Business Mobility Powers Telecommuting, BYOD and Talent Acquisition

Mobility in the workplace has become such a norm that it’s almost a stretch to imagine working without it. Imagine: having a mid-day doctor’s appointment, and not having a way to check email until the following morning. Or, traveling on a week-long business trip and missing important conference calls. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?

When applied successfully, business mobility allows teams to collaborate and accomplish goals from all corners of the globe. Productivity becomes less about the nine to five and more about a fluid work week, with the ability to check in from the train, the car or even from bed before you turn off the light. Mobility has given modern employees the ability to multitask and produce like never before and emergency scenarios, such as a sick child or problem at home, have become mere interruptions versus show-stoppers. Nothing has to slow down.

Business mobility attracts top talent

Mobility has even ignited one of the most sought-after workplace benefits in recent years: telecommuting. Employees of all levels value the ability to work from the comfort of home and regain hours in their day that would normally be swallowed by a commute. Even jobs that aren’t as traditional a fit for telecommuting, like writers, graphic designers and analysts, are being transformed into “work anywhere” roles with mobile devices and collaboration software.

Likewise, customers have come to expect seamless communication and superior service. Customers today want to communicate in and out of the office, share crucial files at lunch meetings and view reports at conferences. Telling customers this isn’t possible immediately shifts your brand back, technologically, more than a decade. Not to mention, the negative impact a lack of mobility can have on those customer relationships.

Lower maintenance costs

Business mobility has led to the rise of Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) policies. Rather than carrying around an additional workplace laptop or smartphone, employees are able to use their personal devices for business, too. Employees enjoy the option of choosing their device with the assistance of company funding and maintenance support; companies can reap savings by avoiding having to issue new hardware and replace lost or broken devices. Many progressive organizations are reallocating the savings toward employee retirement plans, bonuses and other incentives. Everyone wins in these cases. Companies save money but still maintain control over device management, security and applications, and employees lug fewer devices and only the ones of their choosing.

There’s quite an upside to efficiency, too. It’s becoming more common for employees to have just one phone number—not a personal cell phone, work cell phone, work landline, etc. Customers can call just one number and instantly gain access (even if it’s just to a voicemail), versus having to track down a contact.

Hire based on skill, not location

The world has gone mobile, and that means your talent pool no longer needs to be based explicitly in your city. This opens the door for hiring top-tier talent, those you would have never contacted prior to going mobile. This includes experienced freelancers and parents who likely place high value on flexibility. Hiring remote employees also slashes your relocation expenses.

If you’re not mobile yet, or if you’re just semi-mobile—perhaps only allowing for remote desktop functionality—take a look at fully embracing business mobility in 2016. You may find that your business takes a positive turn across the board: more productive employees, better employee retention, increased brand positioning, and huge IT savings that you can reallocate elsewhere.

If you're interested in learning more about Unified Communications and Colloraboration, one of our knowledgeable specialists can help.