News Learning to walk: How can your business become mobile? Learning to walk: How can your business become mobile? Your business can grow and connect from anywhere using Microsoft solutions. Now that your enterprise is up and running, and you've found your feet as a business leader, it's time to start thinking about ways of improving the way you operate. How can you make your business reach its full potential? You need to consider whether there are ways of boosting the productivity of your workers, which in turn can improve performance and increase output. In order for your company to reach the next level, you need a lean, mean workforce - one where employees make the most of every hour in the working day. Technology has a part to play here, particularly in the super-connected cloud age. Equipping your people with the right solutions can make a real difference as you target further growth in 2014 and beyond. The power of mobile Mobile technology has the real potential to boost productivity for small businesses. Where employees have web-enabled smartphones, tablets and other devices, they are able to complete work tasks wherever they are. So if they have been out at a client meeting, or visiting a supplier, they can still stay connected. Eliminating 'dead time' - periods of the day when employees are unable to do anything productive - can have a positive impact on overall levels of productivity. Time employees spent on the train or in a taxi, waiting in reception rooms, or even in hotels if they are away of business trips, can now be put to better use. This is because mobile solutions, supported by advances in cloud technology, allow individuals to log on to corporate networks. They can access all their files, documents, data and applications via a smartphone or tablet, almost as if they are sat at their PC in the office. This can help speed up work processes and projects, support effective team work, and ensure a swifter response to customer enquiries. The continuing rollout of super-fast 4G mobile broadband in the UK, and also growing levels of public Wi-Fi coverage, mean there are fewer and fewer locations where a signal cannot be found. And with mobile device users able to access faster download and upload speeds, there are less constraints on the tasks that can be conducted via a handset. For those with 4G, it is now possible to enter video conferences, make online calls and use other high-bandwidth cloud services - making location less relevant in business than ever before. No budget? Why not consider BYOD? As a small business, you may only have a limited budget for IT hardware. This means the thought of investing in a new smartphone and tablet for each worker worries you - there simply isn’t the budget available. However, this shouldn't necessarily be a barrier to the adoption of mobile technology - a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy may be your trump card. The chances are - given the relative ubiquity of consumer mobile devices - that your employees are carrying around personal smartphones and tablets anyway. Allowing them to use their own devices for work tasks can solve two problems - it means your business avoids significant capital expenditure, and you won’t be asking your workers to keep two different phones or tablets on their person at all times. Where employees use their own devices - as opposed to company-issued hardware - they should have a clearer idea of the functionality of the hardware, and how to use the various features. As such, they can start adding value from the outset. But if you provide them with an unfamiliar device, one they have not used before, it will take some time until they get up to speed. You may even have to take time out of the working day to run training sessions. Empowering workers Employees who have access to mobile technology benefit from greater flexibility and agility - they have the opportunity to work in a way that suits them best. Since employees are never more than a couple of clicks away from their email account or the company sales database, physical location is less important than in the past. This means it is possible for many employees to work remotely, something that can help improve their work-life balance. If you have workers with young families, why not allow them to spend a day or two at home each week? They can also work split-shifts to fit in better with their other responsibilities. So long as they complete their designated tasks, does it matter that they are not in the office? By being flexible with your people, it may be possible to improve their morale and commitment to the company. As a small business leader, you want to keep your best people motivated and loyal - they are adding value to the enterprise. The use of mobile technology can have a small part to play in this - it offers greater freedom and autonomy to staff members, but without impacting negatively on the company's bottom line.