How is EM shaping the way SMBs operate?

The key signs of the rise in enterprise mobility are clear, and SMBs that have been agile enough to quickly embrace this shift are already seeing the benefits. But how exactly does EM shape the way SMBs operate as a whole? How is this change being fueled by BYOD-type initiatives? And finally, how can this revolution in communication be driven by emerging mobile technologies?

When it comes to global mobility, the numbers do not lie. In the USA, around 7/10 adults now rely exclusively on mobile phones. In the UK, the big digital switchover (expected to be completed in 2027) will mean the end of analogue telephony.
Across the broader Europe, the landline is already dead for good.

A recent Vodafone study of SMBs revealed that 97% of participants believe that mobility has recently helped them improve their business, with some even going as far as to say that without enterprise mobility their business would be at risk.

The impact on small and medium-sized enterprises

In short, mobile apps are now becoming the tool of choice for SMBs when it comes to data such as communication, collaboration, and billing. Practically this means that these businesses are able to develop much more flexibility and manage their working day with tools they are already used to.

Looking to quickly create a pop-up or remote workspace? Small businesses are using mobility to do it faster and cheaper. Are you trying to manage a workforce that changes locations? Business owners are realizing they have the power to do it in the palm of their hand. But the crucial thing in this case is that enterprise mobility is based on the fact that many SMBs now use applications such as Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp to communicate both internally and with their customer base.

On top of that, businesses are finding that they can have all the technology they need in one central location in the form of a UCaaS solution. After all, few small, medium, or emerging businesses have the ability or means to build complex fixed communications infrastructures, but almost 100% of them have a mobile phone which they use almost daily outside working hours.

Running an SME is already complicated and expensive without the additional level of implementing special hardware and software. That is why organizations around the world are seeking to embrace the use of standard mobile devices that every employee in the company uses every day. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) brings multiple benefits for businesses that want to focus on what matters. Just some of the features that BYOD initiatives add include:

• Simplicity
• Flexibility
• Accessibility
• Reduced hardware costs
• Better employee experience (which in turn enhances customer experience)

But with all this as a given, the current ways in which most SMBs use mobility are often inefficient, outdated, or non-compliant compared to what is available. It is time for organizations to seek, in collaboration with a trusted partner, those solutions that are right for them and will make them competitive.