Creating a mobile workforce with a high level of supportive technology is one of the best things an organization can do to engage its employees. Specifically, a recent study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit showed that companies with high rates of mobile enablement experienced a 16 percent increase in productivity as compared to those with low rates.
That’s because busy professionals are constantly on the go—whether traveling to yet another meeting or juggling work and home lives. But just because employees aren’t in the office tied to their computers doesn’t mean they can’t use their time wisely. It’s not uncommon to have lots of “dead time”—waiting in line for coffee, commuting on the subway, waiting for 15 minutes in the school pick-up line—that could be used differently, if only they had the tools to do so.
But if employees have a smartphone or tablet, they already possess the most important tool in their business tool belt. In fact, according to Wrike’s 2016 Mobile Productivity Report that surveyed 850 professionals, 43 percent said their mobile device was “very critical” for work. And 44 percent of respondents use their device for work-related business more than 20 times each day.
Most of us make great use of our phones and tablets to respond to business-related emails, texts and calls when we’re on the go. But there’s so much more you can do with your mobile device—even if your organization doesn’t provide top-notch mobile technology.
Increase your mobile productivity by following these five insider tips:
- Take advantage of recent app updates that allow for a more immersive mobile experience. App developers are constantly changing their creations, fixing bugs, adding new features and improving functionality and security. Just because an app hasn’t met all of your mobile workforce needs before doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Keep your apps updated so you’ll always have access to the latest bells and whistles—and greater work-from-home productivity.
- Discover how to multitask on mobile devices. When you’re on a computer, it’s easy to switch between tasks and run several applications at once. For example, you can watch a video and check the weather without the video stopping. It’s also possible to peruse your favorite social media site, read an email that just came in and return to your social media site without skipping a beat. For a long time, that wasn’t possible on mobile devices—but now, some offer limited multitasking. Explore options like app switching, split screen viewing and more on your mobile device.
