Being a person who loves my iPhone and iPad, articles about mobile trends usually catch my eye. I found one recently from Portfolio that talked about how important mobile and wireless services are to businesses. Check out these stats:
59% of small businesses say wireless technology is essential to their business
33% of small business owners check their mobile device before brushing their teeth
I’m not sure dentists are real happy to hear that last one. But here’s another one that will capture your attention:
Mobile-fluent firms earn $10.8 million annually compared with $5.7 million for mobile laggards.
So being mobile savvy can help us make more money. That’s great news for businesses. We can teach employees how to be more productive using mobile technology. This will help employees and ultimately grow the business.
It seems to me there’s one catch. In order to take full advantage of what mobile brings to the party, we have to give 
employees guidelines on the proper way to use mobile and wireless technologies. As mobile and wireless technology become a bigger part of our business lives, organizations must offer guidance to employees about the best ways to use them. I’m not talking about “don’t do this and don’t do that.” I’m saying “here’s how you can be productive using your smartphone.”
Now, you might be thinking, “Hey, I just wrote that social media policy. No need to add another one.” And that might be true. Remember mobile and social are two different things. Today, mobile phones allow you to do much more than check your Facebook account. It’s possible to use social media on your mobile phone and you can also use it in your office cubicle.
If your organization is looking for new ways to increase employee productivity, exploring mobile could make a lot of sense for you. I’d suggest reading the book, “Managing the Mobile Workforce” by David Clemons and Michael Kroth, Ph.D. The book offers a very comprehensive view of the mobile workforce and considerations for managers when leading a mobile and virtual team.
Does anyone know of an organization offering mobile technology training and guidance to employees? Let us know in the comments.
Oh and P.S.! I’m excited to be doing a webinar next week with my friends at BankerStuff. The session is “Why Every Bank Needs a Mobile Workplace Strategy.” I’m partnering with Julie Trent, Esq. who specializes in employment law. We’d love for you to join us on Tuesday, September 27 as we talk mobile. Registration details can be found here. UPDATE: (20 September 2011) Just found out we have to reschedule the webinar. Look for new details soon.
Image courtesy of William Hook
Katie says
Hi there, I agree with this article 100%. I am the PR/Social Media director for CR Wellness Corp. I set up social media accounts and training for various clients. Please email me for more info and I’d love to help you with technology and training. Look forward to hearing from you!
Jay Dolan says
Sharlyn – I completely get this.
I’ve been in a working environment where employees could only get work email through employer-provided Blackberries. The policy was very clear, and it was common to see people with two mobile phones. In some cases they’d be reading email on one while talking on the other.
I’ve also been with an employer where I had to use my own smartphone for everything. While it’s nice to use my iPhone, it was a drag to think that I’m paying $100+ a month for a cell phone I need for my job, and not getting any compensation for it besides my paycheck. I really hope more companies clear this up as smartphones proliferate the market more and more.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Hi Jay. My apologies for taking so long to reply. Somehow your comment ended up in my junk folder. Darn technology! And kinda funny since we’re talking mobile.
Totally agree with you that this is something employers are going to have to resolve. What’s the level of expectation and are organizations willing to pay for it? Then what happens if an employee says, “I can’t afford it.”
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!