Today, you’ll find very few people without a mobile phone. But smartphones aren’t just for fun — they can be useful tools for small business as well.
Using business mobile phones for your small business offers a number of benefits that can help improve productivity, efficiency and customer service.
Easily Accessible
Unlike laptops which need to be hooked up to a desk, mobile devices are easy for employees to use anywhere, at any time. Employees who have access to their work on their smartphones can check on important information and stay in the know at all times, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively.
As a result, they’re more productive and their morale gets a boost. Moreover, they’re able to take care of minor administrative tasks on their own without having to go through a lot of back and forth with HR or other team members.
The use of mobile technology to facilitate business operations is essential in the day to day running of small businesses. It allows them to work from wherever they are and communicate with clients and colleagues easily. This can be achieved through emails or calls which are the most commonly used functionalities amongst the Noordwyk small business owners.
Using mobile phones in the workplace also allows workers to track and manage labour costs. This can be done through apps that can help with planning routes or tracking shipments which in turn saves on overhead costs. Likewise, other apps can be developed that can make payroll easier for both the company and staff. For example, apps that can monitor labour hours and breaks can ensure that employees are paid accurately and are able to take their mandated breaks.
Reduces Costs
A mobile phone is a multifunctional device that can be used to perform multiple tasks and workflows – from a quick email to a coworker, to taking pictures of an inventory, to scanning or radioing stock, to running a company database. These devices are also useful for collaborating with customers and colleagues outside of the office.
As such, a mobile phone can actually reduce business expenses. For instance, the costs of a computer and an office can be avoided by using a mobile phone to run your business, particularly when the phone is equipped with the appropriate software. Another way to cut costs is by choosing a tariff that suits your usage.
Consumers love the convenience of mobile technology, which offers many time and money-saving applications. In developed markets, consumers value mobile technologies at upward of $6,000 per year, or 12 percent of their income. In emerging markets, mobile phones are even more valued – in China, consumers value these technologies at more than $1.4 trillion, or 44 percent of their income. This consumer surplus far exceeds industry revenues across the entire mobile value chain and is larger than the gross domestic product of every country studied except for South Korea. Narrowing this divide would help to boost global economic growth. This is why it is important to encourage SMEs to adopt mobile technology.
Increases Customer Service
The phone is still the most popular channel for customer support, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get right. Customers expect a lot from the channel, and it’s challenging to keep up with their demands, especially since other valuable channels have emerged. But a strong and effective phone channel is worth the effort. In fact, loyal customers spend 140% more than their unsatisfied counterparts, and they’re four times more likely to spread the word about your business.
Moreover, smartphones can help you implement your business phone system’s features to make the experience better for both employees and clients. For example, your company can use a mobile-optimized website that presents the customer with a convenient storefront or even a GPS-enabled app that takes them to the location of the product they’re interested in.
Cell phones can also improve customer service by enabling employees to access the information they need while working away from the office. For instance, a sales representative can access the company database through a secure Internet connection and check customer records before calling them or contact colleagues during a meeting to provide them with essential details about a customer’s order. This helps them resolve problems quickly and increase their level of empathetic customer service. It’s also easy for employees to communicate with each other via text, which cuts down on misunderstanding and lost messages and reduces the time spent on face-to-face meetings.