Benefits of Deploying Tablet Computers in Organisation - Example

Benefits of Deploying Tablet Computers in Organisation Name Institution Professor Course Date Executive Summary The sale of Tablet computer has achieved a significant growth, and it is predicted that Tablet computers will surpass the sale of Personal Computers by 2016. It is predicted that Tablet computers will instigate a significant shift in organisational computing over the coming decade. Present investments in Information Technology in promoting Smartphone operating systems pave way for organisations to promote and develop new lines of business on Tablet computers. This report explores and analyses the benefits of deploying tablet computers in organisations. Through a comprehensive literature review, the report identifies the benefits of tablet computers in terms of productivity, accessibility and compatibility. The report will also assess how Tablet computers benefit organisations with respect to increasing productivity and profitability. Tablet computers restructure how employees perform their roles in organisations, where they work, and they increase the ability of employees to interact and share information with partners, colleagues and customers. Tablet computers offer a strong computing podium for mobile employees to gain access of data in the cloud and locally. Tablet computers serve as a foundation for developing novel employee’s efficiencies besides novel services for organisation’s clients. The report concludes that Tablet computers are beneficial to organisations as they increase employees and overall organisational efficiency. Organisations should integrate mobile computing in their organisation culture to increase productivity and profitability. Table of Contents 1. 1. Introduction A computer refers to an electronic gadget that has the ability to receive data in certain form besides performing a series of functions with respect to a predetermined, but the capricious set of technical instructions to offer an upshot in the form of signals or information. The major qualities of a computer include its reaction to a special set of orders in a well-established manner, and it can implement a program, or pre-recorded instructions. Contemporary computers are digital and electronic with transistors, circuits and wires known as hardware while data and instructions are known software. Computer hardware includes storage devices, imaging devices, internet equipments, medium range servers, visual model devices while software includes network operating systems, programming language software, database management and network operating systems. Computer hardware and software enables organisations to use the World Wide Web to perform and grow their businesses. The World Wide Web entails all users and resources in the internet. The WWW allows people to surf through the internet for information and other commercial transactions. Computers are classified by power and size and they include personal computers, minicomputers, workstation, minicomputer, supercomputer and mainframe. Personal computers are small, portable and can only be used by one individual. Tablet computers are a new generation personal computer popular in business organisations given their portability, functionality and convenience and surfing World Wide Web to retrieve information, communication and business transactions. The use of Tablet computers provides an opened environment which supports distance online interaction among employees. 2. Tablet Computers According to Parsons & Oja (2012, p. 59), a Tablet Computer is a form of a portable computer. A Tablet computer refers to a portable computer device that features a touch-sensitive screen applicable as drawing and writing pad. A slate tablet configuration is similar to a high-tech clipboard and lacks a built-in keyboard, but one can be attached if needed (See Figure 1). A convertible tablet computer, on the other hand, is created like a notebook computer, but with screen that fold face up over the keyboard to offer a horizontal writing surface. Figure 1: A Model of Apple Tablet Source: Apple (2013). Tablet computers shine because of their applications that entail handwritten input. Most Tablet computers are also put together to accept the voice input (Parsons & Oja 2012, p. 59). These abilities are specifically beneficial for real estate agents who require access to property information while they are out in the field with their customers. Tablets are also beneficial and applicable to insurance companies who perform most of their duties at the scene of natural disasters and accidents. Healthcare workers also require using Tablet as these gadgets help them to move swiftly from one patient to another. In addition, Tablet computers are beneficial when applied to educational organisations and media companies for easy access to information (See Figure 2). They are also applicable in aviation, engineering and other business fields. Figure 2: Application of Tablet Computers in Educational Organisations Source: McLester (2012). Following their establishment in 2002, Tablet Computers were highly priced compared to notebook computers with the akin memory capacity and processors, but currently Tablets are only priced slightly higher (Parsons & Oja (2012, p. 59). 2.1 Benefits of Tablet Computers in Organisations 2.1.1 Productivity Business scalability and efficiency is one of the major reasons behind the use of Tablet computers in modern organisations. According to Nkhoma & Dang ( 2013, p.182), these factors take advantage of the leveraging and virtualising ability of Tablet computers that enable organisations to scale down its infrastructure to save on costs while enhancing organisational performance. Besides increasing employees’ and overall organisational efficiencies, organisations enjoy the green advantages courtesy of less power consumption from the scaled infrastructure. Scalability is favourable for constant development as Tablet computers allow the use of cloud that has the potential to host very huge data volumes (Nkhoma & Dang, P 2013, p.182). Tablet computers also promote the swift deployment of computational tools which assist organisations in becoming more proactive and responsive in organisational operations. Cost flexibility also seems to be a favourable aspect in use of Tablet computers, and it is promoted through cloud computing that enables organisations to pay as, and when