The rise in mobile technology is changing the way people are working and the way offices are running.
"The five o'clock whistle has been replaced by a smartphone notification for tasks that need to be completed sometime between checking out and turning in," says Concur, a global provider of spend management solutions and services.
Matt Goss, managing director, SMB, for Concur, says, "For most professionals, work is no longer seen as a place. Work is what you do, and is always a click away.
He says, "while this can be troubling if not managed correctly, increased workplace flexibility is exactly what most employees desire.
Goss says the challenge for employers is offering mobile capabilities that let employees increase productivity, achieve a work/life balance and be successful in their careers, all of which he says benefit the organisation as a whole.
"This is particularly true for small- to medium-sized businesses who need to justify the cost of investment in mobile technology with quantifiable benefits," he says.
Goss offers five reasons every SMB should go mobile.
1. Boundless productivity When workflow is tied to a physical location or a specific device (like a company computer), employee productivity is also bound to specific locations and devices. Goss says cloud-based, mobile solutions provide greater workflow access and ease-of-fulfilment.
2. An enticing environment Goss says in order to stay competitive, SMBs need to recruit and retain a talented workforce. "Today's top-tier employees are considered so largely because of their ability to adapt, meaning they've already learned how to leverage the latest technology to work smarter," he says.
"Asking these prospective employees to work with restrictive, antiquated solutions is like asking them to work with one hand tied behind their back.
3. Up-to-date insights from anywhere "The bottom line is that business moves much faster than it did ten, or even five, years ago," Goss explains.
"With access to real-time insights, mobile workforces are constantly tuned into the current state of the business. Meanwhile, their non-mobile counterparts are mired in manual processes and time-consuming communication just to ensure everyone is on the same page.
4. Seamless collaboration Goss says today's employees don't need to be together to work together effectively. "Mobile capabilities let employees build on each other's work, providing expected individual contributions during pivotal times," he says.
"This means operations proceed seamlessly, projects stay on schedule and performance metrics are transparent, letting companies reward those who truly make a meaningful impact.
5. Real-time feedback "Smarter solutions can significantly lessen the administrative load for SMBs," Goss explains.
He says the right technology can ensure employees are acting in the best interests of the organisation automatically, without the need to ask questions and wait for answers.
"For example, employees with access to mobile expense reporting can be assured that they are spending within policy because the technology promotes best practices," he says.
