Top Small Business Apps
Popular tablets like the iPad, Nook and Kindle are ideal for not just play, but business, too. Yet, while a growing number of Americans own these tablet devices, a recent survey by the Small Business Authority found only 28% – less than a third – of business owners use them for work purposes. It’s a missed opportunity, considering all the useful tablet-friendly applications on the market that can boost your business’ operations and productivity.
Here are some smart ways to bank on your tablet and related apps:
Be the Envy of Coworkers at Meetings
Ditch the agenda, daily planner and bulky briefcase. Popular apps like Evernote will give you an edge in the boardroom. The software organizes your ideas, allowing you even to add video and photos to your note taking. Unlike your Moleskine, the notes also upload to Evernote’s site where you can access or store them for later. In the world of productivity, it’s hard to beat Google however. You probably already use the tech giant’s many products but you can also connect to your Gmail, calendar and documents on Google Drive from your device.
Make Operations Digital
Apps on your device can include more than games and magazines. Log mileage, photograph receipts and submit expenses using the Expensify app. Contractors especially might like FormMobi‘s digital clipboard, where you can use their library of forms and your device’s GPS to survey projects and collect signatures for reports. It also has forms for event registration and petitions among others.
Get Paid More, Faster
No matter the industry, most small businesses can use a Point of Sale (POS) app that will allow them to accept credit and debit payments instantly. Examples include Square and GoPayment. Many of these payment apps and card swipers are free and have pay-as-you-go pricing — so you just pay a percentage on the total transaction when you use it. With GoPayment, you pay 2.7% on the total transaction when you swipe a card.
And consider this: A recent survey of 1,000 small business owners by Intuit, 45% said they do accept credit cards and a majority (83%) of them said they were making more sales as a result. In fact, more than half claimed to make more than $1,000 a month due to accepting credit cards.
Impress Customers
Novel uses of technology show your customers that your business is on the cutting edge. The private doctor can replace her old magazines with e-readers for a more pleasurable waiting experience. The event photographer can digitize his portfolio for easy presentation to potential clients. And with so many people connecting through social media, a tablet could also be just what you need to engage them on the go. Finally, the paperless technology is an environmentally friendly option sure to impress green customers.
Photo Courtesy, Mikeymikez.
