The dominance of this sector within our country is of interest to the entire business community, as it represents not just a shift in the areas where profits are made but also a shift to a different working culture, where companies across all sectors and within all industries must respond to a more demanding customer base.

With greater competition within the economy across the board, deadlines are tighter and expectations greater. Customers are becoming increasingly fickle and simply turning to a competitor if they are not getting the service that they require, leaving companies to compete in a contracting market.

There is no denying that customers are now under the impression that their suppliers and service agencies are no more than just a phone call or email away. This ‘want it now’ culture means that employees are under pressure to obtain instant access to information and respond quickly to client and colleague requests in order to maintain and expand their customer base.

For this reason, the most savvy and hardworking businesses are looking for ways to improve their productivity and ensure that they shine above and beyond their competitors. One way in which they are doing this is by investing in mobile working.

A recent study by T-Mobile found that almost half (47%) of SMEs are considering implementing a flexible working policy as a means to maintain growth and reduce costs in the current economic slowdown. A further 84% believed that technology becomes more important in a slower economy.

It's essential that the desire to reap the Benefits of mobile working is supported by an understanding of how to do it effectively and what technology to choose. Admittedly some companies are concerned by the cost implications of equipping their staff with mobile phones. However, provided a company has a flexible tariff in place which is specifically tailored to their usage needs, mobile technology can often work out cheaper than fixed landlines. If a business has the right mobile working tools and services it can enjoy the rewards of increased efficiency, improved information sharing and lower costs.

Mobile operators now offer both devices and data packages to suit individual business requirements. Call minutes, texts and data can be purchased based on the exact number of users and then shared across the business.

In turn, devices can be mixed and matched to ensure that all users have a phone or PDA that best suits their individual needs. Added to this, the introduction of SIM only plans for businesses now makes it much more simple for small businesses to trial and introduce mobile working into their organisations, as they can specify the length of time they want to use the SIM for (ranging from a month to a year), without upgrading their handsets, giving them access to voice, text and data services at an affordable price.

Assessing the needs of each individual worker will help businesses to decide which device and which technology will make that person more productive. If employees’ off-site duties are mainly email-related they may be best-suited to a PDA or Smart Phone.

However, those working with Word, PowerPoint or Excel could be better off with a USB Mobile Broadband Stick, which they can plug in to their existing laptop.

For instance, IRIS Software, a large privately owned software house, has a strong field sales presence to service its client base. The company realised that a new mobile communications package to enable its mobile and field sales staff to work more efficiently on the move would be an essential part in progressing its business. It provided its field sales force with 40 T-Mobile MDA Mail devices and 58 Mobile Broadband enabled data cards. 

The handsets and data cards have improved the level of professionalism and responsiveness the field sales team can offer clients and new business leads. Each sales person now has the capability to respond immediately to emails, process orders and download emails with attachments whilst on the road; all vital factors in improving the business’ overall productivity. 

While mobile technology is not the answer to all of the operational Challenges that businesses face on a day-to-day basis, it can significantly help to improve productivity and customer service, as well as contribute to staff morale and motivation, which combined, gives companies the competitive edge. The cost of using mobile technology, if implemented properly, is significantly outweighed by the potential Benefits, helping SMEs to stay afloat and strengthen relationships with customers at a time when competition is at its most fierce.