Unlocking the Potential of Smartphones in the Workplace

Smartphones have become widely used in both personal and business settings, but many people do not use their smartphones to their fullest potential for work-related tasks.

In fact, according to a 2022 study, only 15% of businesses provide smartphones to all employees, while 46% take a hybrid approach in which some employees receive smartphones and others don’t.

Another 39% operate based on the bring your own device (BYOD) approach.

With 75% of Americans stating that they use their smartphones for work purposes, why are only 15% of companies providing company smartphones?

Despite their widespread use in personal life, smartphones have not been fully integrated into the workplace for several reasons. However, if utilized properly, they have the potential to be highly productive tools.

In this article, we’ll discuss the different ways in which smartphones can be utilized in the workplace and provide solutions to address concerns about their usage from both employees and employers.

How Smartphones are used in the workplace

Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, and they are not just for personal use anymore. They have made their way into the professional world, changing the way we work and communicate. From healthcare to real estate, smartphones have revolutionized the workplace by providing easy access to real-time data, improving productivity, and enhancing the customer experience.

Before we discuss how and why they aren’t being used to their full extent, let’s explore the various ways smartphones are used in the workplace and how they have transformed different industries.

Healthcare: Smartphones are used in healthcare for patient management, electronic health records, medical imaging, and telemedicine. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become increasingly important, and smartphones have played a crucial role in enabling remote consultations between doctors and patients.

Retail: Retail employees use smartphones for mobile point-of-sale transactions, inventory management, and customer engagement. Smartphones have made it easier for retailers to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers, with features such as mobile payments and real-time inventory updates.

Field Service: Field service technicians use smartphones to access customer information, track service requests, and manage inventory. With real-time data and access to customer history, technicians can provide faster and more efficient service, leading to increased customer satisfaction.

Hospitality: Hotels use smartphones for check-in and check-out processes, room service orders, and concierge services. By using smartphones, hotels can provide a more personalized experience for their guests, with features such as mobile check-in and access to local recommendations.

Finance: Financial professionals use smartphones for portfolio management, stock trading, and client communication. With real-time market data and access to investment research, financial professionals can make informed decisions and respond quickly to market changes.

Education: Teachers use smartphones for classroom management, grading, and student communication. With mobile apps for education, teachers can create and distribute lesson plans, provide feedback to students, and communicate with parents and administrators.

Construction: Construction workers use smartphones to manage project timelines, access blueprints, and communicate with teams. By using mobile apps for construction, workers can easily track progress, collaborate with team members, and share information in real time.

Marketing: Marketers use smartphones for social media management, content creation, and analytics tracking. With access to social media platforms and mobile apps for marketing, marketers can create and publish content, analyze engagement, and adjust their strategies in real time.

Transportation: Drivers and logistics professionals use smartphones for route planning, navigation, and delivery management. With real-time traffic data and GPS navigation, drivers can optimize their routes, avoid delays, and provide faster delivery times.

Real Estate: Real estate agents use smartphones for property management, document signing, and client communication. With mobile apps for real estate, agents can manage listings, schedule appointments, and communicate with clients, all from their smartphones.

With the wide range of benefits that smartphones can offer in the workplace, it’s important to address the reasons why they may be underutilized.

Reasons* for Underutilization of Smartphones in the Workplace

One of the main reasons why smartphones are not being used to their full potential in the workplace is that many employees are not provided with proper training or guidance on how to use the devices for work purposes. Companies may give their employees an iPhone for work use but fail to provide training on how to utilize its full capabilities. Without the proper training, employees may not even realize the full range of tools available to them or how to effectively use them to improve their productivity.

Another issue is that employees may be hesitant to use their personal devices for work-related tasks. Many may feel uncomfortable using their personal devices for work, which can lead to underutilization of the device’s full potential. This can also create concerns around data privacy and security, as well as confusion around device ownership and maintenance.

