Five Reasons Why Your Business Should Use an iPad

You may be surprised that some of the first people to buy the recently launched iPads were wearing suits, not sneakers.

It’s true. Those first at the checkout line were not the Apple zealots happy to trample small children for anything created by Steve Jobs and his cast of innovators. Amazingly enough, it was the business community: Those not-so-early adapters who tend to wait until technology is proven before investing a penny of their capital.

The Chicago law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP was one of the first in line. Spotlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal article, the firm preordered 10 iPads. According to Michael Barnas, director of application services, “We made sure that we knew as much about these devices as possible.”

They are not alone. Businesses are authorizing their IT departments to purchase the iPads and test their capabilities. They’ve also been putting them to use in exciting new ways.

Early Adapters Proving to be Innovative Users

For businesses of all sizes, the iPad has proven to be remarkably versatile. The tool seems to be limited only by the creativity of those using it. Here are some applications:

• Mercedes-Benz Financial, which provides the loans and leases for Daimler AG, has provided dealers with iPads pre-loaded with an app. The strategy is to get the credit-application process as close to the vehicle – and the customer – as possible.

• Kaiser Permanente, a California-based health care organization, uses the iPad in their 37,000 square-foot technology lab to view medical images such as X-rays and CT scans.

• Bausch & Lomb Inc. has about 50 employees out in the field using iPads due to their quick start-up and longer battery life.

• Property Solutions uses the iPad as a training tool for new tenants, educating them on how to fill out a maintenance request, pay rent, and use other features of their company website.

The fact that these innovative uses have come so quickly is surprising. Traditionally, businesses have been reluctant to stick their necks out for the latest gizmos, especially in the midst of a sluggish economy.

The iPad, however, is not exactly unproven technology. It’s a byproduct of the iPhone, which has become one of two dominant cellular phones on the market.

Apple’s iPhone initially faced many objections by the business community, but the company has made the necessary adjustments. Employees can now securely access networks, and it has become easier to encrypt information. An IT department can also develop its own internal app without having to register it through the iPhone.

These upgrades have warmed businesses to the iPad concept, and have set the stage for its quick adaptation by IT departments.

Five Reasons Why You Should Make a Move

We’ve touched on some specific ways that businesses are using the iPad. But why should you consider using it for your own operations?

Here are five ways the iPad can unlock new opportunities for you:

1. It’s a great sales tool. The iPad is portable and can run presentation applications with ease. Sales people can use it at the point-of-purchase, or you can easily make a presentation in front of a group. The portability of the iPad allows you to bring all your digital assets directly to your customer, wherever they are.

1. It’s a productivity booster. The iPad can quickly boot up, saving time otherwise spent waiting for your laptop to come to life. It has also has a longer battery, so you can work longer. The iPad’s light weight and modest size make it convenient to use anywhere.

1. It allows you to collect customer information. List building has never been easier than with an iPad. You can immediately access your Facebook page or present a customer with a sign-up page for your e-newsletter. It’s the ideal tool for a waiting room.

1. It shows you are savvy. Face it, customers are impressed by the latest whiz-bang new gizmos (particularly when they work). Not only will you dazzle your customers with how cool your iPad looks, they’ll also respect your smart use of new technology.

1. It’s a smarter business purchase. The iPad is lighter than a PC, has a longer battery life, and most importantly, is cheaper. Prices start at $499, which is much less than a well-equipped laptop. It performs all the basic tasks, such as writing, editing, emailing, and web surfing.

Moving toward new technologies such as the iPad, and using them to creatively generate new opportunities is no longer a fad. For the business owner intent on persevering through the recession, it’s become standard operating procedure.

Dana VanDen Heuvel is president of MarketingSavant, a social media and Internet marketing consulting and training firm. Reach him by telephone at 888.989.7771 or at www.marketingsavant.com.