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Beyond Consumer Activism

In the land of tech support, consumer activism hasn't really helped anyone solve a problem. A new approach (in the new landscape) is needed.

Here’s a topic I’ve been trying to create a meaningful blog entry around. It’s an idea that has been emerging since we started talking about building Zolved. It started as an amorphous spirit hanging in the background and is turning into the cement that we can build the new structure of technical support.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a name yet.

We are all familiar with the trials and tribulations that currently surround tech support (poor call center infrastructure, manufacturer’s apathy for their customers, etc). We also are aware of various consumer advocacy groups and their various levels of effectiveness (product reviews, buyer’s guides, class action lawsuits, etc). It would seem that the Zolved team would fall decidedly in with consumer activists. Our goal is really quite different from concept of advocacy.

With the Web 2.0 current state of the internet in our lives it seems, that “collaboration” is the word of the day. Well then “empowerment” should be the word of the century. The illusion that technology is magic can be dispelled and the average consumer can take control of their own technology. Zolved is a springboard for consumer empowerment. Which ever way people are comfortable in finding solutions to problems (by searching, describing the problem, finding technicians, by giving someone remote access), Zolved has a pathway. We’re enabling the tech-needy to become tech-savvy.

So what do we call this? What’s the one word that says it all?
    Consumer Empowerment? - Too obvious and overused.
    Consumer Ennoblers? – Too regal.
    Consumer Uplifters? – Too flighty, plus is “uplifters” even a word?
    Consumer Dignifiers? – Hmmm. That’s getting closer (another non-word).
    Consumer ..... to be determined.