Rob May
Here are eight of the ways that smart phones have revolutionized our conception of business.
1. Email and Response Times
Email has done a lot to change the way we think of business communication, and likewise, smart phones have done a lot to change how we think of emails.
While it was once standard to let emails pile up consistently and create responses in batches, instantly checking your messages has become something of an expectation for serious businesspeople. As such, the expected response time for any urgent message has decreased from “one to three business days” to about “two to twelve hours.”
2. Increased Attention to Social Networks
Social networks have already ramped up in popularity and importance for businesses. However, thanks to the constant attention users pay to their smart phone social networking apps, this medium has become the single greatest source of word-of-mouth traffic.
3. Affordable Mobile App Alternatives
A typical suite of productivity software for a computer will run you about $50 per license. For smart phone apps, the quality is shockingly similar but the price falls in the $3 to $10 range. Additionally, many companies provide free “light” versions that are supported by mobile ads.
Going on business trips has never been easier. Not only can you find plane tickets and low hotel prices at a moment’s notice, but you can find your way around the new area with ease thanks to mobile maps and GPS navigation utilities.
5. Mobile Advertising Has Taken Off
Mobile ads pay for a huge portion of app developers’ time. The reason, of course, is that businesses have found that these often seen and clicked ads can be very lucrative when appropriately targeted and placed.
6. Increased Telecommuting Opportunities
Ten years ago, the idea of working entirely from home for an outside employer existed but was very off the beaten path. Now, thanks to modern technology, cloud computing, and devices like smart phones, telecommuting positions are being offered by a large chunk of major companies.
7. Lowered Technology Costs
It used to be that equipping a road warrior for mobile business cost thousands of dollars. Now you can grab a smart phone for as little as about $100 with a contract, and the price of these devices is only decreasing.
8. Less Dead Time
Businesspeople can now continue to be productive regardless of their location. A bus ride commute means a chance to catch up on emails and reading, business trips won’t create huge lulls in production, and emergencies can be tended as they crop up.