required (Nkhoma & Dang 2013, p.182). Such capability promotes costs control, and it is particularly advantageous to medium and small organisations. Tablet computers serve as a foundation for developing and increasing the effectiveness of employees. Employees need to utilise Tablets computers because these devices hold operating systems that employees are familiar with. This aspect helps employees in passing up the support dreadful experience for Information Technology when changing to a novel technology. Tablet computers offer an efficient computing practice compared to laptops and desktops. These gadgets offer ready admission to computing facilities that are not offered by smartphones and personal computers. Organisations view Tablet computers as a means of improving their business performance as these gadgets promotes better receptiveness to competition, co-workers and clients. Tablet computers demonstrate a novel prospect to sanction employees to become more responsive and productive in their organisations. Moreover, Tablet computers offer ready access to computing facilities that cannot be achieved through other gadgets such as smartphones and Personal Computers. Organisations view tablet computers as a major tool to enhance the manner in which they perform their businesses. Particularly, the major benefits include improved responsiveness to customers, fellow employees and competition. This is because tablets computers provide employees with prompt access to crucial information that enables them to provide critical solutions from practically anywhere. Tablet computers allow for mobilization of major business procedures and customer receptiveness. Modern organisations use Tablet computers as a major tool for profit and cost control. Companies that employ the use of tablet computers in their organisations do so in order to gain a competitive advantage over their key competitors, and as a strategy to attract new business in their areas of operations. Tablet computers as a mobile computing device improve productivity in organisation through facilitating mobilization of business processes, improvement of customer receptiveness, improved collaboration levels, and swift decision making process. Mobile computing also ensures organisational productivity and profitability through increased competitiveness, enhanced sales volumes, employees efficiency and employees’ job satisfaction (See Figure 3) Figure 3: Employees use of Mobile Computing Source: Jungls & Harris (2013). 2.1.2 Accessibility Tablet computers offer great prospects for changes in organizational computing. They are readily and easily available in the market. The application of Tablet computers seems to be a grass-root occurrence that instigates an increase in employee enthusiasm and energy. Sometimes employees buy their own tablet and integrate them into their daily roles and this aspect connects them to the organisations’ networks. Tablet computers improve networking and communication that support immediate feedback. This accessibility and speed allows for swift research and development that helps in winning a competitive advantage. Mobile computing also offers great flexibility that enables home working or working while travelling. It promotes more flexible working practices that allow service provision via the internet. Tablet computers are easily accessible and compatible with most business performances that require data collection and sharing of information. Organisations that set up mobility for purposes of business become more efficient, and they give the employ an edge when attracting, recruiting and retaining quality employees. 2.1.3 Compatibility According Quinn (2013, p. 38) tablet computers are run with the laptop-style sport operating systems and processors that are a laptop-scale although with special stylish-capable interfaces as opposed to standard keyboards. They are typically lighter and thinner than laptops and are applicable in a medical situation to access medical information. Given that they are run through laptop-style processors and other features that allow information sharing, mobile printing, Tablets are a good companion in many organisations. Tablets incorporate more capability such as internet connection, and are loaded with contextually pertinent information that meets the needs of consumers 3. Conclusion and Recommendation Mobile computing has become significantly tantamount with optimising accuracy and efficiency in business organisations. Currently, mobile computing devices function as hubs for information collection, information sharing, mobile printing and giving employees increased flexibility than ever before. With the ever-augmenting range of consumer mobile devices becoming readily and easily available, organisations are requesting for adoption of Tablet computers to enhance their productivity and profitability. Organisations with workforces that are already adapting Tablet computers and are getting measurable business value will be positioned to achieve greater productivity and profitability. The fact that tablet computers are designed through laptop processors and operating systems makes them compatible for the organization’s operations. These gadgets are easily accessible and they increase profitability and productivity through increasing employees’ efficiency. The gadgets also assist companies in gaining competitive advantages and enhancing information sharing. Organisations should integrate mobile computing in their organisation culture to increase productivity and profitability. The use of Tablets makes easier the work of organisations’ managers and employees, hence a rise in overall organisational efficiency 4. Reference List iPad Air, accessed 2 December 2013, http://www.apple.com/ipad/ Junglas, I, Harris, J 2013, ‘The promise of consumer technologies in emerging markets’, Communications of the ACM, 56, 5, pp. 84-90. McLester, S 2012, ‘One table per child’, District Administration, 48, 6, pp. 58-67. Nkhoma, M, Dang, P 2013, ‘Contributing factors of cloud computing adoption: A technology-organisation-environment framework approach’, Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Management & Evaluation, pp.180-188. Parsons, J, Oja, D 2009, New perspectives on computer concept 2020, brief. New York: Cengage Learning. Quinn, C 2011, Designing mlearning: Tapping into the mobile revolution for organisational performance. London: John Wiley & Sons. Read More