Enhancing Meeting Reminders with IoT: A Case Study on Pearson's Data & Analytics Manager

Pearson, founded in 1844, is a leading name in the education industry, publishing a wide range of materials from high school test prep to professional training curriculum. With over 35,000 employees across 70 countries, Pearson's educational initiatives reach millions of people every year. Dina Yankelewitz, a manager of data and analytics at Pearson, plays a crucial role in the company. She spends a significant amount of her time building dashboards that visualize the impact of key products on student performance. Her research and analysis help improve programs and learner outcomes. Her work often involves meeting customers and presenting the information she has researched, making it essential for her to have a reliable meeting reminder system.

Dina Yankelewitz, a manager of data and analytics at Pearson, was facing a common challenge in the modern workplace - keeping track of meetings amidst a busy schedule. With numerous tasks and projects requiring her attention, it was easy for a meeting to be overlooked. This was especially true when she was away from her desk, on the road, or in between tasks. The traditional methods of reminders, such as Slack notifications or Google Calendar's desktop notifications, were not effective as they could easily become background noise or be missed if she was not at her computer. The challenge was to find a reliable and efficient way to receive meeting reminders that would cut through the noise and ensure she was always prepared and available for her meetings.

Dina found a solution in Zapier, an app automation tool that simplifies the process of connecting different applications. She created a Zap, which is Zapier's term for an automated workflow, that sends a text message to her phone one hour before each meeting. This ensures that she is always aware of her upcoming meetings, regardless of where she is or what she is doing. The message includes the start time, topic, other attendees, and if she needs to notify anyone else before it starts. The Zap is customizable, allowing her to set the interval that works best for her and to filter the meetings that trigger the reminder based on certain criteria, such as the host or participants. This solution not only ensures that she never misses a meeting, but also gives her ample time to prepare and ensure her availability.

• The implementation of the Zapier app has significantly improved Dina's operational efficiency. The automated workflow ensures that she is always prepared for her meetings, regardless of where she is or what she is doing. This has eliminated the risk of missing important meetings and has given her ample time to prepare, thereby improving her performance in the meetings. The solution has also reduced the noise from other reminder systems, allowing her to focus on her tasks without being constantly interrupted by irrelevant notifications. Furthermore, the customization options have allowed her to tailor the system to her specific needs, ensuring that she only receives reminders for the meetings that are most important to her.

• The solution ensures 100% meeting attendance by sending reminders an hour before each meeting.

• The solution provides flexibility with customizable intervals for reminders, catering to individual preferences.

• The solution offers the ability to filter meetings that trigger reminders based on certain criteria, providing a personalized experience.