Solutions* for Utilizing Smartphones and Achieving Better Productivity

Companies can provide more comprehensive training to their employees on how to use smartphones for work-related tasks. This can include hands-on training sessions, instructional videos, and one-on-one coaching. Employers can also encourage the use of smartphones by offering incentives such as bonuses or promotions for those who effectively use their devices for work-related tasks. Additionally, companies can provide clear guidelines and policies around the use of personal devices for work purposes, addressing concerns around data privacy and security. By providing employees with the necessary resources and support, companies can increase productivity and efficiency through the use of smartphones in the workplace.

Another solution to the underutilization of smartphones in the workplace is for companies to consider renting these devices instead of purchasing them outright. Renting smartphones can alleviate concerns about using personal devices for work-related tasks and can also save companies money. Renting allows companies to provide their employees with the latest technology without the upfront cost of purchasing new devices. Additionally, renting provides the flexibility to upgrade or exchange devices as needed, ensuring that employees always have access to the latest technology. This can also save companies money in the long run, as they do not have to bear the cost of replacing outdated or obsolete devices. By exploring rental options, companies can improve their employees’ access to technology and increase productivity without breaking the bank.

Getting past the stigma

The physical presence of employees in the office for routine tasks that can easily be accomplished remotely can result in employees feeling unproductive and disengaged. This can also have a negative impact on morale and overall job satisfaction, which can lead to higher turnover rates and lower productivity levels. To combat this mindset, companies need to shift their focus from physical presence to productivity and results. By embracing the use of mobile devices like smartphones, companies can empower their employees to work from anywhere, at any time, while still maintaining a high level of productivity and collaboration.

One way to do this is to implement a results-oriented work culture that focuses on the outcomes of work rather than the process. This can include setting clear goals and objectives for employees, providing them with the necessary resources and tools to accomplish their tasks, and giving them the flexibility to work in a way that best suits their needs.

By embracing a results-oriented work culture, companies can not only increase employee engagement and productivity but also reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining physical office spaces and equipment.

Don’t forget about security

Another factor to consider when using smartphones in the workplace is security. With the increasing reliance on mobile devices for work-related tasks, the risk of data breaches and security threats is also increasing.

To mitigate these risks, companies need to implement robust security measures, such as device encryption, password protection, and remote wiping capabilities. Additionally, companies should establish clear guidelines and policies for employees to follow when using their smartphones for work purposes.

This can include guidelines for accessing company data and networks, as well as protocols for reporting lost or stolen devices. By establishing clear security guidelines and policies, companies can reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure that their sensitive information remains secure.

*Some of these risk-mitigating applications can be installed by your smartphone rental company, ensuring all employees are using the same security measures.

Embrace the future today, rent smartphones for your business

The iPhone has become a valuable tool for work-related tasks in various industries, including healthcare, retail, field service, hospitality, finance, education, construction, marketing, transportation, and real estate. However, many users are not taking advantage of the device’s full productivity potential due to a lack of proper training or concerns around personal device usage.

To address these issues, companies can provide more comprehensive training, establish clear guidelines and policies, and consider renting smartphones for all applicable employees. By embracing a results-oriented work culture and implementing robust security measures, companies can empower their employees to work from anywhere, at any time, while still maintaining a high level of productivity and collaboration.

Smartphones like the latest iPhone can be powerful tools for the enterprise market, but it is up to companies to fully utilize their capabilities and address the potential challenges that come with their use.

Are you looking to rent smartphones for your business today? Ask us about our iPhone rentals.

Starting the rental process is simple – just submit a quote with a brief description of your requirements and our experienced technology rental associate will respond promptly. Our agents will handle all the logistics of delivery and installation and provide on-call technicians to troubleshoot and resolve any issues that may arise with your rental technology.

If you’re looking for technology rentals such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, IP phones, internet hotspots, accessory rentals, displays, kiosks, event engagement rentals, and more, our dedicated account manager Randy Moore is here to assist you. Feel free to contact Randy at 1-800-736-8772 ext. 225 or fill out our quick online quote form for any rental-related queries to make your event exhibition hassle-free.