Modern society has seen technology come to play an important part in the way we interact with others and go about doing day-to-day tasks. But, has smartphone technology now developed so much that people can run a business using nothing but their mobile phone?
According to new research two-thirds of UK working adults are confident they could run a business using just a smartphone, with a large majority agreeing that this would give them a commercial advantage – especially when on the go.
With a recorded 660,000 people establishing their very own company in 2017, the desire to start up on your own is evident. The average start-up cost for a new business in the UK is £22,756 in its first year alone. As such, being about to cut back on costs, such as purchasing a laptop or desktop computer is crucial.
Looking at the benefits of running a business via a smartphone, the five advantages that were cited most in the research, include:
- More readily available to clients/customers/stakeholders
- Easier to travel and be more mobile
- More flexible hours
- Better multi-tasking
- Would be cheaper than buying a computer/laptop
The age group that believe they could manage a successful business from a smartphone more so than any other are 25-34-year-olds with over half of millennials seeing flexible hours as the biggest advantage. Furthermore, 18-24-year-olds and 35-44-year-olds are also confident in the idea of using a smartphone to manage a business, indicating that workers across the age groups are beginning to adapt to new ways of working.
When it comes to the professions that are most confident in running a business from a smartphone, surprisingly, it isn’t just office workers. In fact, three-quarters of plumbers, electricians and builders feel confident in this, with over half feeling they would be more available to clients if they ditched their laptop or desktop computer.
Speaking of this modern method of working, Lauren Chiren, Director of Women Of A Certain Stage, said: “I run my business all from my smartphone. It allows me to be a mum and a business woman with a positive and appropriate balance. The biggest advantages of running a business solely from my smartphone include the freedom, independence, flexibility and being available more for my clients. I couldn’t imagine running a business any other way!”
Helen Packham, added: “I use a smartphone and run the majority of my business with it. The main way it has helped me is connecting and building a social following round my ideas. I use live streaming to share messages in the moment which has given me huge flexibility in going live, round my lifestyle, which includes school runs, pick-ups and drop offs. I can catch up on emails whilst I am waiting for my children and take my work with me wherever I go if I need to. I don’t work a traditional 9-5 job, so it suits me very well.”
Andrew Cartledge, Mobile Expert at Mobiles.co.uk, said: “Smartphones have revolutionised the way we go about our daily life, and now possibly even the way we work. It’s great to see so many working adults believe they could run a business from a smartphone. This technology allows us to become more flexible outside of the 9-5 working day, with great advantages such as working more flexible hours, being more readily available for clients and being able to multi-task more efficiently.”
