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Business · December 8, 2020

Why Your Business’s Mobile Assets Need More Flexibility (& How to Achieve It)

The wisest of business leaders have always acknowledged the importance of flexibility across a business. However, 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic proved once and for all that you never really know what’s around the corner. Flexibility, the ability to make swift decisions and enact change immediately, will have meant the difference between success and failure for many businesses.

Flexibility is about choice. When the unexpected comes, flexible businesses will have more than one option for moving forward. This year, those businesses that have already invested in flexible ways of working will be thankful that they did so. They will have largely been able to carry on operations without pause.

Why mobile assets are so important right now

The coronavirus pandemic continues, and much of the world is still facing lockdowns and restrictions. Businesses still face incredibly turbulent times. A good remote staff work setup is more important than ever.

A fundamental requirement of a successful remote staff setup is good access to high-quality mobile communications. New technologies are making it easier than ever to access the necessary working platforms on mobile, tablet and laptop, wherever and whenever your staff members need them.

Companies are now more reliant than ever on video calling and conferencing technology, cloud-based document sharing and collaboration setups, social media for networking and recruitment, customer data analytics, CMMS apps for work processes and asset management, expenses management apps, and much more.

Your team needs to be able to access the above as and when needed for a truly flexible working model. Mobile assets allow them to do just this.

Here’s how to strengthen your company’s mobile assets for optimum team performance, whatever the future may bring.

1.    Ensure everyone has access to the optimal device/devices

Having your staff fully equipped for remote working wherever possible would now be considered essential. Where is the flexibility if staff can only access their tasks in the office during standard working hours?

Company-issued laptops have long been standard. Laptops are ideal for those who need to engage in longer written communication. They can easily be moved between the office and home. However, have you ever considered that some of your staff may work more efficiently using a tablet or even a smartphone?

Laptops may not be optimal for those individuals who are not desk-bound. People who work on-site in industry, for example, may have all the tools they need using a smartphone or tablet. Large touchscreens and the relevant apps may speed up work processes for these staff members. They can keep in touch using video conferencing and telephone calls.

2.    Unify work platforms

If you haven’t already, now is the time to streamline and unify the platforms used within teams. This makes collaboration at a distance happen much more easily. You’ll need to consider how staff can share documents, speed up written communication, and communicate through video and voice calls. This is a shortcut to making your business more agile.

3.    Ensure your team have good access to the internet

Providing an adequate mobile data bundle to all team members can be a very good investment. If you have a team on the road, they will need adequate data to always be able to access the necessary apps, check emails, and much more. They should not need to worry about running out of data.

While you may have staff working from home using Wi-Fi, what happens when their home network drops out or gets overloaded? Providing data can keep communications and cloud-based systems running smoothly.

4.    Review your mobile contracts

No business can afford to be spending unnecessarily right now. Be sure to check you are not spending on services that are going unused. Auditing your mobile contracts is a wise move. As well as adding data and minutes where necessary, you can check for unused connections.

It may also be a good time to switch mobile providers. Look for a company that can provide you with the same flexibility that you are looking to build in your own business. You might need to scale up data and minutes right now, but you will not want to commit to them indefinitely.

You need to be certain that you can flex your contract as and when necessary, with ease. This is all part of a new agile way of working for your business, so be sure your new mobile provider can deliver this.

5.    Build in transparency

One of the biggest concerns business owners report is that of transparency and loss of accountability. Mobile device management tools (MDMs) can help you overcome these challenges. MDMs can help with:

  • Security updates
  • Controlling access to websites and app installation
  • Monitoring appropriate tariffs
  • Remote troubleshooting
  • Remote chat and security controls

The future?

One thing we can be certain of is that coronavirus has remodeled the way we work in 2020. Is it a temporary effect? We don’t yet know whether or how long remote, flexible working will be required. However, many businesses are finding that operating this way is of great benefit to them and are considering adopting it long-term regardless of the pandemic.

Research shows that flexibility and the possibility of remote or flexible working is a positive for a business and its staff. Employees can choose where (and possibly when) they can work at their best, thus improving productivity. In fact, during recruitment processes, there is likely to be an increased expectation from high-quality candidates for flexible working arrangements.

When well-managed, flexible working arrangements do work well. Expectations and productivity remain high when a flexible or remote working arrangement is instigated with care and consideration. For the arrangement to work well, employees must have access to the right IT equipment, mobile tariffs and data, apps, and software. Assets must be regularly monitored and services regularly reviewed.

Get started by exploring tailored devices and suitable apps, plus flexible business mobile tariffs, data bundles and contract lengths. Ask telecommunications companies what they can do to help your business gain flexibility and agility so you can head into the future with confidence. 

AUTHOR BIO

Altaf Ladak is the Deputy CEO at Roshan (Telecom Development Company Afghanistan), Afghanistan’s leading total communications provider, which covers all 34 provinces with over 6.5 million active subscribers and has a deep commitment to the country’s reconstruction and development. Roshan is a true Afghanistan success story, actively contributing to the country’s long-term development with more than $750 million invested in Afghanistan.