The life cycle of mobile devices

A step-by-step guide on how to choose mobile devices for companies

The time when employees used company phones only for calling and writing emails is long gone. These days, a mobile device is a full-fledged work tool for employees no matter their position, and not just for those working in an office or business. For example, warehouse workers check and issue orders, drivers send out consignment notes, bankers create contracts, etc. If the employees do not have their equipment at their disposal, they can’t do their job 100%. How and what are the criteria for choosing the right mobile device?

Step 1: determine who you’re purchasing the mobile device for

Selecting mobile devices is usually the responsibility of the company management. Managers are often based on company hierarchy and are guided by a simple rule of thumb: the higher the position, the newer and better the equipment. Yet, it’s much more important to determine what the employees actually need the mobile device for.

How does it work in practice? Imagine a railway employee who is responsible for monitoring the condition of railways. They need access to the Internet and a mobile application for their work so they can take a picture of a possible failure on the track and upload it to the system where such cases are recorded.

If the employee has a smartphone with an operating system that is incompatible with the application, they cannot report the problem,  meaning the solution is delayed and there is a risk of a train derailment. Avoiding such dangers by simply investing more in a smartphone, which is an essential work tool, is not only worthwhile, but necessary.

So, before you buy your employees mobile devices for work, carefully consider these points:

• for whom, how, and for what other business purposes the device will be used
• which applications must be fully functional, i.e. what should the phone be able to do, as each company uses different company applications for its business, e.g. signing solutions for couriers, automatically sending contracts to merchants, loading material items for warehouse workers, scanning tickets for cultural events organizers, etc.
• which company data the employee needs access to, or on the contrary, which data they don’t have access to – limits to almost anything can be set on the devices
• and whatever else you expect your mobile device to do

Step 2: Consult an expert

You’ve already answered the crucial questions, but you still don’t know which mobile device would be ideal for your business. So, consult an expert – ideally one who doesn’t just push a particular brand or operating system. Find an independent expert who will objectively evaluate your business needs and choose the best solution.

For example, at System4u, we’ve mapped the market and technology trends, so we can choose the mobile device that best suits your business needs based on your requirements.

Also bear in mind that you don’t necessarily have to stick to one brand – you can easily buy devices of different brands and operating systems for the same company. Just always make sure your devices meet all the functions your employees need to get the job done.