Unlocking the Power of Mobility: A Guide for SMBs to Boost Efficiency

As the world becomes increasingly connected and businesses seek to stay competitive, mobility has become an essential aspect of modern operations. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, employees are no longer tied to their desks and can access information and tools on the go — encouraging a culture that’s mobile-first.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) stand to greatly benefit from adopting a mobile-first strategy as they are able to harness the power of mobility to increase efficiency, improve productivity, and save costs. With 74% of the global workforce expecting remote work to become standard practice¹, SMBs must adopt mobile technology to support this transition.

SMBs have the opportunity to leverage mobile devices and tools to streamline their operations and stay competitive in the ever-evolving business landscape. By prioritising remote work and mobile technology, employees can easily access information, communicate with colleagues, and complete tasks from anywhere in the world. This not only increases productivity but also saves costs on office equipment and allows for flexible work arrangements. Here’s how you can get a head start in mobilising your business: 

In today’s fast-paced business environment, remote work is more important than ever and there are countless ways SMBs can leverage this to bolster business growth. One way to increase efficiency and productivity is by identifying business processes that can be turned into mobile-friendly tasks. For instance, ordering and managing inventory, automating business transactions, and saving time on mundane tasks.

SMBs must look into pinpointing how different departments can leverage technology to better their productivity by analysing what would benefit them the most. Other processes, such as signing contracts and barcode scanning, should also be done with electronic accessories and solutions — like the S Pen and Knox Capture — to offer greater flexibility to both customers and employees.

By making these changes, businesses can increase collaboration, and streamline their operations. So whether you’re in retail, logistics, or manufacturing, finding ways to make business processes more mobile-friendly can help you boost productivity — regardless of time and place. 

In today's world, mobility has become an essential aspect of our lives. The ability to work, communicate, and stay connected on the go is crucial, and this has led to an increase in demand for mobile devices. However, choosing the right mobile devices is of utmost importance as they can either greatly enhance productivity and efficiency or be the downfall of businesses.

Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are all popular devices that offer mobility and flexibility, allowing people to work or communicate from virtually anywhere. Among the key factors to consider when selecting a business device for remote work are the device’s processing power and portability. For example, if someone needs to work on graphics-intensive tasks, a powerful and lightweight laptop with a dedicated graphics card may be the best option, while someone who is always on the go and needs to stay connected might prefer a smartphone — such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 or Galaxy Z Fold5 — with a powerful processor and an extended battery life². Professionals in harsh environments might prefer a more robust and durable device, like the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro. It’s also best to ensure that selected devices are compatible with business software. For instance, warehouses and manufacturing companies might want to invest in solutions like Knox Capture which supports barcode scanning to quickly capture and input data at the press of a button³. 

SMBs should also consider the total cost of ownership per device, taking into consideration an employee’s work environment and additional accessories needed to support day-to-day tasks. Additionally, it is important to equip remote workers with the right accessories that complement their mobile devices. Choosing and investing in the right devices determine the quality of work delivered by remote workers. For example, protective cases are essential for workers who are on the go and need to keep their mobile devices safe from accidental drops, bumps, and scratches.

Furthermore, in addition to providing protection from the day-to-day bumps and drops—that is all too common for a mobile device—accessories such as scanners, device cradles and an extended battery mobilise and improve on-the-ground efficiency. Ultimately, selecting the right accessories and devices that fit individual needs and preferences can help employees work efficiently, no matter where they are.

Investing in the right business apps can be a game-changer for SMBs who leverage remote work. Similar to how we order groceries through the tap of a screen, there are countless business applications available in the market that are designed to help businesses automate workflows, streamline collaboration, and enhance communication. However, it is important to carefully evaluate which apps will be most beneficial for a specific business and to invest in those that will provide the most value.

As different SMBs have different requirements, companies should place great significance on investing in apps that align with the goals and priorities of the business. However, businesses must also consider the scalability of the software as it will need to be adopted across various teams and tasks. For instance, marketing, human resources (HR), and accounting companies stand to benefit greatly from business apps — such as Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace for Business, Slack and Mobile Point-of-Sale solutions such as Softspace.

Another factor to consider when investing in business apps is the overall cost. While many apps offer a free version or trial period, it is important to evaluate the long-term costs associated with using the app such as subscription fees or additional charges for premium features. SMBs should only invest in apps that provide a clear return on investment, such as reduction in human-errors as a result of manual paper processes or travel-cost associated with client meetings. 

