Many firms are apparently ditching PCs and going mobile-only
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New research from BT has found that many employees prefer to use a smartphone over a business laptop to make work more flexible, with many seeing better connectivity as a route to self-employment.
The results showed that 59% of those running a business in the UK choose their smartphone as the “top tech tool”, proving to be more popular than traditional computing devices, including laptops.
According to BT, 41% of UK entrepreneurs now run their businesses entirely online, requiring no personal presence and thus offering a great deal of flexibility. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of survey respondents said they need reliable broadband and mobile connectivity to get work done as fast 5G and gigabit connections roll out in the UK and other countries.
Run your business from your phone
The study also looked at the significant proportion of workers who have considered setting up their own businesses online as cost-of-living pressure mounts and wages struggle to catch up.
BT found that employees were eager to break away from the traditional 9-5 routine, allowing them to adapt their routines to other aspects of their lives, such as spending more quality time with family. Being able to work anywhere was another popular feeling, hence the choice of a pocket-sized business smartphone for the ultimate in portability.
According to Chris Sims, Managing Director for Small and Medium Businesses at BT, the company is keen to “invest in upskilling more small businesses to help them unlock their digital earning potential”, with a fifth feeling “behind the times” and many missing the technical know-how to unlock the power of social media and other advertising platforms.
The report claims there has been a 16% year-on-year growth in mobile data usage among BT’s business customers over the past three years, most recently seeing the highest ever level of data throughput on the network (Boxing Day, 2022 ).
Looking ahead, it’s clear that mobile, home and business data companies all play important roles in many of our businesses going forward.