Smart Phones: Changing the Way We Work

Let us admit it. Some people often feel incomplete when they forget to bring with them that little smart handheld device, which, like the simple wave of a wand, could do a variety of things.

These days, mobile technology seem to be integrated into nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives. From communicating with friends or family members, shopping, taking photos, booking a flight, to making payments, etc., we often rely on our “smart” device. The use and significance of smartphones in our lives are already apparent.

But its use is not just restricted to that. The importance and use of mobile phones from our personal lives are actually gradually converging into the workplace as well. Prior to the emergence of smart phones, communicating in and out of the workplace can be seen as quite a challenge.

Although there’s the landline telephone, the facsimile (also known as the fax machine), and pagers, it is likely impossible to provide immediate notification when you’re stuck in traffic and can’t make it on time for work. Employees are reachable by only a few limited means.

The development of mobile phones has led to an easier, faster, and more effortless communication in the workplace. There are messaging applications, email, and even video chat that allows employees to keep up with each other even when they are far away from their desks. Applications that feature video chat such as Skype enable one to communicate “face-to-face” with another person or even a group (video conferencing). It does not matter if the person (or people) you are talking to is nearby or even from another part of the globe.

Collaboration was also made easier and better. The progress of a project or a task doesn’t have to come to a halt if a member of the team handling it is not around. These smart technologies also made it possible for employees to collaborate with a team even if they work from within the comforts of their own home.

Smartphones, along with other gadgets, also simplify some aspects of work. For instance, one doesn’t have to print anything or every material needed during a meeting (which was a common practice before). They can simply choose to store and access files from the cloud and just project it onto a bigger screen.

Another significant thing that mobile technology has brought to the workplace is flexibility and work mobility. Before, work is associated with the physical place or office one needs to go to. But with the aid of mobile technology, work schedules are gradually becoming asynchronous. Remote offices, or an office located in a remote or different geographical area, also started. Employees now can work while on the go, anywhere, anytime.

Also, almost everything one uses at work – from calculators, schedulers, planners, notepads, books, magazines and even watches, alarm clocks, flashlights, and music players, can be accessed from a mobile phone. And this makes work simpler and less cluttered.

Although mobile technology brings a lot of positive changes at how we work, it cannot be denied that it also has its pitfalls. In some industries, cellular phones are seen as a distractor rather than something helpful. Applications like social media and games often rob someone’s time and often impact or lower the productivity.

How about you? Have you maximized your screen time to benefit your work life? Or it just makes it worse?

Back Next