Handheld devices for staff

A portable handheld device, such as a smartphone or a small tablet, lets staff reach cloud services from wherever they are on site. Details can be checked on the spot, so nobody has to break off from the job to fetch them.

Benefits for staff

For example, at an outdoor activity centre, an instructor can check the next session's booking and safety notes on a handheld device while standing by the climbing wall. The device fetches the booking from the central cloud system, and real-time synchronisation keeps it up to date. If the office changes the booking, the instructor sees the new details straight away rather than working from an old printout.

Drawbacks for staff

• A device's battery may run out during a long shift, and the device cannot be used while it is charging, so staff may be left without the information they need.
• Handheld devices are small and can be damaged, lost or stolen. Staff may be disciplined if they do not look after them properly, so they have to take extra care of the equipment.
• Text and buttons on a small screen are cramped and harder to read, and a tiny keypad can be awkward for staff with mobility issues to use, slowing them down or leading to mistakes.
• Learning a new way of working takes time, and training sessions eat into the hours staff would otherwise spend on their normal jobs.
• If the connection drops or there is a technical problem, staff may see incorrect information and pass it on to a customer or colleague.