As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways in which we interact with it. Smartphones, like all other technological advancements before them, are changing the way we live and work. The following are just five of the ways smartphones are influencing business today.
On average, businesses have about 10 apps on their employees’ mobile devices. The top three apps that employees use for business purposes include Email, Web Browsing and Calendar/Schedule Management.
Many small business owners are finding success in offering their employees business-related apps on their company’s mobile device. As a result of this trend, many innovative tools have become available to meet employers’ needs. Apps for scheduling meetings, sharing calendars and tracking expenses allow employers to save time and money while increasing productivity.
The possibilities are endless with the convenience of smartphones, as they offer businesses significant flexibility, allowing them to work from anywhere.
There is an estimated $1 billion that is spent by U.S. companies on unproductive meetings every year. Some experts estimate that it takes around 15-20 minutes for employees to get back on track after a meeting. These numbers may even lead some business owners to question whether face-to-face meetings worth the trouble anymore? The answer: Yes! While technology offers numerous advantages for business, there are still some things only humans can do, like brainstorming and building relationships. Businesses cannot afford to let new technologies overshadow these key aspects of running a successful company.
Smartphones and other mobile apps not only support face-to-face meetings, but they also allow for quick collaboration. There are countless tools available to help employees collaborate on the go, such as video chat, file sharing and screen capturing.
By using technology wisely, companies can take advantage of these innovative communication methods without sacrificing their precious face time with clients and team members.
An estimated $500 billion is spent by U.S. companies on unproductive business travel every year. This staggering number includes expenses for food or drinks at hotel bars and restaurants during extended stays away from home and long taxi rides between airport terminals and city centers.
With smartphones and tablets, it is no longer necessary for business owners to stay chained to a desk while away from the office. For example, Expensify allows business travelers to do their expenses on a mobile device and then submit them directly from the field via e-mail or cloud storage.
Many entrepreneurs are finding success by using smartphone technology to track their physical location in relation to their customers, assets and employees. This practice is known as geo-fencing, which refers to creating a virtual barrier around a specific location.
Geofencing can help determine where somebody is physically located by tracking their phone’s GPS system in order to send a message to employees with instructions on how best to respond when they approach a certain area of your company’s property.
Geo-fencing is currently being used for marketing purposes in stores across North America. Retailers use this technology to send mobile coupons and deals to consumers when they are near the store, for example.
The security of smartphones is becoming more important as they become an increasingly integral part of daily operations for businesses large and small. For example, 30% of all lost or stolen cell phones are due to weak passwords that can easily be broken by thieves who want access to private information.
It is essential that business owners invest the time needed to ensure their employees understand how best to protect each smartphone’s sensitive data. A few steps include using complex passwords, updating anti-virus software regularly and requiring devices be password protected before being issued to employees.
Businesses continue to adopt smartphones at a rapid pace. Today there are over 128 million active business apps that allow businesses to operate more efficiently.
Smartphones are also creating new job opportunities that did not exist just a few years ago. For example, app development is now one of the fastest growing industries in North America today, with more than 26 billion apps downloaded on iPhones and about 11 billion downloaded on Android phones per year.
With all these benefits it’s no wonder smartphones are becoming increasingly vital for business owners looking to increase productivity and strengthen their company’s bottom line.
