When I look at what the Internet has become in the last eight years, I am simply amazed. I can remember the early days of the Web when individuals simply posted information for others to see. Today, it is possible to view information, watch movies, track bank accounts, make transfer payments and order almost anything imaginable. These days, people can even set up an appointment with a hair salon online.

My father and his wife were at our house for a nice visit recently and were concerned about the weather for the return trip home because of the threat of snow. They turned on the Weather Channel to see what the forecast looked like and waited patiently for the station to cover our area. I quickly accessed the information through the Internet and told them the way was clear. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the Internet is convenience.

It would be nice if many companies made use of online appointment scheduling so I could set up an appointment anytime I wanted to. This service would be greatly appreciated for everything from getting the oil changed in my car to getting my haircut. If I use my laptop to set up appointments online when it is convenient for me, it makes the business much more attractive.

On the business side, fewer employee hours would be used to set up appointments. This frees employees up to take care of other work that needs to be done. By allowing customers to set up their own appointments, the company could save money and make life easier for customers.