10 Business Sectors Benefiting From Tablets and Protection

The sale of tablet computers has skyrocketed in recent years, and with good reason: they're the go-to devices for students and couch potatoes alike. But they're no longer just for casual use at home.

Tablets are also now a mighty modern-day business tool, which is why more organisations are turning to tablets for several everyday needs. By 2020, 1.41bn tablets are expected to be shipped globally and as of 2016, corporate purchases accounted for 18% of the global tablet market.

So, why are so many businesses investing in such technology?

The financial benefit is a big factor, of course, thanks to the low purchase price of tablets, especially when bought in bulk, and the user-friendly aspect also plays a part, as they reduce support and training costs for many companies. But the biggest benefit to businesses is the increase in overall productivity.

In the world of business, tablets can deliver a significant boost in productivity - and not only because employees who use them feel more valued, but because it makes the working day much simpler and stress-free. Like smartphones, they're always ready to go and start up in a matter of seconds, and therefore the days of waiting for a computer to start up are fast becoming ancient history.

Plus, the handheld design means they can go places that regular computers can't, because they're as portable and accessible as a plastic clipboard, many fit with integrated wireless networking and even high-speed broadband within some models.

Running apps is also a huge benefit, especially those that have been designed to decrease time loss, and can help with many common tasks such as data entry, note taking and reporting from site visits. That has been and will increasingly become a huge thumbs up for any business that is currently reliant on the traditional paperwork and form-filling systems.

But as we’ve learnt, tablets thrive in all kinds of environments and they offer many advantages for a variety of business sectors and organisations across the globe.

So, let’s take a look at our list of 10 business sectors that are utilising the new world of tablets and tablet protection, for the better...

1.Travel

Recently coined as the ‘golden hour,’ the wait passengers face between arriving at the airport terminal and boarding the plane provides airlines and retailers alike with an opportunity to fully engage with a captive audience. With travellers engaging with social media and technology more than ever, this is an exciting time for the industry as a whole.

A number of airports around the world are taking full advantage of such advances to entertain, inform and relax flyers, especially those with time to spare or have unfortunately been delayed, while making life easier for those in a bit of a rush.

Also, the wait that passengers face between arriving at their airport terminals and boarding the plane for take off provides both airlines and retailers alike, with a great opportunity to effectively engage with a broad audience.

Tablet mounts and kiosks have the capability to improve both practical efficiency whilst building customer loyalty, and they help in generating new, profitable revenue streams for retailers. Plus, tablets in all forms have stepped in as an upgrade to its larger laptop counterpart, becoming as ever-present as the suitcase across airports.

For example, tablets are helping airports to gain valuable insights into how they operate. This includes everything from passenger feedback surveys to measuring satisfaction levels in restaurants and lounges, as well as monitoring real-time wait times for those passing through security.

2. Hospitality

Although the grub is always the main focus across all eateries, many of the most significant changes in the hospitality industry are very much active behind the scenes, whether it be apps updating to how customers best interact with their favourite restaurants, or gadgets created to make kitchens more efficient.

Las year, technology and hospitality connected on a major level, with an abundance of new developments altering how both operators and customers connect with each other.

Once adopted by fast-food giants, such as McDonalds, tablets have gradually become a more common accessory throughout the broader foodservice industry, and in quick succession.

First off, restaurants scrapped pen and paper by utilising mobile technology, allowing waiting staff to send orders straight through to the kitchen with the tap of a button. If that wasn’t productive enough, some restaurants had actually reduced the need for waiting staff by installing ordering systems directly into fixtures or tables.

Such eateries operate on a self-service basis, with customers finding a seat and placing their own orders via a tablet or kiosk, most commonly protected by the secure tilt and swivel security mount, that then connects directly through to the kitchen with very little involvement from waiting staff.

On the flip side, takeaway services are also taking advantage of what tablets have to offer, by making the order receiving and delivery service easier and more efficient than ever.

Many apps are now available in order to track delivery driver activity, monitor spending on ingredients, incoming funds from orders and so much more, making tablet technology a vital part of the hospitality industry, as everything you need is one small place.

Food delivery platforms, such as Just Eat and Deliveroo, have opened up a whole new world for takeaway lovers, and business owners alike. According to Statista, £10.4mil was spent on takeaways during 2018 in the UK, with this figure expected to rise upwards of £11.2 mil by the year 2021.

3. Construction

In 2017, a survey by JB Knowledge reports that around 53% of employees use tablets for construction work. Tablets are part of a growing trend in technology at the construction site and the desire to cement that technology into one device.

The capabilities of tablets, coupled with portability and durability, make them a great piece of gear for construction workers. Of course, a range of tablet covers are also being invested in across the board, with on site activities making them prone to being dropped or damaged.

Also, relevant software and apps offer many benefits for the construction industry, and according to an article by RJ Lifts, many new modern elements are expected to be introduced to the industry, including the use of cloud technology.

Many construction companies tend to have their data and systems in a central location, but but this isn’t always useful everyone involved in a project. More firms are now opting to use cloud-based solutions, as it allows all to access new tasks and collect data from anywhere at anytime.

Such useful technology makes for more better informed decision making, thanks to many softwares real-time offering, including the likes of collaboration and data ecosystem software.

4. Financial

The introduction of the iPad brought with it a whole new world of marketing and customer journey opportunities for banks, credit unions and accountants.

