6 Ways Mobility Can Transform the Workplace

Mobile connectivity is, arguably, the top global trend for business and technology leaders of today. Studies project 9 billion users will make mobile connections by 2018, with 50% of the population utilizing a tablet or smart phone as their first method of contact. With numbers like this, it is critical that enterprises not just accept, but embrace mobility as not just a trend, but a valuable asset to their arsenal of business tools. Adopting mobile strategies in the workplace is aiding businesses in transforming goals into successes; widening their reach to potential clients across the globe and empowering employees to be the very best at what they do.

Whether your goals to are to improve communication, automate processes, or boost service request response times, mobility in the workplace can transform the way you conduct business.

If you’re still one of the few holding out against adopting mobile technology in the workplace, here are 6 key aspects of your organization that stand to benefit from adopting this strategy.

1) Technology Removes Boundaries for Increased Collaboration

Mobile doesn’t just apply to business trips anymore. Many companies are now implementing telecommuting and hot desk programs, offering employees more flexibility to work how, where, and when is best for them. Advances in technology now afford us the luxury of this flexibility without sacrificing our ability to communicate. In fact, it has broadened our horizons, allowing us to attend collaborative sessions with colleagues from across the globe. By breaking down the barriers of location and time, conferencing technology has brought employees, customers, and suppliers together to create a more collaborative environment than many of us ever dreamed possible. And with Workplace Management tools such as room reservation software, employees can reserve a space, schedule a meeting, and ensure the room is furnished with all equipment needed for the meeting with just a few entries into their mobile device.

2) Improved Flexibility

For companies striving to succeed long-term in today’s business environment, transparency and flexibility is key. Mobile devices can be one of your greatest tools in achieving this workplace culture. The hardware allows for interaction, regardless of where your “office” is that day; while software and mobile apps open up the door for storing and sharing information. This flexibility leads to a more actively engaged workforce.

3) Enhanced Communication with Reduced Overhead

How often have you sent out an important email, only to find that half your staff either didn’t receive it or hadn’t read it in time? As more of our workforce conducts business away from the office, attending trade events and traveling for business meetings, facilities management teams have had to come up with innovative solutions for keeping employees apprised of company news. Through mobile technology such as digital signage, interactive displays, mobile apps, and self-service kiosks, enterprises can reach a wider audience and ensure they are notified of real-time updates as they occur. And with the right tools in place, employees no longer have to return to their desks in between meetings to check items off their to-do list or update project details in the system.

The benefits of mobility in the workplace extend beyond increased productivity and enhanced communication. Many organizations are realizing a reduction in overhead costs, with some saving up to 25% in voice and data costs. Think of the money saved if you no longer had to purchase and maintain those bulky PCs, desk phones, and hardware. With one mobile device, your employees can gain access to company data, reserve a meeting space, and return a phone call to a client, regardless of where they are.

4) Tailored User Experience

The IoT has allowed us to achieve a new level of personalization than ever before. Through location-aware technology such as way finding tracking, organizations are better able to meet the needs of both customers and their workforce.

Lights turn on as an employee approaches a room, turning off when we exit. Clients receive step-by-step instructions on how to navigate where they are going. A mobile application can even be personalized based on the users’ Persona and Location, offering information most pertinent to their current needs. Kiosks and mobile apps can even offer the option of having users complete satisfaction surveys and supply feedback regarding specific issues. While there is no substitution for an open door and a conversation to offer insight into where inefficiencies may lie within the organization, these are great options for reaching a wide audience.

5) Attracts Talent and Reduces Churn

The Evolving Workforce Project, a three-phase project by TNS Global that delved into mobility in the workplace, found that “83% of global workers believe that technology advances have enabled them to be more productive and see this increasing in the future.” Organizations that attempt to ignore this “trend” not only lose out on productivity; they risk losing out on the best and brightest talent in the industry. The report went on to reveal that younger generations, Millennials in particular, consider mobile policies when choosing which company to work for. BYOD policies are at the top of the list of considerations, as it offers them an experience consistent with how they communicate during non-working hours. The result is a more engaging experience — employees use the interface and applications with which they’re most familiar, leading to increased productivity and reduced downtime.

“When employee engagement increases, there is a corresponding increase in employee retention by up to 87%.” –Human Capital Institute

6) Increased Revenue Potential

In our information-rich society, there are two critical types of interactions that must be fostered: employee empowerment and customer engagement. For many, mobility has become the backbone of their interactive strategy. Clients expect to be updated with the latest industry news, as well as good and services you offer, through social media and mobile applications. Your workforce needs this mobile technology to help in resolving customer issues and to understand the organization’s mission and objectives. By making both interactions a priority, businesses prove they are committed to fulfilling the needs of those most valuable to the business. This commitment and loyalty will be reciprocated, offering your organization a new level of success.

In an effort to support our always-connected workforce, organizations must include mobile devices, applications, cloud-enabled services, and software to make mobility an integral part of the modern workplace strategy. When implemented with your company’s pain points in mind, this added dimension can help address organizational challenges, automate routine processes, and provide real-time data for informed, on-the-fly decisions. A new dimension of communication is discovered, improving the way in which work gets done.