(Photo courtesy of socialmonsters.org)
While desktop computers and laptops show no signs of disappearing yet, mobile devices are quickly coming to dominate the business world. Mobile technology is no longer optional for running a successful business. In fact, CPC Strategy reports that 96 percent of businesses use wireless technology and two-thirds of small businesses say they couldn’t survive without it. Here is a look at the latest in mobile tech and how it is being used across various industries to drive sales:
Connectivity in the Field
In industries such as manufacturing and installations, employees need to possess easy-to-use and portable testing and payment systems. Tablet devices can aid in these processes by giving employees the ability to create proposals, dispatch service specialists and accept payments. Being able to ring up a proposed purchase on the spot and immediately get the installation moving means more sales and happier customers.
Additionally, cloud data services allow your staff to automatically sync their tablets or smartphones with desktop data. This includes calendars, which make scheduling easy, and invoices, which make keeping track of your finances more accurate and efficient. These devices need to be reliable and power efficient. Smartphones like the Google Nexus 6 feature turbocharging, which keeps your staff powered up, connected and ready to go.
Customer Service on the Floor
Technology can be just as powerful in the hands of your customers as it is in the hands of your employees. Many businesses have seen the potential that tablets have to create a simple and highly-interactive experience for customers. For instance, Incentient builds apps for the hospitality industry that allow customers to peruse your wine cellar, restaurant menu or cocktail bar all from a tablet. Giving customers a hands-on app to explore everything you have to offer doesn’t just engage them, it analyzes their choices as well. Many apps of this nature allow you to analyze what your customers are clicking on and what they are buying in real time. This can help you adjust your offerings to improve sales and focus on what your customers want from you.
Mobile devices on the sales floor can make your employees better sales people as well. A tablet is a sleek and professional device that can give anyone access to an encyclopedia of data, allowing each and every sales person to be an expert on the most minute details of your offerings. Furthermore, tablets enable your floor associates to make sales and complete the transactions on the floor. Mobile devices can easily be equipped with point-of-sale apps that accept credit card transactions. Sometimes, a deal can be lost between the sales floor and the register, but portable point-of-sale systems can close these deals and improve your conversion rates.
Finally, mobile devices on the sales floor can keep your entire team on the same page by integrating chat and notification systems. Are you out of stock on an item? Your entire staff can know instantly when they are all connected via a smartphone or tablet device, even if they are in different cities.
