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Technological advancements have had a dramatic impact on how companies operate and, as a result, how employees operate. Just 20 years ago, a mobile workforce was unrealistic, hampered by a company’s need for its employees to be on-site.
Technological Advancements End Mobility Limitations
The speed of communication has quickened while its price has declined, making it more accessible to even small companies. About nine out of ten businesses access data via broadband networking, networking that is also available wirelessly in major cities across the country. At the same time mobile voice services (i.e., cell phones) are integral to all industries. The competition among providers has not only led to the removal of usage charges for wireless and mobile services, it has led other services provided by subscription like Voice over the Internet Protocol (VOIP).
The pervasiveness of wireless and broadband services and mobile devices coupled with a few other innovations by companies make it possible for employees to work from just about anywhere, namely:
- Business application platforms that are the foundation for enterprise applications accessible over a wireless and landline network
- Enterprise applications that run on these platforms and are automated via mobile devices
- A company’s ability to manage all the communications services they provide flawlessly
What is Mobility Doing to the Job Industry?
The job industry has seen some major changes due to the increased mobility of the workforce. In the publishing industry, writers, editors, proofreaders and graphic artists can and do work from anywhere in the country communicating with speed across the Internet. Radiologists can review X-rays and other types of scans from anywhere in the world. There are American-born doctors living in Israel who review scans for American hospitals. The best-known example of a mobile workforce is that of companies which outsource their call centers to India.