Five must-have accessories for mobile workers

Smartphones and tablets have become essential tools of the trade for today’s mobile workers.

They allow a single sleek device to replace the clutter of clipboards, forms, files and folders that fieldworkers used to have to lug around for accessing and recording job information.

And because they’re becoming such an important part of any efficient and smooth running operation, it really pays to make sure you’re able to get the very best out of the technology.

To help achieve this, there are a whole raft of accessories available which can help make life that bit easier for employees when they’re out on the road.

Here are five of the top accessories for mobile workers:

• Portable battery charger
• Screen stylus pen
• Bluetooth headset
• Phone holster holder
• Multipurpose phone grip

Despite all the advantages of technology, it does have one weakness…it needs to be powered. While battery technology is constantly improving, it can sometimes struggle to meet the demands of mobile working.

So it’s always worth having a portable battery charger on hand to remove any risk of running out of juice. Something like the Aukey Power Bank 20000mAh can be powered up via USB and left in a glove compartment – providing a reassuring back up.

It’s able to charge most devices three of four times over and is small enough to fit in a pocket, allowing it to recharge a smartphone while that device is still being used by a fieldworker.

Using a stylus pen for everyday tasks on a smartphone may seem like overkill but when using a device for mobile work operations – it makes a lot of sense. This is particularly the case when using work apps that require fast selection of options and accurate inputting of information.

A stylus provides the kind of control that you don’t get when using a finger; it can be used while wearing gloves and doesn’t leave smears on the screen. It also adds a level of professionalism when customers or clients are required to provide a digital signature.

With most devices having capacitive screens, there’s a huge range of options – from cheap, nonsense pens to more accurate powered styluses such as the Stilo2A.

The ability to use a phone hands-free is essential for driving and to communicate while carrying out work tasks. It means that mobile workers can remain productive while they’re making or taking a call.

It’s also particularly useful for mobile workers who operate in noisy environments. Headsets such as the Jebra Steel feature noise canceling abilities and a rugged build designed to handle the toughest work conditions.

With rapid improvements in voice recognition technology, the number of tasks mobile workers can carry out hands-free is only going to increase.

Here are the best Bluetooth headsets on 2018.

Storing a smartphone in a pocket isn’t ideal for mobile working. Phones seem ergonomically designed to slip out and they’re prone to getting scuffed and scratched by keys or coins.

It’s safer and more convenient to have a device stored in a holster which can either be attached to a belt or on any kind of harness or strap. Something like the Maxpedition Smart Phone Holster allows easy access to a device while keeping it snugly secure.

It’s especially important for any physical work activities where a smartphone in a pocket is liable to be get bumped, scraped and dropped.

An extra pair of hands often feels like it would be the best accessory for mobile working. But as that’s not an an option – the next best solution is to have a phone stands that allows a device to be secured to any object.

It can be used as a tripod for taking pics or video conferencing. Or it could be used to allow a worker to view their smartphone screen while carrying out a task – to follow instructions or view work schematics.

The innovative design of a product such as the GripTight One, allows them to grip onto pretty much anything. They’re able to wrap around objects or to be used as a conventional tripod.