The Mobile Workplace is Boosting Productivity… How SMEs can Make the Move to Mobile.

It’s official… the future of work is mobile. 71% of employees believe that mobile technology improves their productivity rate and creativity, and businesses are more than willing to implement mobile technologies to support this fact.

But a mobile workplace isn’t just about giving everyone a tablet to use. It’s about equipping workers with the intelligence they need to make better decisions, and to get their jobs done with greater efficiency.

Anytime, anyplace fingertip access to things like data, documents, inventory records and booking systems is one of the biggest drivers of productivity. And being able to capture data, enter credentials and upload reports in the field are abilities that sit behind the most competitive organisations.

Companies relying on paper-based workflows are sacrificing efficiency and profitability, as well as missing out on the variety of ways that mobile technology can transform the way their employees interact with each other, and with customers.

By replacing paper-based workflows with mobile productivity apps and integrated backend platforms, a whole new world of operational efficiency comes to light. And by harnessing the power of mobility, organisations can make winning and retaining new business, and new talent, a more straightforward process.

We’re living in a mobile-first world

Almost 60% of the world’s internet users are using mobile devices to search the web. And 70% of employees are working through mobile devices, with 200 million worldwide using mobile business apps.

84% of decision makers plan to increase spending on mobile applications that drive employee productivity, reduce costs and enhance customer satisfaction. And 82% of service organisations believe that mobility will be a strategic initiative over the coming years.

But getting the most out of a mobile-first workplace takes a lot more than simply putting smart devices in the hands of workers. What you really need to be doing is providing them with real-time intelligence that enables better decisions to be made and customer issues to be resolved with greater efficiency.

To do this, there’s a very real need for mobile productivity apps tailored to the individual needs of the workforce. Whilst productivity software has traditionally been desktop based, now is the time to start taking it down the mobile-first route.

The great thing for the smaller business is that it’s easier for them to make the change to an agile, mobile-first approach, because they’re not generally burdened with integrated on-premise legacy systems.

Why is going mobile good for productivity?

The mobile workplace, driven by mobile productivity apps, is a place that offers a host of benefits. The key objective is to make employees as productive as possible, whether they are at their desks, in the field or working remotely.

Equipping staff with the tools they need to do their jobs more efficiently will deliver an instant boost to productivity.

A mobile productivity app designed for purpose will make it easier to capture leads, process sales, make appointments, register visitors, place orders, to manage HR procedures and for facilities management to undertake their everyday tasks.

Using a mobile device also has the benefit of access to functions like cameras, which can be used to instantly capture, log and relay onsite images and video so they don’t have to be processed separately at a later date. Smart device functionality can also be used to capture signatures onsite, as well as complete interactive forms.

All of these tasks can be done on-the-go with a custom mobile app designed for purpose, which means workers get to fulfil their roles where they feel most comfortable, or right there in the field, which again is another productivity driver.

No need for cumbersome hand written forms or arduous manual data entry, and no more delays in feeding information back to where it’s needed. With a mobile productivity app, processes are standardised and unified, and can also be automated for even greater efficiency.

How to create bespoke mobile productivity apps without custom software development?

Custom software development was traditionally the only way to create bespoke productivity apps. An expensive and lengthy process, with little budget available to make changes as and when processes evolved.

But that was before Microsoft launched Power Apps.

Microsoft Power Apps enables businesses of all sizes to create the custom mobile apps they need to solve their productivity challenges, all delivered via an affordable subscription package.

Power Apps can be accessed via a web browser or any mobile device, so they have flexibility for onsite and remote working, and can be used any time, any place. There’s also the option to set up offline synchronisation, allowing users to work and interact with their data without an internet connection. Once back online, changes are automatically synchronised.

Looking to boost productivity by taking your workforce mobile?

The potential for enhancing productivity and competitive edge through the adoption of a mobile-first approach to working courtesy of custom apps is significant.

If you’d like to learn more about how Microsoft Power Apps could transform the way you work, talk to ClearTec IT, technology productivity partners to small and medium sized businesses across Essex and London.

As accredited Microsoft partners, the team here at ClearTec IT is able to offer a full Power Apps development, support, subscription and management service. To discuss how we could make a difference to your business and help you meet your business growth goals through today’s technology, please get in touch.