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Going Wireless: Friend or Foe?WordForce Communications © 2005
A young mother runs out of gas on the highway late at nigh. It’s -5ºC, but with the wind chill feels like -15ºC. With her six month old baby snugly wrapped in his car seat she picks up her cell phone and dials CAA for help. What would this mother have done without this wireless marvel?
We have come a long way since then with the introduction of far more intricate wireless technology. Whether a laptop with WIFI capabilities you can take to Starbucks or a PDA you can use to track your appointments, which should you choose?
As a writer I have all the programs I need on my laptop to write from anytime I have the creative urge. I also get a decent sized screen to see what I am writing. A lawyer might prefer a Blackberry, allowing them to work completely out of the office. Checking email and voicemail en route to court or billing time between sessions. They can also download documents and customer information from anywhere.
A real estate agent, using a combination of the GPS (Global Positioning System) and a PDA, can schedule showings and easily navigate between properties. Having GPS wireless technology lets them know exactly how much time they need to get from one address to another.
The laptop keeps sales professionals connected while on the go. It’s an office away from the office. On the road, in their hotel or at a conference, they can work on a project, surf the web or stay in touch with clients and their office. Following up with leads faster, accessing client information and interacting more quickly with clients.
The speed of getting information and spreading it around has never been faster. Used wisely, wireless technology is changing the face of many mobile professions. Giving people the freedom to get out of the office more and spend less over time trying to catch up once they get back.
But is having instant information and constant connectivity a virtue or a vice? There is a very fine line between the benefits of being wireless and where it actually decreases productivity. If abused these technologies can actually decrease productivity and cost companies thousands of dollars in wasted time. For instance, a regular weekly staff meeting that normally takes one hour now takes three because employees are being interrupted by cell phones, text messages and Blackberrys. Not to mention, if the employee is being constantly distracted by their technology how valuable or how much are they contributing to the meeting?
With more enhanced technology comes the need for more enhanced technological skills. Loss of time due to crashes and malfunctions also decreases productivity. The training or IT support required to keep up with this technology may be costly as well.
When deciding whether wireless technology is the way to go be mindful of its negative effects and learn how to use it productively. Remember as with all technology, don’t be completely dependant on it. What would that mother on the highway have done if her cell phone battery died?
Maja Rehou is a consultant, writer, editor and founder of WordForce Communications. Her firm helps professionals generate revenue through strategic communications. Whether it is web content, a direct mail letter, business plan, brochure or trade article she helps you create content that counts. For a free copy of our 105 Commonly Misspelled Words A to Z please contact us at (416) 534-9881 or info@wordforce.ca. PREVIOUS ARTICLE | NEXT ARTICLE
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