With the shift in how we work, with many businesses opting for a remote or hybrid-style office, you’ll need a reliable, adaptable and flexible business mobile solution. A business mobile plan can be a great welcome perk for new employees while also ensuring that your team is supplied with the best tech possible to make their jobs easier.
Of course, it’s no surprise that the mobile industry is a very crowded market and choosing the right business tariff and the best deal can be complex. This is why we’ve put together a list of what to look for when it comes to choosing a business mobile tariff to help you make the right decision
1. Coverage and Speed
There’s nothing more frustrating than experiencing no signal or slow download speeds when you’re trying to work. So, one of the first things you’ll need to consider when researching tariffs and networks is the coverage and speed you’ll get with them.
While most of the UK has great mobile signal coverage, there are still some areas where the signal is unreliable. And, if you have remote workers all over the country, you’ll need to make sure each employee is covered and happy. At Officeology, we partner with both O2 and Vodafone, who offer super-fast mobile data, and have excellent coverage across the UK. We’ll consult with you to find out all the places you need to be covered and then find the best network for your requirements.
2. Value for Money
As a business owner, whether you’re a startup or a large business, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best value for money and keep your bills in check. Look out for the providers that offer plans to suit smaller businesses, competitive handset prices and various deals, offers and discounts.
Vodafone, for example, will let you trial a plan before you buy, which reduces the risk of you spending money on the wrong plan. They’ll also allow you to data test drive, so you can gauge exactly how much data you’ll need each month.
3. Customer Support
Mobile phones, and technology in general, can be temperamental sometimes and you’re bound to run into phone issues. When this happens, you want to be reassured by a great customer support team that your problem is heard, and action is being taken to resolve it without a lot of downtime or delays.
A phone provider with excellent, round the clock customer support is crucial and can really be a make or break reason for signing up. At Officeolgy, we put our customers first and make it our responsibility to ensure you’re getting the best service at the best price. This means we’ll only give you options to providers with a stellar reputation. Plus, we’ll always be on hand to help whenever we can too.
4. Tariff Types
Just like with personal mobile phones, most business mobile providers offer similar contracts and tariff options. From pay-as-you-go and pay monthly, to SIM-only tariffs, there are several options to consider. Choosing the right tariff type is one of the most important factors to get right as it can have a big effect on your costs.
So, take your time and research your needs carefully. While this may be time-consuming, the payoff will be worth the extra effort as you’ll be unlikely to overpay for services that you don’t use. Some services will also give you access to a portal where you can track and manage your usage monthly and adjust accordingly.
5. Mobile Handset Choice
With hundreds of handsets available, from sleek designs and a huge range of exciting features, it can be very tempting to choose the latest, most expensive model for your employees. But, this can rack up the costs very quickly. You need to ask yourself whether your work phones need to have all the bells and whistles, or whether a cheaper alternative will still have everything you actually need?
Think about the key features that employees will need in a handset. If the sales team are on the road, making a lot of calls, then long battery life will be key. Or, if your marketing team need to film videos and take pictures to post all over social media, then a phone with a good camera will make their jobs easier.
6. Security Management
Mobile phones, while perfect for keeping important information and contacts at hand, are susceptible to security risks. They can be lost, stolen or even hacked, which can all pose a risk to your company’s data and reputation if private information is leaked. Implementing a few extra security measures, such as encryption on certain apps, a strong passcode and device management, which allows data to be wiped if the device is lost or stolen, are all steps that should be taken.
Make sure you train your employees too on how to properly and safely use their business phones. For example, not taking their work phones to certain places such as to town or the gym, not opening suspicious emails or messages or downloading any non-work-related applications.
Need more help and advice? Take a look at our phone systems and business broadband solutions page, and contact our team today for all the information you’ll need.
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