Tablets that are all fun and games don’t really work at work. You need a tablet designed specifically for business, and here’s why:
1. Better App Access
Android-based tablets offer access to more than 290,000 apps, and make it easy to customize business-specific applications. Look for devices that don’t restrict access to third-party applications like Flash, Quicktime, MS Office, Acrobat, etc.
2. Enhanced Usability
Larger screens, customizable displays, and options like handwriting pens and full-size keyboard cases make enterprise-ready tablets easier to work on for longer periods of time. Business tablets also offer greater support for monitors, projectors, and other peripherals for better info sharing.
3. Superior Synchronization
With enterprise-ready tablets, you can easily sync with your laptop or desktop computer, which means you won’t waste time transferring your data.
4. Improved Collaboration
Enterprise-ready tablets let you freely connect with colleagues via email, video, and social networks. Look for tablets that integrate Facebook®, Twitter®, email, and calendars into the user interface.
5. Greater Peace of Mind
Enterprise-ready tablets are built to reduce risk through password protection and sophisticated data encryption. Insist on devices that can be wiped clear and locked down if they’re lost or stolen, or if the executive using it leaves the company.
6. Faster Configuration and Management
Business tablets offer XML-based configuration that requires no back-end server or provider support, so you can deliver them to users with corporate settings already in place. If you’re planning on deploying multiple devices, look for providers that offer management tools such as Active Synch Support from Microsoft.
7. More Rugged Construction
Business tablets are designed to last a full year longer than consumer tablets. Look for devices that have been tested to protect against dust, vibration, and shock. Some even offer Corning Gorilla Glass® to protect against screen cracking and breakage.
Which Business Tablet Is Best?
The market now offers several tablet options, but technology journalist Joanna Stern says she has been waiting for the new Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet with Honeycomb and Optional Stylus. In a recent review, she asserts that “it could be a serious device for work,” citing high-def presentations, software availability, and network connectivity as key features. The device is truly designed with the enterprise end user in mind, offering all the cool features mobile executives want as well as all the controls and security features your business demands.
Gartner predicts that 80% of businesses will support a tablet-toting workforce by 2013. Are you ready? Get a better grasp of how your IT organization can empower knowledge workers, increase the efficiency of remote customer service teams, and enable field sales professionals to deepen customer relationships in this practical guide to tablets in the workplace.