#Japan #Osaka #business_cards #sales_professionals #Ondeoma

The Impact of Business Card Shortages on Sales Professionals

In a recent survey conducted by Ondeoma, a company based in Osaka, Japan, it was found that a significant number of sales professionals face the issue of running out of business cards. This study, focused on business card usage and ordering challenges, highlights the importance of these little cards in shaping first impressions and maintaining professional relationships.

Survey Overview

The survey, conducted from March 17 to March 19, 2025, gathered information from 1,012 participants who either regularly use business cards in their sales roles or are responsible for creating and ordering them. The results shed light on the frequency of business card use and the common obstacles faced during the ordering process.

Frequency of Business Card Use

Participants were asked how often they use business cards at work. The responses revealed a high frequency of use:

• - Daily: 19.8%
• - 2 to 3 times a week: 38.1%
• - A few times a month: 35.5%
• - Once every few months or less: 6.6%

This indicates that business cards play a critical role in the routine of sales professionals, important for networking and forging new business relationships.

Experiences with Running Out of Business Cards

When asked whether they had ever run out of business cards and it had impacted their sales activities, the responses were telling:

• - Experienced it more than 5 times: 12.3%
• - Experienced it 2 to 4 times: 23.6%
• - Experienced it once: 13.7%
• - No experience: 50.4%

While some reported no issues, nearly half acknowledged that running out of business cards had affected their work, raising concerns about effectiveness in communication and follow-ups.

Reasons for Running Out

The survey also queried those who had experienced shortages about the reasons behind these occurrences. The top reasons included:

• - Forgetting to reorder or inadequate management: 61.6%
• - Using more cards than expected during urgent meetings or events: 26.4%
• - Longer than expected delivery times: 25.6%

These factors highlight significant operational inefficiencies that can hinder sales efforts.

Impact on Business Activities

Respondents shared specific instances where running out of business cards adversely affected their work:

• - One participant noted difficulty conveying their personal phone number post-meeting, which hindered follow-ups.
• - Others reported that they were not recognized when reaching out later, affecting future engagement.

Such insights underline the necessity of effective business card inventory management in sales environments.

Challenges for Card Ordering

The study also looked into the challenges faced by those responsible for business card creation and ordering. Many users indicated a preference for traditional methods:

• - Direct emailing or faxing orders to printing companies: 39.6%
• - Through internal administrative departments: 31.7%
• - Using designated online ordering systems: 19.5%

This illustrates a reliance on outdated processes that can increase errors and extend turnaround times, complicating management.

Urgency in Orders

The survey revealed a high incidence of urgent requests for card orders, with approximately 88.6% of ordering responsible individuals affirming they had experienced urgent requests, further stressing the need for a streamlined ordering process.

Areas for Improvement

When participants discussed their difficulties with card ordering processes, top concerns emerged:

• - Complexity in managing orders: 31.9%
• - Long lead times from order to delivery: 31.3%
• - Frequent data correction errors: 30.3%

These issues indicate a clear opportunity for enhancement in business card ordering services.

Key Selection Criteria for Services

In choosing a business card creation service, respondents prioritized:

• - Speed of delivery: 68.1%
• - Printing costs: 67.9%
• - Ease of order management: 53.7%

Interestingly, around 80% found the idea of enabling all employees to create and order their cards independently highly appealing, suggesting a marketplace for more innovative service offerings.

Conclusion

The survey by Ondeoma has uncovered significant insights into the everyday challenges faced by sales professionals regarding business cards. With nearly half acknowledging the impact of running out of cards on their work and many feeling burdened by the complexities of ordering, there is a clear demand for more efficient solutions. Companies seeking to optimize their business card processes might consider leveraging advanced services like Ondeoma's web-based business card ordering system.

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