According to statistics from Telework Research Network, current technology enables 15-20 million workers in the US to be mobile, road warrior employees. While this is still a relatively small number, it is one we see rising exponentially in the next few years, as technology continues to improve and makes it easier for people to do their jobs on the road.

A recent case study from InformationWeek looked at how Parata Systems, a pharmacy technology solutions provider, integrated mobile technology to help run their business more efficiently, improving customer service and ultimately boosting ROI. With approximately 365 employees, 140 of whom work remotely, Parata Systems needed a device with business-ready applications, like Quickoffice, that was mobile and easy to use and deploy. The company selected Apple’s iPad 2 and our own Quickoffice Pro HD for iPad to meet that task. The study notes that since shifting its field service engineers from laptops to iPads, the company cut its overtime payroll costs by three percent, and is expecting additional decreases as a result of hours saved from instant access and other streamlined features.

This case study is a great example of what we at Quickoffice believe will become the norm with most companies in the next few years. Technology is rapidly developing and mobility is the future. Businesses are increasingly integrating advanced technology, like tablets, to increase employee productivity, especially as work takes them away from the office and their desktop. We have become a society of hyper multi-taskers, and the only way companies can compete is to keep up with the trend of consistently leveraging technology to increase overall productivity and efficiency in the office.

What are your thoughts about using tablets in the workplace? If you use a tablet or smartphone at work, how many apps do you use on a daily basis? Do you use Quickoffice?