Personally, I need people around me, and social distancing can be very hard.
But in terms of working remotely, we are using our solution to interact with each other.
We can share a screen, and it’s almost the same.Once the pandemic is over, we will probably consider a hybrid mode of work (part-time at home, part at the office).
But in terms of working remotely, we are using our solution to interact with each other.
We can share a screen, and it’s almost the same.Once the pandemic is over, we will probably consider a hybrid mode of work (part-time at home, part at the office).
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Hi Neta, tell us about yourself and share some background about Consolto (how you ended up joining the company)
Neta: I worked in the travel technology industry for 20 years on IT & Digital projects, and then COVID19 changed everything…
I met Ilan Consolto’s Founder and CEO 3 years ago when I worked in travel, managing the digital department for one of Israel’s largest travel agencies. So I was actually one of the first Consolto users, and we stayed in touch all this time.
When COVID19 started, the travel industry was one of the first industries that got hit really bad. On the other end, remote work started blooming, as more and more businesses turned to digital as their best hope to generate new revenue. That was the moment Ilan asked if I wanted to join Consolto as the CMO.
eCommerce was booming in 2020; how did it affect Consolto? – What are you going to focus on this year?
Neta: Consolto’s website was hit with a flood of organic traffic. Across the world, freelancers, consultants, salespeople, and other businesses that required quick, no-hassle personal meetings to operate subscribed to Consolto’s premium service. Paid subscriptions grew by nearly 1,000% within two months.
We are going to focus on continuing to add more abilities to Consolto. We are more than a Video chat platform, and internally we call it a VRM – Video Chat-based Customer Relationship Management platform that was designed to enhance personal business interactions.
How much has the eCommerce industry evolved in the last 2-3 years with the arrival of automation, customer experience, and enterprise apps?
Neta: The eCommerce industry evolved a lot, including how businesses run their daily operations.From mobile-friendly websites to virtual reality shopping.
Automation and chat plugins gave eCommerce the ability to be available 24/7 for their customers, and they can sell their products globally and be exposed to other markets unlike ever before.
Tell us about the CMO role in a pandemic crisis – what role digital transformation has in this crisis?
Neta: The pandemic changed the CMO’s role dramatically – I think agility is the name of the game today because needs are changing all the time and now much faster than before.
There are more and more competitors in every market, and you need to be fast and be aware of everything — new technologies, new “buzz words,” new needs, and most importantly – you need to be there first. We’re measured by our ability to optimize productivity in a lean environment.
How is Consolto changing the eCommerce landscape?
Neta: Consolto brings back the personal touch into an eCommerce website with an in-store feeling. It includes abilities like payments directly from our website-plugin and face-to-face meetings with customers. Right now, setting up a video chat with a customer can be somewhat of an awkward process. Current solutions like Zoom, Skype, or Google Hangouts were not built for business-to-client scenarios. They require either:
Some sort of client installation — bummer.
Username/Password credentials — where is that darn password?
Sending a link or an email to connect with prospective clients — tedious.
Adding to contacts — privacy, anyone?
Little to no back-office capabilities. How’s one supposed to get any business done?
Another important aspect that is poorly addressed by these solutions is their ability to manage the data coming out of these online sessions. For example, Zoom does not save texts from chats, so important notes and insights written during sessions are lost. These solutions make it difficult to manage sales or consultation over pure communication software such as Zoom and Meet.
What makes Consolto different from your competitors?
Neta: Today’s Video-conferencing solutions are merely about communication. We’re all about building relationships with customers. We simplify, organize, and enhance remote meetings for businesses that aim to develop better customer relationships.
Our users get an all-in-one solution with no need to install multiple widgets or software. It’s basically like combining Video-conferencing software, a CRM, a Live-chat tool, a scheduling platform, and an invoicing software altogether.
Our solution suits both SMBs and enterprise customers with multiple agents
Do you think working from home is good or bad for employee experience? How is Consolto planning it’s office strategy in Post covid19 days?