JLBM - Choosing the Right Business Mobiles

Smartphone tech is constantly evolving, and the pandemic has meant the way we use our phones for business has too. Owning JLBM, I understand that cost and convenience are the main concerns when considering investing in business mobiles, but the comms landscape has changed. When looking to invest in business mobiles, you now need to make sure whatever options you choose protect your business against loss, theft, and tampering too. Here are my top three tips for choosing the right handsets and provider.

Handsets – Spec Jargon

Don't get bogged down in spec jargon. The handset you require is one optimised for business use. The issue is most devices are made with the personal user in mind. If the customer service agent you're on the phone with is waxing lyrical about cooling fans, vapour chambers and a 144Hz refresh rate, that’s a phone aimed at gamers. If the device marketing literature is focused on Class-leading sound, headphone ports and Quad-DAC, that’s a phone made with music lovers in mind. When shopping around for a business mobile, it’s not about pretty colours, pop out cameras and unique design. Durability, connectivity, powerful processors and ease of use; are the necessities.

Security & Encryption – Must-Haves

Despite a third of UK businesses falling prey to cyber-attacks each week, only thirteen to fifteen per cent encrypt all of their critical and sensitive data. When I consider the damage a data breach can cause a company, those stats leave me shaking my head. While the government's DCMS urges UK businesses to boost cyber standards, the same government’s UK Online Safety Bill will water down encryption and create a cyber-space far less safe than it is at present. While all smartphones come with a degree of protection and encryption, be aware some are more secure than others, meaning a handset's default security and encryption may not be fit for business purposes. Source a security solution that protects your data in transit and at rest. One that effortlessly integrates with your existing applications and provides full disk encryption.

Tariffs & Pricing – As Clear as Mud

If you’re looking to invest in business mobiles for the first time or hoping to switch provider, it may feel as though suppliers have made their tariffs and pricing bundles as confusing as possible. With so many options available, how do you go about choosing the right one? First things first, before switching your network provider or tariff, it’s critical you audit your current data usage. It’s the only way to be sure of how and where you can make savings. An audit also protects against being upsold by a dodgy sales agent on commission. Once you’ve done that, establish your budget and stick to it! The tariff you choose will likely be your largest cost consideration, and you will find yourself overpaying if you haven’t set a hard-and-fast budget. Consider the length of a contract. Short or long, there are pros and cons to both. When deciding on a contract, keep in mind the average upgrade cycle of a business mobile is three years. A shorter-term contract will be costlier on a monthly basis but enables you to upgrade your devices more often. A long-term contract, while cheaper, ties you into a specific handset for a much longer time, and you run the risk of ending up stuck with devices that aren't able to run the latest software. If you’re a small business, consider dipping your toe in the water with a SIM only deal. Though, I'd steer clear of implementing a BYOD program. Bring Your Own Device policies will increase productivity, but they are an additional and high-risk zone of vulnerability for your business network.

Investing in Business mobiles and laptops is beneficial for employers and employees alike. Unified communications put employers in complete control and provide employees with the right tools and applications for the job. If you are thinking of investing in business mobiles or are looking to change provider, JLBM will be happy to advise.

For more information call 0151 459 3140 or email info@jlbm.co.uk

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