When is it Time to Provide a Staff Member with a Cell Phone for Work?

hands-coffee-smartphone-technology.jpgIs your business currently considering providing staff cell phones? Choosing the right carrier, considering mobile data security, upgrades and maintenance, and what type of phone plans you will provide can all seem like tough decisions. But before you get into the details of your company cell phone policy, start by considering which employees could most benefit from a work cell phone. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at a few instances in which your team members should have a company-provided mobile phone.

Mobile Employees
If your operation requires salespeople to be on the road for company business, they have to be reachable in order to serve customers and make quick business decisions. Putting a company phone in your mobile workforce’s hands will allow for continuity of business and ensure that your sales team and executives can reach customers anywhere, anytime. This is especially important in today’s ever-connected culture – customers are expecting a prompt response to their needs, and a work cell phone can help your employees serve them better.

On-Call Employees
Certain staff members may need to be on-call after normal working hours. If your business requires around the clock IT support, mechanical maintenance or security monitoring, you should consider providing these teams with work cell phones. A company mobile phone will allow you to contact these employees quickly so you can resolve unexpected issues as soon as possible.

Safety Considerations
If you provide a service that requires your employees to be on the road, travelling to customers’ offices or homes, providing them with a cell phone is a matter of safety. Should an accident or breakdown occur, a phone is their lifeline to get help, and notify you and your customers that they are experiencing an issue on the road. If you do provide phones to your drivers, be sure to equip them with hands-free technology to ensure they can use their cell phone safely while driving.

Marketing Teams
Your organization may choose to provide company cell phones for marketing staff to respond to social media inquiries around the clock, or post updates to your social profiles or website while at events on the road. For these team members, staying connected via mobile is essential to handle potential social media issues or simply keep your audience up to date with the latest news from your business.

Before you decide to integrate company cell phones into your workforce, carefully consider which employees require them most. In cases where having a cell phone on hand is necessary for maintaining business continuity and managing customer relationships, a work cell phone can be a huge benefit. Additionally, you should think about safety when it comes to your mobile workforce, and decide whether or not a work cell phone will give you and your employees peace of mind.