From the first Ericsson phone marketed as a “smartphone” in 2000, until the newest smartphones that use iOS or Android, a lot has happened. Who would have thought how much our lives would change with a portable device that can can function not just as a phone but as a mini computer? The smartphone has completely changed how we work in a number of ways.
- People are not longer confined to the office. Smartphones are equipped with features that give access to everything one needs to do their business with. This has made it possible for remote work to become a reality for many. Smartphones are one of the reasons why the gig economy exists and thrives; Uber drivers can accept rides on their phones, Foodora delivery drivers can accept food orders with a tap and Airbnb users can handle their bookings on the go. Not only the gig economy, all kind of working possibilities have been detached from a physical place in favour of smart working where employees decide themselves where to work.
- Smartphones have a positive impact on people’s productivity. With a smartphone you can check work related documents while sitting in traffic, communicate with colleagues instantly and have access to documents even though your laptop had a breakdown. Before, the absence of a co-worker could signify the impossibility to move forward with a task, but nowadays, with many projects being handled online, this is not the case anymore. This means that business runs smoother and everything stays in flow and on time.
From the first Ericsson phone marketed as a “smartphone” in 2000, until the newest smartphones that use iOS or Android, a lot has happened. Who would have thought how much our lives would change with a portable device that can can function not just as a phone but as a mini computer? The smartphone has completely changed how we work in a number of ways.
- Communication has never been quicker. A notification sound rings and all you have to do is reach out to your pocket or handbag and tap on your smartphone to communicate with your colleagues. Not to mention the video conferences and meetings that can be held via a smartphone, wherever you are. No more running late to a meeting if you can take that meeting on your way to the office, dialling in or telecommuting. No more delays on deadlines because someone is not receiving that fax you sent in 1999.
- Collaboration between teams and colleagues is facilitated in a unique way. Whatever time zone you are in, everything can be easily coordinated, everyone can be quickly updated and informed via their smartphone, independently of office hours. Teams not sitting in the same office can still collaborate on projects via video calls meetings, or delivering their assignment in the same shared document.
So, next time your smartphone buzzes, take it as reminder of all the new possibilities it has brought in our working and everyday lives. And who knows what comes next?
