iPads are becoming increasingly popular among a variety of businesses. In contrast to the iPhones, which were first seen by business as a distraction that could not be used productively, the iPad has been proving itself to be more useful than a real laptop in some cases. It is cheaper and easier to use when employees are standing or giving demonstrations. Mercedes Benz Financial have began using iPads in their dealership loaded with an app designed to allow people to begin filling their credit information while they are looking at the cars. Other companies such as Busch & Lomb Inc built its own iPad app for its salespeople to use in the field. Sean Chai, the senior IT manager at Kaiser Permanent, a health insurance provider, said “apple didn’t design this for the health-care industry, but it’s a tremendous form factor.” They have begun to use the iPads for viewing X-rays and accessing medial records, they are working implementing them to use more in hospitals.
This article was interesting to me because in my mind Apple produces gadgets that are for personal use and I never thought about the business aspects they could help with. Of course the iPhone has email capabilities, which are useful but may devices offer secure email such as Blackberry, but what apple as successfully done is corner the market with the applications that are now offered. The opportunities are endless in the app store; some apps have been advertised on TV to help run small business. But in addition to the applications that already exist, now companies can create their own applications that can be tailored to their specific needs. The iPad also has been secured to protected valued information. According to Apple’s website the iPad has increased security in device protection, data protection, network security and platform security. One important feature is remote wipe can be wiped clean remotely if they are lost or stolen; this helps prevent important information from being lost or released into the wrong hands. I think this is very important because keeping important information secure is crucial to protecting your business. These security features make the iPads appealing to companies where security is of the highest priority. I think that it is very smart to use iPads in the case of Mercedes Benz Financial. When people are looking at the model cars in the dealership is the time when people realize how badly they want to buy a car, but as time goes on they begin to think about the cost and if they can afford it. With the use of the iPad I believe they can increase the people who go through with buying or leasing cars. If the sales people have iPads on the floor with them and can get people started on the paper work while they are still looking at the cars, people will be more likely to follow through on purchasing them because it seems so simple to go through with. The iPad can be very productively to help improve businesses productivity and sales.
Sources:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703846604575447531699309858.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/pdf/iPad_Security_Overview.pdf
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