Older people will be mystery shoppers in the evaluation of services SIMPLIT.

-SIMPLIT also offers advice to companies in the design of products and services designed for consumers of all ages

Valencia, February 2012.- ensure that issues related to accessibility, ease of use and satisfaction of the client in services like catering or the utilización of means of transport is the objective of the SIMPLIT initiative applied to services that have launched the Institute of Biomechanics (IBV) and the Democratic Union of pensioners and retirees of Spain (UDP).

This is one of the novelties of the follow-up meeting held recently between the two entities with the aim of analysing the evolution of this ambitious project created at the end of 2009 to ensure that the products – and now also the services – are designed taking into account the needs of consumers of all ages.

The good reception that has taken the initiative with the evaluation of the ease of use and advice in product design, has led us to expand it to the services offered by the companies, a field in which there is much work to be done ”, explains the President of UDP, Luis Martín Pindado.

To evaluate the services, IBV will draw on techniques of Mystery Shopper, with the collaboration of older persons belonging to the UDP Association from around the country.

For Rakel Poveda Puente, Director of the area of older people of the IBV, to take into account the needs, preferences and expectations of the client, do involve the design and improvement of the service offered, which contributes to their loyalty and ensures the success of our business ”.

Older people selected nationally to make mystery shoppers (surprise customers) will receive training provided by IBV where explain what is their participation in the evaluation of the service.

The audit is completed with the visit of a técnico-auditor that will analyze the suitability of the service infrastructure. If for example a service of restoration, will be assessed accessibility to the dining room, the distribution of the furniture or the State of the pavement.

The spas of Chulilla, Cofrentes and Montanejos participated in the pilot study where these techniques are implemented and soon will receive the SIMPLIT label guaranteeing its services to take into account the needs and preferences of customers of all ages.

The elderly represent 17% of the population and the forecasts of the National Institute of statistics (INE) point to that in 2050 30.8% of Spaniards will exceed the age of 65.

To buy a product or use a service, greater consumer wondered if it is easy to use, if it adapts to your needs and guarantees is that that is so. To respond to these questions was created SIMPLIT, an initiative of the Democratic Union of pensioners and retirees of Spain and the Institute of biomechanics in collaboration with AENOR.

Ensure accessibility to the establishment where the service is offered, the ideal furniture to have or which are well above the emergency exits, are some examples of application of design based on the elderly in products and services of daily life.

Two years of SIMPLIT

Created at the end of 2009, the SIMPLIT initiative has been very well received in product design and now allows to evaluate ovens, cabinets, mobile phones, telecare systems, operating systems for PC, masks, pages web and countertops with lifting systems.

During 2011 had been about to the methodology that allows to launch SIMPLIT services and has been the first year so that the managers and partners of different associations of UDP learn to exercise responsible consumption-oriented to the improvement of the quality of life. These training activities with older people will resume from February 2012.

In addition to valuation in the ease of use of products and services, the SIMPLIT initiative offers businesses advice on the design of products and services designed for consumers of all ages.

It is also promoting the internationalization of SIMPLIT in Portugal thanks to the collaboration agreement signed with the network Association of older universities (RUTIS).

Businesses and consumers have at their disposal the website simplit.es where reflected the developments related to the SIMPLIT initiative and they can request information for the evaluation of products and services.