Tablets are changing the business landscape. Walk into a coffee shop, library, or step foot on a subway train or public bus, and you will see that tablets are starting to replace the laptop as the portable electronic device of choice. The reasons for this are many. Perhaps most simply, tablets are now powered by some of the best mobile processors in the industry, such as the Snapdragon by Qualcomm. These advanced chips have closed the performance gap between tablets and laptops to the point that for many, there’s no appreciable difference. So why not choose the slimmer, more user-friendly, more portable, and lighter-weight tablet instead of the laptop? For many business men and women, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
The world of business is constantly evolving and being reshaped by the latest tools of the trade. The typewriter beget the word processor, which beget the desktop computer and the laptop. Now, smartphones and tablets are having their day in the limelight! Here’s a look at why tablets are changing the business world.
Being Able to Work on the Go with Tablets
Tablets are portable, lightweight, slim, and easy to throw in a bag, purse, or backpack. And with wireless connectivity, tablets allow you to check emails, browse the Internet, and check in with project management apps without the need for a Wi-Fi network (something most laptops are still dependent on). A laptop allows you to work on the go too, but unless you have a wireless hotspot, you have to eventually stop and find a Wi-Fi network. So laptops are more stop-and-go devices. A wireless network-enabled tablet is truly an on-the-go device.
Easy to Bring to Meetings
Of course, as mobile as today’s workforce is, most of us still work in an office Monday through Friday. And part of the office workplace culture is having to attend meetings, for which tablets are perfect. Taking notes is unobtrusive, quiet, and easy, and with apps like Penultimate and Paper & Pencil, you can even turn your handwritten notes and sketches into legible text that you can reference later. Typing is nice, but sometimes sketching and writing is even better – and tablets allow just that. They also sit nicely in the lap, rather than sitting conspicuously on the tabletop.
Giving Presentations is Simple
PowerPoint is now available on all Windows, iOS, and Google Android devices, and most tablets can easily stream to televisions if a suitable connection is provided, such as an Apple TV or Google Chromecast. This makes it incredibly easy to give presentations, which makes tablets the perfect tool for meetings in more way than one. Not only are they ideal for note taking, but are great for actually hosting meetings, too. And this is to say nothing of the video conferencing ability tablets offer – whether using Skype, Google Hangouts, or FaceTime, tablets are tailor-made for video conferencing.
Lets You Streamline Inventory Management
Because tablets are infinitely customizable (a proprietary application can always be developed if off-the-shelf applications don’t suit a business’ needs), they are increasingly being used in specific use cases by companies in a variety of industries. Pilots use them as supplemental navigational resources; independent coffee shops throughout the country use them for transactions (more on this below); and many large businesses like Wal-Mart and Apple use them for tracking shipments and monitoring supply lines. Because tablets offer a user interface that is intuitive and simple, their applications tend to be more efficient and effective.
Handling Transactions is Easier than Ever
Small businesses and freelancers alike are beginning to use tablets to handle, secure, and even send money back and forth between users. With simple online invoicing software like WePay or Square, its easy to turn your tablet into a fully operating banking device, perfect for managing finances or even securing a transaction on-site using a credit card reader. Combined with their mobility, this functionality gives tablets an ability that few devices can match. For small businesses and freelancers, tablets are a cost-effective tool that open up a whole new world of business opportunities.
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