Mobile Devices in Business

Mobile technology is basically portable technology and allows business to be conducted on the run.  When this type of business is conducted, users of mobile devices and the business they work for need to be aware of available security to protect information should a mobile device be misplaced.  Some mobile devices may come in the form of phones, laptops, iPads, laptops and netbooks.  Even GPS devices are a form of mobile technology.  So the big advantage here is being able to conduct business on the run.  Disadvantages are loss of down time – balance, and the increased risk of loss of sensitive information due to loss of the mobile device.  (http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1074298219&r.i=1074298309&r.l1=1073861197&r.l2=1075422789&r.l3=1074298168&r.s=sc&r.t=RESOURCES&type=RESOURCES)

 

Mobile devices, such as laptops, also allow for a meeting with employees at different locations.  No more having to be in a specific place at a specific time to partake in a meeting.  Web cams allow for “face to face” interaction.  The downside to this is many feel, especially without the web cam capabilities, something is lost when everyone isn’t present in a meeting room.

Various ways to use mobile devices in business, which you may not have thought about are:

• For repair jobs – a person who does repairs can send a photo of a broken part in order to find out if it is in stock or has to be ordered.  Usually this is done with an item number, but numbers aren’t always readily available for a part already installed into machinery;

• For various services such as an arborist caring for trees, body work on a car, landscaping – photos can be taken before and after; also a procedure can be captured and more easily explained to the customer showing what had to be done; (GoAnimate: http://goanimate.com/go/movie/0v7Mo_bJeygY?utm_source=emailshare&uid=0tk7ttBu-w4w)

• Tracking packages;        

• Revising documents;

• Sending of documents – even with digital signatures;

• In marketing, more product detail can be provided; marketing brochures can be sent directly to the customer;

• As opposed to carrying catalogs, accessing of product information on mobile devices;

• Maintain inventory;

• Presentations can be done on mobile devices – depending on the size of the group, projectors may be needed;

http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/mobile-devices-to-run-your-business.html

 

My son has an iPhone.  He showed me an app I thought was pretty neat.  He scanned the UPC bar code on an item and was provided with the best price and where to buy it in the area.  It’s not too practical for a large shopping trip; after all, who wants to run around from store to store and spend more money in gas.  However, it is useful if you want to do a little research to find out who has the best prices in town.

Here’s something I’ve found to be very useful for myself at work.  I’ve used my camera phone to email photos of an item to a vendor when I needed the item recreated at a cheaper price than what I was getting it for.  Or I’d find an item with one vendor and was able to check with the company we deal with to see if they could make it for a cheaper price.  I simply get a photo of the item off the internet and email it to our vendor.  Our vendor is familiar if it is legal to reproduce it.  It has saved us money – fantastic!

Did you know. . . this time you're going to have to check it out yourself.  It's the first video that lists:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8