Encouraging a mobile-first mindset is key to staying ahead of the competition in today's digitised world. With the power of mobile devices at our fingertips, employees can collaborate on projects, respond to customer inquiries, and access important data from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day.

One of the key benefits of adopting a mobile-first mindset is improved user experience. By designing websites, applications, and other digital content with mobile devices in mind, SMBs can create interfaces that are more intuitive and user-friendly. This can lead to higher engagement rates and increased customer satisfaction. Another advantage of a mobile-first mindset is improved search engine optimisation (SEO). Search engines, like Google, prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their search results⁴, meaning businesses that focus on mobile optimisation are more likely to rank higher in search results. This can lead to increased visibility and traffic and better engagement.

Apart from greater flexibility, better engagement, and increased visibility, a mobile-first mindset means employees rely more on technology. While this improves productivity, it also increases the risk of employee privacy breaches. Fortunately, business devices — such as the Galaxy S, Z series, A series, and Samsung’s line of rugged devices encompassing the XCover series and Tab Active series — are designed to ensure that private data does not get entangled with company data. These devices are powered by Samsung Knox and support work profiles, allowing employees to separate their personal lives from their work lives with the convenience of using one device only. By prioritising mobile technology and empowering employees to use it on a daily basis, remote work with enterprise solutions will become second nature to managers and teams. Ultimately, creating a culture of innovation that values mobility and encourages early adoption of new and disruptive technologies. 

Data is the backbone of any business. Whether it's customer information, financial records, or trade secrets, data is a business’s most valuable asset and therefore, must be protected at all times. With a mobile-first strategy also comes the need for increased data security measures such as data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and mobile device management (MDM) solutions.

As one of its key products, Samsung Knox provides data, safeguarding private and confidential information at all times. Samsung also offers a comprehensive MDM solution, Knox Suite, which bundles most of Samsung’s business solutions — Knox Manage, Knox Configure, Knox Asset Intelligence etc — to help SMBs manage data safely and securely. Each individual solution was designed to cater to a specific business need. For instance, Knox Manage offers SMBs the ability to provide remote support when needed, while Knox Configure enables Kiosk Mode which helps to manage devices by restricting user access to selected apps and features on the device⁵. Knox Asset Intelligence, on the other hand, provides companies with a comprehensive overview of battery health, app usage, and connectivity of corporate devices through a customisable dashboard with data widgets to help predict and prevent frontline issues⁶.

These enhancements were designed to protect data and ensure that businesses remain secure at all times, especially when processes go remote. With these measures in place, businesses can enjoy the benefits of a mobile-first strategy without compromising their valuable data and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of their information.

Mobile training and support are essential for SMBs looking to fully harness the power of mobile technology. Among the ways businesses can ensure a smooth adoption of a mobile-first strategy is through on-site training sessions, webinars, or online tutorials that employees can access at their convenience. This type of training is essential for employees who are not familiar with mobile technology or are struggling to keep up with the latest trends and updates. Through these training sessions, employees can upskill themselves, further boosting their confidence to adopt new technologies.

These training sessions will not only reduce the learning curve associated with new technologies, but will also boost employee engagement when using mobile tools and business apps for work-related tasks. Additionally, offering ongoing support through mobile-friendly resources, such as chatbots or help desk software, can ensure that employees always have the assistance they need at their fingertips. For instance, the Knox Admin Portal offers IT admins the ability to remotely view and troubleshoot device issues with Knox Remote Support⁷. By offering comprehensive mobile training and support, businesses can empower their employees to fully utilise mobile technology, boosting productivity and improving overall job satisfaction — creating a successful mobile workforce.

It is also important to note that mobile training and support should not be limited to just employees. Customers and clients also use mobile devices and may require assistance or training on how to use mobile applications related to the products or services offered by a company. By providing mobile training and support to customers, SMBs can improve customer satisfaction and reduce the number of support tickets.

So, if you're a SMB owner looking to stay competitive and grow your business, it's time to consider a mobile-first strategy. By leveraging the power of mobile devices and applications, you’ll be able to provide employees with the flexibility to work from anywhere, at any time, while improving collaboration and communication. With the right approach, a mobile-first strategy can help you streamline processes, increase efficiency, and improve your bottom line. Empower your team to achieve more with a mobile-first approach.

Learn more about Samsung’s line of enterprise devices and solutions today!