The Business of Mobile Devices

Implementing the latest mobile devices like Android, iOS, and Windows into a corporate environment is a challenge. 

 

The job of a IT Technician is never an easy one, especially when tackling the task of integrating mobile devices into the workplace. There’s so much that can go wrong and so many different difficulties to face along the way. Consultants can help but have to balance two very different sets of concerns: the information technology side and the employee side. Finding the ideal IT solution for a small or growing business isn’t as simple as taking the latest and greatest technology and dumping into the hands of employees or employers. There are a number of factors in IT Consulting that need to be carefully weighed and considered before decisions are made.

 

Providing small business support through new mobile devices starts with the devices themselves. The once-king of the mobile business market, Blackberry, has taken a backseat of sorts in the last year or two. The falling Blackberry market share has opened the door to new competing operating systems, namely Android, iOS, and maybe even soon to be Windows Phone. Much like the personal cell phone market, each of these operating systems are gaining a foothold in the small business IT mobile devices segment.

The proper way to implement these various systems varies greatly depending on which system your small business is best suited to.

 

Android is a system that’s ideal for younger and more technologically advanced audiences. It allows for a lot of customization and software utilization that can really provide an ideal level of small business IT support. Implementing an Android system requires a lot of direct employee training and room for employees to explore new uses for the device.

 

With iOS devices, employees can adapt more quickly thanks to the user friendly experience and interface. An older and less technologically advanced work force can be brought into a modern mobile era with iOS options. There is also a lot of software support and a strong application network surrounding the iOS system, giving a small business all the different tools it needs.

 

The Windows Phones platform is still the least utilized in the small business segment despite Windows’ dominance on the computer front. It offers a nice balance between a user friendly interface and room for growth. With the latest advancement of Windows Phones the market share is sure to climb.

Information technology consultants takes all these different mobile options and possible directions for a business and aims to make the best decision. It’s definitely not easy, but it can have big impacts on the future of a small business. A consultant should weigh how quickly a company needs to grow, how many and what kind of employees make up the group, and their software integration needs to find out exactly what mobile device to implement. No business owner or technology consultant should be making such a huge decision without analyzing all the different facets of a business. Finding the right system can make or break a burgeoning company.

 

There are a lot of risks involved with introducing mobile devices into the workplace. Implementing a mobile device that’s at arms with the workforce can result in employees who are suddenly much less efficient, spending more time on figuring out their tools than actually using them. Giving a creative and resourceful employee a mobile device that can’t keep up with his/her productivity will result in a frustrated worker with less motivation. There are even instances when employees may not need a mobile device at all, so it’s an extra cost that actually lowers satisfaction and productivity. On a larger scale, these individual effects will have major impacts on the bottom line. Not taking the time and not seeking out the right small business IT support to make the big decisions is just too risky.  There’s no underestimating the importance of finding the correct mobile device option.

 

The best steps to prepare a small business for the implementation of a new mobile device system are actually pretty straightforward.

First off, Seek out people who know what they’re doing. Don’t rely on outdated strategies and common sense, or bad decisions will definitely follow.

Next, Collect all the information before a decision is made, or employees may not match up with the system that’s selected.

Finally, Train employees on the proper and improper ways to use the new mobile devices, ensuring the efficient and maximized use of the new system. Following those steps will reduce the risks of introducing a totally new mobile device system into a small business.

It’s pretty easy to screw things up in a major way if certain precautions aren’t taken and strategies aren’t followed.  Finding the right mobile device operating system for a small business is a monumental undertaking that requires attention to the devices as well as the employees.