Smartphones are rapidly changing the way millions of individuals around the globe are conducting business. No longer just a large, brick-shaped paperweight, mobile phones now have the potential to augment nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives. Mobile innovations are leading us to new levels of connectivity, productivity, and discovery.

Here are six ways smartphones are changing the business landscape.

1. Streamlined Communication

   The one thing mobile phones have done right since their creation is the ability to send and receive instantaneous calls across the globe. However, the smartphone has built upon that, adding additional layers of efficiency that make business communications more polished than ever before. No longer limited to voice only, we can now send various media through text messages, emails, cloud services, and other platforms. Once thought a distant hope of science fiction, smartphones allow us to have face-to-face video communications with anyone around the globe with just a few taps of our fingers.

2. More Possibilities in More Places

   Smartphones allow us the freedom to do many things in many places. As long as you’ve got a signal, you can can get access to a range of media and services from a device that fits conveniently in your pocket. Gone are the days of having to be tethered to a desktop computer. Now, with smartphones, you can check your email, do your taxes, shop, read the news, consult the stock market, and check important financial information from any location you’ve got service. For example, having a smartphone during a morning commute on a bus or subway affords you the opportunity to get caught up on business memos, plan your day, and ultimately prepare for work ahead.

3. Personal Organization Made Simple

   It once was a chore to manage one’s extensive collection of business documents and files. Keeping track of correspondence was difficult, as well. But modern-day smartphones have the uncanny ability to neatly organize and arrange everything in one’s life. Whether you’re searching for a specific email or an obscure memo from months back, or would like to remind yourself the last time you spoke with a client, smartphones make browsing and retrieving your personal information simple. Smartphones also act as personal assistants, allowing users to set up reminders about upcoming meetings, bills, and deadlines.

4. Facilitated Networking

   Building and maintaining business relationships is a key component in today’s fast-paced world, especially with the advent of social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Smartphones provide access to these platforms and have effectively allowed us to outboard our social circles. Having access to information about acquaintances and clients on-the-go makes a huge difference in daily business interactions. For example, if you’re going to a business meeting with someone you’ve only met once, you could go to Facebook or LinkedIn to discover more about them and potentially develop conversation points that’ll help you build a rapport further down the road.

5. More Accessible Technology

   A few years before smartphones became readily accessible to millions of people worldwide, the PDA (or “personal digital assistant”) was the device businessmen and women used to conduct important tasks on the go. However, not many people could afford the pricy PDAs and they became almost status symbols for the upper levels of the business world. But as the years continued and more companies started jumping on the smartphone bandwagon, mobile technology has become cheaper and more accessible to those who might not have been able to afford similar technology years ago.

6. On-Demand Stress Relief

   There are times when everyone feels stressed by the pressures and rigors of their business. Now workers have access to high-quality games directly on their phone. A round of play may be just what you need after a stressful meeting or dealing with a grouchy client. Smartphone games help workers de-stress and keep their spirits up throughout the day. Smartphones are revolutionizing the way we conduct business, interact with those around us, and keep track of a ever-changing social landscape.

Teddy Hunt is a freelance content writer with a focus on technology. When not behind a computer, Teddy spends the majority of his free time outdoors and resides in Tampa, Florida.

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