Why is real-time technology such a game changer?

As the old saying goes, once you go real time, you can’t go back.

In an era where – for better or worse – our collective patience has never been thinner, instant updates/access/experiences have quickly gone from a luxury to a daily life necessity. 

From ordering a ride on Uber to tracking a much-needed Packfleet delivery, the more real-time interactions we have, the more intense the cold sweats get at the thought of going back to the – gulp – dark ages…

We’ve made real time a central piece in the tech puzzle we’re building at Packfleet – helping our merchants and recipients follow the status of every collection and shipment – and we’re not alone in that endeavour. That’s because, far more than simply helping us do things quicker, real time is the fundamental upgrade on how we experience and interact with our tech-driven world.

But why is that? Why is real time so damn transformative for us people?

Here are three core reasons why real-time technology changes the game whenever and wherever it’s applied – and real-world examples of it doing exactly that.

It helps us make better decisions

At the heart of real-time technology is real-time information, which itself is the not-so secret sauce of smart and speedy decision making.

Whether it’s the stock market or British weather, there’s a big difference between working in changeable environments with the latest data at your fingertips and, well, not.

But perhaps the best example of this gulf is on the road: the advantages of real-time technology really shine when you compare using a mapping platform, like Google Maps, to relying on the paper maps of years gone by.

With Google Maps, you're equipped with continuous traffic updates, alerts about road closures and suggestions for alternative routes the moment conditions change – all, of course, in the realest of time. Paper maps, on the other hand, can do none of those things. 

So no, sadly you won’t find our drivers navigating London using AA’s Road Atlas of Britain…

It gives us the wonders of transparency

Whether it’s seeing your food takeaway move from the oven to your doorstep, or knowing exactly where your package is while it’s en route, real-time tracking provides a clear window where before there simply wasn’t one.

This transparency doesn’t just keep you in the loop – it builds trust, boosts reassurance and kills anxiety, even in occasions when the overall experience wasn’t what you were looking for. As real time pioneers like Deliveroo have made clear, there’s a big difference between telling a hungry customer ‘your order is delayed’ and ‘your order is delayed by 40 minutes’. Plus, there’s something very satisfying about virtually seeing your real Pad Thai leave the real kitchen.

It’s a big shift from the days of simply being given an estimated delivery date and left to hope for the best.

It gives us personalised experiences

Modern tech is built to get to know us as individuals.

While this leaves room for things to get dark and weird, before it reaches such a point, personalisation is arguably one of our favourite tech features – it’s why we spend hour-upon-hour on Instagram and Netflix. And what enables this? Real-time data.

Streaming services like Netflix take what you're watching right now and use it to suggest other shows and films you might like. This kind of real-time personalisation makes the whole experience more engaging because you're more likely to find something you enjoy without having to search for it.

From how we travel and shop, to how we’re entertained and how we make day-to-day decisions, real-time technology has redefined both how we engage with the world and how we expect it to engage with us.  

Whether it’s your Uber pick-up time, your Monzo transactions, your Deliveroo order arrival time or your Packfleet shipment status, real time changes the game.