Power (RIP) have lobbied train systems to install USB ports, power cords and headsets to accommodate tech-savvy passengers. Laptop owners want rail cars to be WiFi hot spots, allowing them to use the Internet without going through a cell-phone connection.
There are many types of business well-suited to the caboose office. Take the whole area of phone sales. A salesman armed with a good list of sales leads can make very productive use of his or her commuting time. The use of advanced acoustic techniques in the latest passenger car designs can dramatically reduce the racket usually associated with train travel, allowing normal phone conversation to take place without a lot of background distraction. This is very important for salespeople because call recipients may be hesitant to try to speak above the din of a moving train. Often, commuter trains have food service available during the day and bar service at night. Nothing eases the pain of making a cold call at 6 PM from your train seat like a tasty sandwich and a fine glass of wine, perhaps a Merlot.
The enterprising salesman will arrange all the important materials around themselves. They will have their laptop on the tray table in front of them and will be wearing a wireless headset linked to their computer. They will be able to use Skype or one of its competitors to place phone calls to individuals on the sales-lead lists stored on their computer. They will have a snack and a refreshing beverage nearby. The train will be well-lit and whisper quiet. Under these circumstances, some salespeople may be tempted to simply ride the train all day long. Why pay for an expensive office when all you need is a train ticket? As a suggestion site for the Indian Railway, we want to hear from you out there – would you enjoy doing business from a caboose office? We think we are on to something big, and you can participate by putting forth your own opinions for the benefit of IR management.