Mobile phones and business: advantages and disadvantages

Many business owners and employees rely on mobile phones as a key piece of equipment. Although mobile phones have many advantages, they are not without their challenges.

Mobile phones have many advantages

Mobile phones can improve productivity, mobility, security and morale in your business. Mobile phones can be used to help employees:

  • Improve customer service
  • Stay in touch with your office, clients and suppliers
  • Increase mobility
  • Increase productivity
  • Work remotely (e.g. work from home or office)

Connecting your mobile phone or laptop to the internet can provide employees with greater flexibility. For Multi Network Data Sim products, visit lister-communications.co.uk/business-mobiles/multi-network-data-sim-cards

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Mobile phones and business: Disadvantages

Using mobile phones while at work can create significant business challenges. For example:

  • Always-on communication, both personal and business-related, can disrupt employee workflows and reduce their productivity.
  • Work-life balance can be compromised if your employees are contacted outside of their normal working hours.
  • Costs: providing mobile phones for your employees can be costly. You can use features on your phones and SIM cards to limit the usage of mobiles for business only. You can choose a plan that is suitable for your company. Talk to your provider about the possibilities.
  • Legal Issues – The law prohibits the use of handheld phones while driving. You could be in violation of the law if you force or allow your employees to use their handheld phones while on duty.
  • Territories: If you anticipate mobile users travelling overseas, it is worth checking the costs. You may need to use a ‘triband’ phone if you are travelling in North America.

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Employees who use their company phones for non-work purposes can be a distraction, at best, and pose a risk to legal and operational operations at worst.

You should create a policy that clearly defines the rules for using mobile phones in the workplace.