6 Benefits of Using Tablets in WorkSpace

As more people find that they enjoy using tablets as well as laptops and smartphones, businesses may need to start bringing the mobile devices into the workplace. Using tablets in the workplace offers several advantages that can help small businesses thrive. Consider how these six benefits would change your small business.

Save Money by Using Mobile Payment Options

Companies like PayPal, Square, and Intuit have developed credit card readers that plug directly into tablet headphone jacks. Small businesses no longer need to worry about buying or renting independent credit card readers that take up a lot of space. Instead, they just run credit cards through their tablet swipers.

In many cases, using a mobile payment service costs businesses less than using wireless credit card machines. Mobile accounts are often free and take a smaller percentage. That means more money for small businesses that need to conserve every cent.

Get More Productivity From Employees

Tablets can help employees boost productivity by letting them work when they are away from their desks or the sales floor. An employee carrying an Android tablet, powered by a reliable network like T-Mobile, can check email while waiting in line at the café, prepare for meetings during the morning commute, and stay in contact with clients while traveling.

As small businesses get more productivity from the employees whom they already have, they can avoid the extra expense of hiring new workers.

Keep Better Track of Inventory

Several apps are designed to turn tablets into inventory trackers. The Android Inventory Tracker app, for instance, offers several useful features, including:

• a barcode scanner
• auto completion
• auto default values
• option to set categories, locations, and names

Instead of purchasing several scanners for employees, small businesses can use tablets in a variety of ways to reduce costs while improving services. When owners keep close track of their inventories, they can offer better customer services and plan for the future.

Tablets Make Travel Easier

Employees who have to travel frequently for work often find themselves carrying heavy laptops. That makes travel difficult, especially when they have to make several stops. Also, lugging a laptop to meetings all over the country or world makes your business look like it hasn't kept up with technology.

The small size and weight of tablets make them excellent for travelers. They have also become the preferred technology for taking notes and giving presentations. With all the apps available for mobile devices, it doesn't make sense to carry an unwieldy laptop.

Take Orders From Anywhere

Small businesses with showrooms traditionally needed salespeople to walk the floor and answer customer questions. After browsing products with the customers, they had to return to a desk to place the order and try to get the customer to purchase related products.

With tablets, salespersons can do it all right from the showroom floor. When customers show interest in certain products, salespersons can note that on the tablet. After a few minutes of browsing, the salesperson can use the tablet to compare each item.

By using tablets, salespeople can provide better services that help customers choose items that match their needs best. The whole time, no one has to step into a stuffy office to go over the details. Everything happens from the showroom floor.

Have Employees Bring Their Own Tablets

Research suggests that about 67 percent of companies will adopt bring your own device (BYOD) policies by 2017. When used properly, BYOD can offer advantages to employers.

Employers get to save money by relying on employees to bring their own tablets to work. There are some security concerns with this, but most businesses have found effective ways to prevent information leaks from personal devices.

Employers also get to save time and money on training. When people bring their own devices to work, they already know how to operate their tablets. They may need a little training to show them how to use their devices for work-related activities, but BYOD still offers a fast way to introduce efficient technology to the company at a minimal cost.

Have you introduced tablets to your workplace yet? What benefits have helped the most?