Every day we are bombarded by adverts telling
us to download the latest ‘app’. There are hundreds of thousands of applications
available, ranging from maps and entertainment guides to business and money
management. Apps work much like user-installed software on a
computer and allow the phone to perform specific tasks that the user wants or
needs. Users sometimes pay a small fee for the use of an app, which is downloaded
directly to the phone. Ranging from Facebook to a Sonic the Hedgehog game
to NatWest Banking, but which apps are best for business use?
Most apps are created for personal
use, but there has been a recent surge in the creation of apps for use in the
business sector. Many apps can now help you plan presentations, manage
meetings, share data and even calculate the conversion of units for your
production and all whilst you are on the go. You can even have an app created
to promote your own business or to service your customers. Having your own company app can lead to more profit as more and more
customers use them. Desktop computers are out of the context when talking about
portability. Laptops provide some degree of portability but they have nowhere
near the flexibility provided by smart phones and tablets. As smart phones and
tablets are easily carried, people can use these
devices whenever they need information about a particular thing. As apps can be
installed in these devices, people can access it even if they don’t have a
computer or even a reliable internet connection-anytime, anyplace.
A recent
survey showed the sales of personal computers decreasing, as a result of the growing popularity and demand for smart phones and tablet PCs [Flurry, 2012]. Even semiconductor
giants Intel has announced that it is leaving the development of desktop PCs
due to less demand in the market. The year 2012 alone accounted for 700 million
units of smart phone sales. Therefore, it is worth considering how a business can create a distinct mobile application of their own. The
market for mobile technology is growing so rapidly that by the summer of 2012
the use of mobile applications outpaced traditional web browsing for the first
time. While 79% of consumers use these programs for games and social networking,
more manufacturers are slowly adopting apps designed for specific business and
plant operations. Customer service and sales-related apps are two of the top
five mobile programs manufacturers are using.
On the plant floor, mobile apps are less prevalent but hold significant potential
for plant-floor processes, say industry experts [Flurry, 2012]. Mobile apps could be a
potential game-changer for the way small and midsize high-mix, low-volume
operations facilitate lean manufacturing. In the next three to five years, more
manufacturers will adopt mobile apps to offer value-added services to clients,
including programs that work with smart appliances. At the plant level, some of
the areas that look promising include inventory management and tracking and
warehouse logistics management. Plant-floor apps can improve productivity. Currently, the
availability of apps that directly relate to meaningfully precise manufacturing
roles and processes is in its infancy. Most apps you’ll find available on
the open market either aid in basic manufacturing and engineering math,
materials/metallurgy, or similar support roles.
We have trialled and tested the following apps and feel that they are
beneficial for business use. These are downloadable on your tablet or smart
phone:
- 1. Ad-Free Converter – a free and simple unit converter, which converts units of acceleration, angle, area, density, distance, volume and pressure, to name but a few.
- 2. Priority Matrix - an incredibly convenient and powerful "to do list" tool that uses proven time management methods. You can visually and intuitively manage to do items, lists, ideas, project, plans, and activities.
- 3. Dropbox - this is the easiest way to sync and share your files online and across computers, plus it is free to download and use.
- 4. MightyMeeting - with MightyMeeting you can store your presentations in the cloud and access them anytime and anyplace from your iPhone or iPad. You can share these presentations via email, blog, Twitter, or Facebook. Most importantly, you can start or join online web meetings directly from your iPad or iPhone.
- 5. Skype - call your Skype contacts wherever you may be. It’s completely free to call people on Skype over Wifi, so if you are unable to have a meeting with your client you can Skype them face-to-face from anywhere in the world.
- 6. LinkedIn – keep connected with your business contacts while you are on the go by downloading the free LinkedIn app.
- 7. Bdaily - The Business Daily app that brings together Business News, advice and opinion led articles to its readers across the world.
Look out for our new
Perry Process App which will be coming soon.
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