Mobile Apps That Will Help Streamline Your Office

Mobile devices are making it possible for businesses to take many processes on the road that once had to be carried out on a desktop computer in the office. There are many apps that will significantly increase business productivity, thus lowering costs. Also, many of these apps are free.

Dictation Apps
Dragon Dictation is one of the most useful apps for business owners. While mobile devices are convenient due to their small size, the size of an average mobile device makes it difficult for workers to type efficiently and errors are common.

• Keyboards are slower
• They can lead to typos
• They are less convenient

One option is to use a program that allows staff to speak directly into their mobile devices and record information. Additionally, the act of typing is slower than the act of speaking, even on a keyboard. While the dictation software sometimes makes mistakes, it is surprisingly accurate overall. It is very useful when integrated with a note app such as Evernote or with an email app.

Hours Tracking App
HoursTracker is a very useful app for businesses that charge clients by an hourly rate and by businesses that charge staff members by the hour. This program allows businesses to efficiently track specific hours and send clients the bill.

• Set up multiple jobs
• Track hours more efficiently
• Bill customers more accurately

The HoursTracker app allows for users to set up as many jobs as they need and allows users to clock in and out of these jobs whenever the user commences the task.

CRM Apps
CRM applications are invaluable for sales professionals who must track customer information. New sales leads can be entered into the CRM application through the mobile phone and sales professionals who are making sales calls can immediately access customer information and use it to make more effective sales. When choosing a CRM tool, it is crucial that businesses choose a tool that is very secure, since businesses are trusted with customer information.

Credit Card Processing Apps
It is now possible for businesses to use mobile devices to swipe a consumer’s credit card to pay for items. Imagine making a sale and allowing the customer to make the purchase right then and there. The payment can be processed and paid to the business’s account.

• Free credit card processing
• Process payments anywhere
• No longer miss out on sales opportunities

One app, PayAnywhere, offers mobile credit card processing for free. Another advantage is that mobile credit card processing apps are useful when making fast money transactions during a trade.

Bookkeeping Apps
Bookkeeping apps are useful when trying to stay on top with expenses. Each time a staff member makes a business-related purchase; the receipt can be digitized and sent through a photo. These receipts are accepted by the IRS during a dreaded audit. Bookkeeping software allows businesses to keep up with their accounting work and to immediately get a snapshot of how the business is faring. This can be especially useful for restaurants that are trying to track food costs.

The best way to use mobile apps is to try a few at a time and assess whether they help improve productivity. The best mobile apps will allow staff members to take work wherever they go.

Author Information:
Rosie writes for a number of companies in the B2B arena, including printer supplier Concorde Copiers, suppliers of photocopiers in Cornwall and managed print services throughout the South West.