Creative Ways to Use Apps in Business

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There’s more to apps than mobile games and social media. As many companies have discovered, apps can also serve a purpose in business.

Most people carry their smartphone around with them 24/7. Apps can help to transform your phone into a portable workstation. They can also be a valuable tool for aiding your employees and they can even be used to benefit your customers.

You can build your own app, or you can choose from a plethora of existing apps. To give you an idea of how apps can benefit your business, here are just a few creative uses that could be worth looking into.

Get admin tasks done on the go

Apps could allow you to get admin tasks like employee scheduling and accounting done on the go. Whilst many people use software to handle their admin, this requires being at a computer. By being able to do these tasks on your phone, it could give you more flexibility. If you’re commuting to work and there isn’t a seat available for you to use a laptop, having apps on your phone could allow you still get those admin tasks done, allowing you to make more productive use of your time. Many widely used programs like Quickbooks can be used in conjunction with an app. Certain apps may have limited features compared to their software equivalent, so bear this in mind.

Take advantage of video communication

You can also use apps like Skype to communicate via video from your phone. Many companies have realised the enormous potential that this can bring. Real estate agents have begun using video communication to host viewings of properties – for people considering long-distance moves, this can make it possible to view properties without having to travel there. Video communication apps can similarly be used when conducting phone interviews with job applicants – you could use it as a chance to give a tour of the office. Video communication apps can also be useful for buying large and expensive business equipment from overseas such as industrial machinery or construction machinery – the person selling can use their phone to showcase the equipment from all angles and even demonstrate it.

Share diaries with employees/colleagues

Apps like Teamup shared online calendar can allow you to share calendars with employees and colleagues. This can allow you to see when your employees/colleagues are busy – this can be especially useful if you and your colleagues are often in different locations. On top of this, they can see when you’re busy and when not to disturb you if you’re in an important meeting and don’t want people calling you.

Transcribe meetings

Rather than having to take notes in meetings you could consider using an app like Speechnotes to transcribe the conversation. Not only does this provide you with an easy point of reference in case you want to recap details of the meeting later, but it also puts it in writing so you have proof of any agreements that have been made (although you may want to check with everyone in the meeting before transcribing it). Such technology isn’t perfect and there may be some errors, but it’s still a  useful tool and a lot easier than recording a meeting and then transcribing it manually.

Monitor CCTV on your phone

Apps can also be linked up with your company’s security. The likes of iCamViewer can be linked up with a security camera allowing you to monitor your company’s video surveillance from wherever you are in the world. This could be used to check that employees are working whilst you’re away or it could be used to monitor a camera outside your property if you’ve received reports of suspicious behaviour outside.

Apps can also link up with other forms of business security to help alert you of behaviour – some apps can be linked up to your burglar alarm, alerting you every time it is activated. Others can link up with your digital security, warning you of whenever there is an attempted cyberattack. This can allow you to always keep on top of your company’s security and react fast.

Allow employees to clock their hours on their phone

Want to keep a better record of employee hours? Whilst many companies use time clocks, these tend to be clocks fixed to the wall that can only be activated by being in the workplace. If people are working out of the office, they may not be able to use this time clock. Apps like the Sling employee time clock make it possible for employees to clock their hours on their phone from any location. This can then link straight up with payroll software so that you know exactly how many hours to pay each member of staff. Using an app can also be cheaper than relying a physical time clock and it can be just as reliable.

Create a digital handbook for employees

Allowing employees to view your company handbook on their phone could be a huge convenience. Whilst many companies have physical handbooks, these are no use for employees working out the office, and even in the office only one employee can view the handbook at once. You can use services such as AirMason’s digital employee handbook generator to build a mobile-friendly handbook. Alternatively, you could pay an app development company to create an app for you and possibly incorporate quizzes and e-learning activities to also make it a source of training.

Get clients to sign documents digitally

A growing number of companies are going paperless to save the planet. However, for many contracts to be legally binding, they still need a signature. Apps like DocuSign have found a way around this – using your phone’s touchscreen you can digitally sign contracts so that there’s still no need for a paper copy. Even if you’re not dedicated to going paperless, switching to digital contracts can be more efficient – such contracts are harder to lose and can viewed from any location.

Create a digital loyalty card app for customers

It’s also possible to create apps for customer use. This can be a great marketing strategy for bringing back customers, providing a reminder of your brand on your customer’s phone.

A loyalty card app is just one example of the possibilities that you can explore. This could be ideal in a retail setting, allowing customers to scan their phone to receive loyalty points. Employees are more likely to keep returning to build points. You can use companies like LoyalZoo to create your own loyalty card app, or you can pay an app development company to build an app from scratch.