Remote and hybrid work is the new norm of work as of now. In other words, more workers nowadays prefer to work outside the traditional office environment. This arrangement offers added flexibility to everyone.

However, it offers some productivity challenges. This is why it is important to have a business mobile in place.

Then it can help the remote teams to collaborate and get work done effectively.

Here are some tips on how business mobiles can improve productivity.

Enhanced Communication and Collaboration

Clear and reliable communication is essential for productive remote work. Business mobiles facilitate seamless contact between offsite employees, improving collaboration.

Features like video conferencing, instant messaging, screen sharing and cloud-based file storage in business apps allow workers to communicate quickly without being in the same location.

Company mobiles also enable integration with productivity suites like Office 365 and G Suite, providing shared calendars, video meetings, chats and document collaboration.

Managers can use these tools to align remote teams and freelancers more effectively. Easy communication, spontaneous conversations and virtual meetings also reduce feelings of isolation amongst telecommuters.

Besides internal team interactions, business mobiles  help remote workers stay connected with clients and external partners. Integration with CRM software and sales tools enables quicker response times and better customer service.

Enables Access to Work Resources from Anywhere

Company mobile devices allow remote employees seamless access to essential work resources from home or any other offsite location. Web and SaaS applications  like enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, project management and billing software can be easily accessed on the go without needing a VPN connection.

Remote desktop access enables teleworkers to control their office computer screens remotely, work on specific desktop programs, and access company drives and servers. File sharing apps make the latest documents accessible across locations and devices.

In short, business mobiles empower remote employees with on-demand access to the people, conversations and material they need, improving productivity.

Advanced Security Features

Data security and privacy are major concerns when managing remote workflows while employees use personal or public devices.

Company-owned mobile devices come equipped with advanced security features like encryption, password protection, multi-factor authentication (MFA), VPN and endpoint security programs (anti-virus, anti-malware) to protect sensitive business information.

IT teams can install business-grade security applications on official mobile phones and laptops issued to remote employees.

Software like Microsoft Intune helps secure and manage devices. IT administrators can push security policies and compliance rules and wipe data remotely if a device is lost/stolen.

Coupled with cloud backups, automated updates and patches, enterprise-level mobiles safeguard data integrity and let remote workers focus on core tasks without worrying about cyber threats as much.

Increased Ownership and Autonomy

Employer-provided mobile devices foster a stronger sense of inclusion, ownership and responsibility amongst remote team members. Workers feel invested in their work when using company assets directly issued to them. It signifies company trust in the user while meeting unique needs.

With clearly delineated official devices, remote workers can segment work and personal life better.

Unlike BYOD policies, employers own business mobiles, so there are no blurred lines between company and individual ownership. Employees don’t need to share personal phone numbers or apps either.

Using separate business devices lets remote workers control their setups and work more autonomously.

They can install useful apps, set up connections and personalise settings without involving IT extensively or worrying about personal data access. Better customisation and autonomy indirectly boost engagement and productivity.

Facilitates Monitoring and Analytics

Company owned mobile devices provide more transparency for monitoring remote employee productivity using analytic software and apps. GPS tracking helps managers gain insights into working patterns and field movements to optimise schedules.

Time monitoring tools capture activity levels across devices used which help identify engagement and capacity optimisation opportunities. Automated time reports also assist accurate client billing. Analytics identifying app usage and web traffic provides understanding into how remote teams work.

While privacy concerns exist, tracking ensures remote workers are productive during working hours. Managers can use analytics to identify areas needing improvement without micromanaging. It maintains accountability – which ultimately benefits both parties.

Lower Costs

Although business mobiles involve upfront procurement costs, company provided devices are cheaper long term compared to BYOD models. Centralised purchasing allows bulk discount benefits when buying the same standard device models.

IT teams also leverage better upgrade offers, warranty and insurance savings given larger volumes.

With company owned devices, employers directly control all mobile plans, data packages and connection costs too. They can purchase data in bulk and allocate it across the remote workforce optimally.

Large telcos tend to offer discounted rates to corporate buyers allowing cost savings. Companies stand to recover hardware expenses over long-term ownership.

Having distinct company mobiles instead of using personal devices means remote workers can’t expense connectivity or data charges either. This lowers reimbursement overheads for organisations substantially.

Boosts Professional Image

Company-issued mobiles boost the professional image of remote workers when interacting with clients or partners. An official business phone signals credibility, trustworthiness and affiliation with an organization more than using a personal device.

Callers recognize an enterprise mobile number as the primary work contact which adds legitimacy. Using modern smartphones provided by employers also conveys success, competence and technical adeptness. This facilitates stronger external relationships that ultimately translate to growth opportunities.

With employer branding and logo often engraved on business mobiles, employees essentially become roaming brand ambassadors heightening visibility. Premium branded devices inspire confidence in remote workers’ capabilities benefiting client acquisition and sales.

Final Words

Business mobile devices are powerful tools to engage remote employees and empower distributed teams. Company mobiles drive improved communication, seamless collaboration, enhanced security and increased accessibility of organizational resources – ultimately boosting productivity substantially.

While device and data connectivity costs are involved, enterprise mobiles signify employee value and offer monitoring means. With the future of work turning remote, issuing dedicated mobile devices is an investment that boosts productivity, optimizes talent and cements competitive advantage for employers.