The easier it is for consumers to transact business with your company the more likely they are to choose you and the more revenues you can bring in.

Last week saw the launch of a new 800 number system for Washington, DC drivers. Out go the parking meters, allowing drivers to now pay for their parking spaces via a new 800 number or with a mobile app. Consumers cover the credit card processing and program expenses through a small charge for the convenience, though you can bet it beats remembering to have a pocket full of quarters and running back and forth from the car to the meter when you are late for a meeting after dealing with DC traffic. This new technology even beams real time transaction information to the handheld devices the Capitol's parking enforcement officers are now armed with.

This innovative use of 800 numbers makes it much more pleasant for drivers, but it also eliminates all of the hassles associated with meters. No more lost revenues because meters are down, no unwarranted tickets because meters were broken, no risk of theft because cash has been taken out of the equation.

There are endless applications for this type of 800 number transaction system that you could be using to improve your own revenues and profit margins. Parking is something that people will always need to do, but this becomes even more critical when there is competition and you need to stand out as the easiest company to work with.

Think about Zip Car and the completely virtual presence they have that allows individuals to rent cars without ever having to deal with other people. Even major car rental companies are now incorporating automated check-ins like airlines where you just go and grab the car you want without having to stand in line. Many consumers today don’t want the hassle of dealing with cash, don’t want to waste time in long lines, or have to deal with others. So give them what they want with an 800 number system.

Yes, online transactions have made things easy for virtual businesses but with more and more hacking, scandals and security breaches many people are afraid of inputting their information on the web especially as they are increasingly using mobile devices and WIFI connections which are notoriously insecure.

Give some thought to how your organization could benefit from an 800 number system like this and not only attract more customers and increase revenues but streamline your processes, cut overhead, reduce theft and actually make a big difference to your bottom line.