As smartphones have become nearly universal among Americans, they have become indispensable tools for sales representatives. Sales reps who use mobile phones effectively have a solid edge over the competition. Sales professionals who use mobile CRM apps are 14.6 percent more productive, a Nucleus Research survey found.
In order to benefit from the competitive advantage mobile sales tools can give you, it’s essential that you equip your sales team with reliable smartphone equipment. Here are six things to look for when choosing a smartphone model for your traveling sales team.
1. Large Display and Easy Input for Client Communications
One of the most important functions of smartphones for sales reps is the ability to send and receive messages to prospects and clients, points out sales trainer Thomas Phelps. This makes a device with a large screen display desirable for easier reading of emails and texts. The most popular current smartphone screen sizes are between 5 to 5.5 inches and between 5.5 to 6 inches. Likewise, large keyboard inputs will make sending messages easier. A device that supports QWERTY input is optimal.
2. Essential Sales App Support
Another essential for sales smartphones is support for the apps your team needs to use. First and foremost, your smartphone should support your chosen CRM software platform. Additionally, your team’s calendar management and time management apps also rank as high priorities. Consider these and any other apps your team needs to use, and check for compatibility between the operating system you require and the specs of smartphones you’re considering.
3. Mobile Payment Capability
As mobile wallet use increases, the ability to accept mobile payments is an increasingly important feature for sales-ready smartphones. Mobile wallet spending will increase 30 percent this year to reach $1.35 trillion. Make sure your sales team is prepared to accept mobile payments by choosing a smartphone that’s compatible with popular mobile wallet solutions such as Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay.
4. High-quality Camera Features
For traveling sales representatives, keeping track of business expense reporting is a necessary but tedious chore. Expense tracking apps, like Expensify, that enable traveling employees to scan in receipts with their smartphone camera make this chore easier, while giving sales reps more time to concentrate on sales instead of paperwork. Choosing a smartphone with a high-quality camera will help ensure good image quality for expense receipt scans.
5. Solid Security Tools
Identity fraud struck a record number of Americans in 2016. Keep your company from becoming a cybertheft victim by selecting a smartphone with solid security features. Today’s best smartphones include biometric scanning features such as fingerprint ID and facial recognition for two-factor authentication.
6. Built-in VR Support
Virtual reality is poised to become a vital sales tool over the next few years. In order for your sales team to capitalize on this emerging trend, you’ll need a smartphone that supports VR capability. For the best results, choose a device with built-in VR capability, such as a smartphone with a Snapdragon machine learning mobile platform. This technology is specially-engineered to combine data from cutting-edge cameras and sensors with powerful analytics capability that can translate real-time objects, gestures and speech into a realistic immersive experience.
Large display screens and input keys, support for essential sales apps, mobile payment capability, high-quality camera features, robust security tools and native VR support are six qualities to look for when considering a smartphone for your sales team.
[Read also: Smartphone Buying Guide for Beginners]
[Image via: Google Images]
