Lights, camera, action!
Micháel Zacharias, Germany
Usually, our applications engineer Michál Zacharias, nickname Zachi, stands in front of the participants at his training sessions, with close personal contact. But in times of #stayhome, this is no longer possible. Webinars are the perfect answer: Michál is convinced that this form of interaction will remain a great option, even after the crisis, for training participants all over the world and for quickly answering questions about product applications.
How has your work changed owing to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic?
Of course, a lot of business trips won’t take place now. Instead, I’m currently hosting several webinars per day. My favorite webinar right now is “Show me in a webinar how webinars work”. I’m happy to do that, of course. Flexibility is the order of the day at the moment. I have hosted webinars for Bauerfeind foreign subsidiaries that had to start at 4 in the morning because of the time difference.
Sounds like you’re busy around the clock.
Don’t worry, I get enough sleep. But speed and quick contact with our partners in any situation are really huge advantages of technology. If our customers need help, they want it here and now, of course. Luckily, we can connect quickly these days.
Do you have an example?
A medical retailer from Norway would like to treat a patient with foot orthoses and let his colleagues be a part of it. He has questions about the patient’s indications and wants to discuss with me how he needs to process the foot orthoses. It’s very easy for me to give him instructions via the screen. Previously, I would have had to fly to the customer, stay over etc. So, it was much more complicated. In a way, I’m benefiting from this situation because I can work more effectively thanks to digital options.
How well does group training work when it’s carried out digitally?
Thanks to excellent camera technology and constantly improving transmission speed, it works really well. If I hold a product or a bone model right in front of the camera, participants at home can probably see it better on their screens than someone at a group training session sitting in the last row.
Could this become the standard after the crisis?
It would make sense to discuss the pros and cons properly after the crisis, considering all the training options that we can make available online.
About Michál Zacharias
Before working as an orthopedic technician, Michál completed his training as a physiotherapist. Michál Zacharias has been working for Bauerfeind as an application engineer and trainer for all product areas since 2014. He gained his extensive experience in the appropriate use of our medical products while treating numerous patients, including many athletes. During the Olympic Games in Sochi, Rio de Janeiro, and PyeongChang, he worked for Bauerfeind in the polyclinic. Michál has a very calm nature. In addition to physicians, physiotherapists and medical retailers at home and abroad, he also trains our inhouse and field sales colleagues. In his sparetime he enjoys in Rockabilly music and restoring vintage cars.