The most common mobile phone applications are still e-mail, voice and calendar. So does it make sense to transition your employees from cheaper mobile phones to smartphones?

For many workers, smartphones definitely pay for themselves in both savings and productivity. This is particularly true for mobile workers such as salespeople, delivery and repair personnel, and on-site consultants.

Many of our clients rely on a combination of smartphones and a ShoreTel unified communication solution. ShoreTel Mobility’s RoamAnywhere Client for mobile devices offers all the features found on a desk phone, such as a company directory, voicemail access, presence information and more. Plus, RoamAnywhere makes it easy for users to manage email, instant messaging and other communications while on the go.

With the power of a smartphone, workers can employ many strategies to improve their effectiveness and efficiency – helping the technology not only pay for itself, but provide positive return on investment as well:

1. Mobile email. When employees can send and receive emails on the go, they can speed up customer service requests, access critical information, and generally do their job more productively.
2. Fewer phone calls. With a smartphone, employees can access critical information via text message, instant message, email or app. They are less likely to call a colleague at the home office searching for information, which wastes the time of yet another person. Plus, when colleagues and customers know they can reach a mobile worker via email, they are more likely to communicate this way. The result? Less time spent on voicemail, fewer costly cellular minutes and lower phone bills.
3. Reduced drive time. What if your mobile workforce could skip their drive to the office and go directly to their first assignment or sales call instead? With a smartphone, employees can retrieve email and other information on the go, rather than being forced to visit the office. If your company reimburses for mileage or pays for company cars, a smartphone can shorten commutes and save you big bucks. Plus, employees can use that formerly wasted commute time to work on productive tasks.
4. Less getting lost. Most smartphones offer advanced mapping features and turn-by-turn directions, including GPS. If your mobile workforce spends less time getting lost, they will spend more time working. Plus, you can avoid buying more costly in-vehicle navigation systems.
5. Easy documentation. Smartphones include built-in cameras and video capabilities that are simple to use. Mobile workers can use these to document problems at client sites. When problems arise at remote sites, colleagues at the home office can receive photos or videos for further analysis. Finally, apps such as Apple’s FaceTime enable the mobile workforce to conduce a quick video conference from any location.

Related posts:

1. Give your workforce mobility to get the job done
2. Does mobility need its own manager?
3. Big decisions ahead on mobility
4. Little steps add up to big productivity gains, with unified communications
5. You need a BYOD policy for mobile technologies