Unless you’re operating a bring your own device (BYOD) strategy, company-owned mobile devices for business are essential so your staff can maintain their personal phones and you, as a business, can safeguard your sensitive corporate data. So, if having individual phones for each member of your team can benefit both your business and your staff, how do you go about choosing the right device that will suit everyone?
To make sure your staff have access to all the resources they require by selecting a business mobile device that suits your operational demand, you’ll need to consider the following factors:
Working conditions
The advantages of various handsets will depend much on the environment in which your employees operate, and the types of tasks they perform. For instance, office workers would choose the most recent slimline devices, but field engineers or construction workers might benefit from ruggedised phones made for harsher environments.
App accessibility
Make sure your business-critical apps are accessible before choosing which mobile devices to utilise. You may need to take steps to ensure staff members will have access to the platforms they require by verifying that your most-used apps will be usable and available on a new device.
Working on the go
Employees may frequently undertake a variety of duties using just their phone thanks to the improved functionality of the newest devices. However, selecting a phone that’s designed with mobile working in mind could enhance the user experience (UX) and give staff members more opportunity to increase productivity. For example, will workers who are on the move find larger screens and devices beneficial?
Versatility
It can be tempting to choose the newest phone with the most features when buying a new mobile phone for personal or professional use. But in reality, this could mean you end up with devices that are crammed with apps and systems you never use.
Instead of choosing a handset based on its features, think about which ones are most crucial to your company.
Battery life
It’s critical for your phones to have a long battery life if you want your teams to be available throughout the working day. It’s simple to identify which devices give above-average performance and require less charging because battery life is often one of a manufacturer’s or device’s USP. While wireless charging, in-car charging, and portable power packs might help staff members recharge rapidly, picking a phone with a decent battery life will undoubtedly make life simpler.
Pay Monthly vs. SIM-Free
Once you’ve decided which handsets to deploy, you’ll need to choose between buying SIM-free devices and signing a pay-monthly contract. There are many options to think about because major telephone carriers in the UK often provide both SIM-free mobile phones and monthly contracts. At Your Comms Group, we can help you to make the right choice based on the specific needs of your business, you can book a meeting with our mobile expert Josh here. but broadly speaking this is what you need to think about when waying up the pros and cons.
SIM-Free Phones
A SIM-free device means you own the device, but it won’t be connected to a network.
You do, though, have the advantage of being able to choose which carrier you use for your network connection, based on whatever criteria are important to you (coverage, cost, benefits, etc.). Because you’re not committing to a monthly contract, SIM-only deals are typically far less expensive than phone and SIM monthly contracts.
If you need to provide devices to contract workers or seasonal employees, SIM-only monthly contracts are often more flexible because they’re based on rolling contracts and short minimum contract lengths of just 30 days.On the downside, buying SIM-free cell phones outright can be expensive, so you’ll need to decide if you’re willing to make this kind of investment in your technology. On the upside, you’ll own the handset, so you can redeploy them and use them until the end of their useful life.
Monthly contracts
The handset and SIM card are included in traditional pay monthly bundles, which means you’ll pay for the gadget over a longer period of time.
Pay monthly phone and SIM packages typically have higher monthly costs, but they don’t require a sizable upfront commitment, and in the long run, they may even end up being less expensive than buying a device altogether.
You’ll have the option to switch to a SIM-only plan and keep using the smartphone after the contract expires, allowing you to extend the life of the phone and cut costs as needed.
For more advice and help on choosing the right mobile device for your business, please get in touch and speak to a member of our friendly expert team or book a 4 week reminder for the hottest deals in the market using the following renewal reminder link.
