Mobile worker

T-Mobile: Enterprise Mobility Focus Improves Employee and Customer Interactions

Mobile worker

Deploying adequate infrastructure to address connectivity issues is among the most important business strategies enterprises must undertake to stay competitive in an increasingly mobile world, according to the recently released T-Mobile for Business 2019 Workplace Mobility Report.

Sixty-three percent of global enterprises think mobility is the most significant factor contributing to competitive advantage, and more than seven in 10 enterprises say mobility is their top priority. Not surprisingly, spending on mobility solutions is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2022, according to the report.

T-Mobile identified three ways mobility is transforming the enterprise environment, including work/life balance, productive cross-generational collaboration and consumer engagement.

Work/Life Balance

Mobility equals flexibility for today’s employee, and having flexibility to complete work on-the-go can lead to greater productivity and higher job satisfaction, according to the report. Rather than drawing a hard line between work life from 9 to 5 and personal life 5 to 9, employers are increasingly embracing mobility solutions and tools that allow employees to mix the two in a way that increases overall productivity and helps harmonize work and home priorities.

Cross-Generational Communication

The report provided an interesting breakdown of generational communications habits and preferences. Gen Z, those born after 1995, are just beginning their careers, but having grown up entirely in a connected world, this generation has high expectations about mobility. About half of this generation says they are constantly on a smartphone and more than half would rather be without their wallet than their mobile device.

Millennials, born between 1980 and 1995, are more mobile than their workplace elders and expect the flexibility that mobility allows, according to the report. When considering job opportunities, this generation, which is not afraid to change jobs to get ahead, says state-of-the-art technology is an important consideration.

Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980, are technology adopters, although they prefer a blend of technology and traditional tools in their workplace environment. Ninety percent of Gen X owns a mobile phone and this generation actually spends more hours per week on mobile devices than Millennials, according to the report.

Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are increasingly embracing mobility. About 57 percent of Boomers use mobile devices to stay connected, the report said.

“Forward-thinking companies are looking to mobility to help them accommodate employees in diverse demographics,” the report said. “Incorporating mobile initiatives can encourage employees to engage at work in ways that are familiar to them.”

To enable a connected cross-generational workforce, companies must first ensure they have a fast and reliable network that supports a variety of connectivity solutions, the report said.

“Networks have gotten exponentially faster in the last several years, and the coming revolution of 5G will only help businesses engage in even richer, more meaningful ways,” said the report, which challenges companies to think not only about today’s connectivity needs but also the needs of the organization and its employees in the future when making technology purchasing decisions.

Engagement

Consumers spend an average of six hours per day on digital media, more than half of which is accessed via a mobile device, according to the Kleiner Perkins 2018 Internet Trends report. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, enterprises can gather information about audiences and turn that data into insights that can help improve communications and engagement with customers. Examples include serving targeted messages and offers to customers based on their location and purchasing habits.

“The exciting thing about mobility and AI is the ability to surface actionable insights that companies can use to improve customer experiences in real-time,” said Mike Katz, Executive Vice President, T-Mobile for Business.

Mobility also has become an integral part of the purchasing process for many consumers. About half of consumers said they have used their mobile phone while shopping in a brick-and-mortar store. Consumers routinely access the internet on their mobile device to compare prices, gather information on products and read reviews, the report said.