Even though it may seem that way, smartphones actually haven’t been in the workplace forever. In fact, they have only been mainstream in offices for the last few years. In fact, people used to actually put their work away when they went home at night. But the adoption of smartphones in the workplace has lead, ultimately, to a change in how we work and communicate with others on a regular basis.

How have smartphones changed the workplace?

Though it may have started with smartphones, it has already stretched out to other devices such as tablets and laptops. Cell phones made it easier to stay in constant contact with work even when out and about, and they have made it possible for telecommuting in many instances. Then, smartphones made it possible to not only communicate with coworkers while they were out of the office but to also send them important information through email. As technology has evolved, so has our ability to work away from the office. According to Wired, executives and salespeople have a much easier time doing business with the ease and accessibility that has come from smartphones in the workplace. It is easier to have a business lunch when you can pull up all the information you need right in front of you, and being able to check things on the spot makes it easier to give an answer right away.

Some people say this is a good thing because it means they don’t miss anything important while on vacation while others says it is bad because it means they can never really get away from work. If your company is paying for your smartphone, then they oftentimes expect you to answer it whether you are at work or not. That debate will never end, but what we do know is that the workplace has changed drastically due to the incorporation of smartphones, and you should expect to use them regularly while on the job.

Client communication

Another big change we’ve seen with the adoption of smartphones is the ability to contact clients and have them contact you at all hours of the day or night. Texting makes it possible to quickly send a message and know it has been received rather than worrying about junk mail boxes or voicemails that never get checked. This may be a curse if you have an especially needy client who is constantly texting you about their product or service being provided. However, it is actually a really great thing if you have an automated artificial intelligence texting system set up to allow your clients to text in their questions and get responses without you ever having to lift a finger. For example, instead of getting a call asking what hours you are open, your customer could instead just text asking for hours and get an automatic text back with their information. This saves you and your customers time and money. Sales are driven by relationships, and there is no better way to develop a relationship than to communicate with customers, especially if that communication is driven through texting.

Source: wired.com/2014/09/defining-the-new-mobile-moving-beyond-the-device/