There is no question that the development of smartphone technology has had a major impact on the business world – and for the most part a positive one. So what are some of the main ways that this technology has helped businesses to achieve better results?
Efficiency
Smartphones have enabled businesses that have figured out how to deploy them properly to lower costs and increase their overall business efficiency. A particularly good example of this would be the transport company Uber which has developed a very successful smartphone-based taxi service whereby users download the Uber app and enter trip requests that the company re-routes to its drivers. The service also allows the user to rate each journey, ensuring speedy, friendly service. It has proven difficult for traditional taxi firms to compete with and looks set to change this industry permanently.
Cost cutting
Lots of companies have used the arrival of the smartphone to launch apps offering services that fill a niche in the marketplace – with one example being AroundMe. This app is designed to enable those in cities and countries that they are unfamiliar with to find essentials like hotels, restaurants – by offering GPS directions. App-based businesses have really taken off during the smartphone era and can be run without many of the traditional (and expensive trappings) of business like office spaces, leading to lower overheads.
Customer support
Maintaining communications and customer support is essential for business success, and smartphones have allowed for this to be more flexible and mobile. One example of a company maximising this is car firm Hyundai, which offers mobile-based Roadside Assistance, which can detect your exact location when your car breaks down and provide help much faster than would have been possible before the smartphone. This improved customer service benefits both the customer and the business.
Services online
Some online businesses have been able to use smartphone technology to provide a mobile version of their service – for example online casino and sports betting firms. This has meant that customers have been able to play these games from any location, at any time, even when they could not access a computer. For businesses this can increase their profits, by providing greater opportunities for consumers, while for the customer it means a better service.
Providing information
Smartphones have made it easier for companies to provide potential customers with information about a product or service ultra-quickly – for example through the use of scannable QR codes. Once these are scanned using the appropriate smartphone app, they can take the user straight to the company’s website or to detailed information and are used by the likes of estate agent sites such as Rightmove to allow those passing houses for sale to scan the codes on For Sale signs and get quick information about the property.
Many successful companies out there have ‘disrupted’ their industries and revolutionised how they operate with the introduction of their product or service. Why not try some of these various methods for improving your business through smartphone technology.