Some banks have introduced “financial kiosks” to there branches, allowing customers to carry out tasks, without the need for assistance, using tablets. The potential benefits of such activities includes:

• Creating in-branch demos and training, for customers and employees.
• Introducing and signing up new customers to online banking.
• Display digital alternatives to printed brochures i.e. product reviews and comparison.
• A check-in service to create a customer queue, ideal in busy branches
• A way to keep customers occupied during busy periods, whilst marketing new products.

Business owners now have the ability to stay on top of their finances, thanks to the introduction of accounting software and apps, many of which have had millions of downloads thanks to there user-friendly design and layout.

5. Retail

Retailer businesses are very familiar to the new waves of technology. As near as 15 years ago, it was considered strange for a small local businesses to have an ecommerce website. Now, brick-and-mortar retailers are constantly adapting to the next big technological transformation, with in-store tablets now being part of most establishments.

Investing in tablets for employees to use daily also comes with potential issues for business owners, especially small retail businesses. In terms of usage, there are many ways to administer tablets so workers can only gain access certain things, and thanks to rugged designs and iPad cases designed for commercial use, durability is much less of an issue. Still, it's still hard to visualise the value of implementing tablets in-store for many.

For the sceptics, here are 5 ways your establishment with tablets can improve the customer experience:

• Retailers can eliminate large checkout counters and create more floor space by adopting tablets equipped with point-of-sale (POS) software.
• Tablets with POS software increase checkout speed making for greater checkout times, this increases customer satisfaction.
• Tablets improve product visualisation, making demonstrations fun and interactive to keep customers engaged whilst more drawn in to products.
• Tablets offer real-time inventory insights, meaning employees have the ability to access updated stock information while selling.
• Tablets are a great way to gather customer feedback quickly and efficiently, whilst gaining insights into buying behaviours.

6. Education

For a few decades now, excitement about the potential of information and communication technology devices for use during teaching and learning, but only fairly recently has this been translated into large scale purchases of such devices, like tablets, for use in schools across the globe.

So, why are educational policy makers allowing the purchases of so many tablets in so many education systems around the world? Let’s take a look at five reasons...

1. As education officials have stated, tablets simply “are what people use today for learning. They used to use desktop computers, and then laptops. Now they use tablets.”
2. Like other electronic educational devices, tablets are seen by many in the industry as powerful, iconic symbols of modernity within an education system.
3. When purchasing new equipment, tablets are now thought to be easier for kids to use, rather than laptops or computers.
4. Tablets have been shown to promote positive learning, according to a university study.
5. New pieces of software, applications and learning materials are only available, for teaching and learning, on tablets specifically.

7. I.T. & Marketing

Tablets are all to familiar in information technology and marketing based organisations, and have many important uses.

For I.T. professionals, such as website developers, implementing new systems includes testing across all devices i.e. mobile, tablet and desktop. Therefore, tablets are actually more of a necessity as they are now at the heart of the job.

In terms of marketing, tablets are increasingly being used to show data to clients, whilst also being used during meetings to display content with ease.

Those who work in application development also use tablets on a daily basis, again for testing updates and new features. 

With many office based jobs already having invested in Dell computers, a number see it appropriate to therefore invest in both Dell tablets and Dell tablet covers, for sake of synchronisation and usability. 

8. Creative

Creative industries are thriving in the way of modern technology, and each sector is happily adapting to use of all things interactive.

Tablets are now at the forefront for many industry professionals. For example, an artist, whether an illustrator or graphic designer, are now able to download many useful free apps to help stay organised and on top of workload whilst chatting to other like minded creatives from all walks of life.

For those working on big projects, tablets can now be used to draft new proposals in a visual way, edit existing work on the go and gain access to a number of files that may need to be transferred to meet a deadline. 

According to a recent infographic, the need for 3D artists is on the rise, with the UK gaming industry alone being valued at £5.11 billion, this means for further investment in technologies for product creation and testing, including tablet devices.

9. Charities

Many charities up and down the country are also adopting the use of such devices, with some organisations even receiving hefty discounts to help support the cause.

You will notice that a growing number of volunteers and street workers now carry around a tablet to facilitate in easily filling out surveys, sign-up forms whilst also offering visual demonstrations of what they are supporting to the public.

In terms of tablet protection, tablet cases with a shoulder strap, such as this one for the iPad mini, are often purchased for such activities as it makes the device easily carryable, hard to lose and doubly protected.

Still, this sector in particular has a long way to go. According to a recent survey by Tech Trust, 79% of charities involved in the research claim they have the infrastructure in place to allow staff to work remotely, yet a significant proportion (41% to be exact) don’t allow employees to use their own devices nor have applications in the cloud.

10. Energy & Utility

With a huge market and competition fierce, energy and utility firms have upped their game, especially in terms of customer engagement. Most people find communicating via their mobile, tablet or desktop with their provider is both user-friendly and time efficient.

Therefore, many utility companies have had mobile applications developed to increase the level of service, including easy access to energy usage updates, billing information and even what time an engineer is due to arrive for a job.

Engineers themselves are adapting and making use of such devices, in order to easily invoice customers, market new offers and communicate with management in their organisation, which in turn increases productivity for utility workers.

On top of that, the main advantage is having the ability to easily gain site information, such as infrastructure damage, to determine the tools they might need to fix the issue. This simple and clear navigation therefore utilises a flexible framework, allowing works to support large volumes of informative content all in one place.

The worker is satisfied and so is the customer, happy days!