With a market worth above $700 billion, Apple has become the world’s most valuable company. Having sold more than 61 million iPhones in Q2 of 2015, the iPhone has its place not only as a personal user’s phone but in the workplace.

Appearing more often in employee hands at large and small businesses, the iPhone is packed with productivity tools, and many businesses have taken it to the next level.

In this article we’re going to talk about three unique ways businesses are using iPhones. Let’s take a look at some case studies.

The Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic is using the iPhone to provide innovations in patient care. Physicians and even patients can use custom apps on their iPhone (or other apple device). This new ability allows physicians to treat their patients in a more individualized, personal manner.

The Mayo Clinic uses more than 15,000 iOS devices, and coupled with custom apps, they’re working hard to provide the best care for their patients.

They developed their own app so they could really leverage electronic medical records. Instead of having to cart around scans or X-rays, doctors can sit with their patients and show them their scans right on their iPhone. The patients also have access to videos regarding patient care and much more.

Using the iPhone, the staff at the Mayo Clinic literally has all the patient information they need right at their fingertips.

The Mayo Clinic also developed an app specifically for patients called Ask Mayo Expert. This lets patients leave messages for the doctors and view their own patient records right from their iPhones.

Lowe’s

Home building superstore, Lowe’s, is using the iPhone for their employees and their customers. With the development of three custom iPhone apps – two for employees and one for customers, Lowe’s is taking customer service to a new level.

The Lowe’s customer now has a home improvement guidebook right on their phone. They can view how-to videos, look up products and reviews, learn about their local store, see their gift card balances and more.

On the employee side, the staff can handle administrative tasks on their iPhones, plus they have access to a bar code scanner and credit card reader on their iPhone. By using the iPhone to handle daily tasks, managers can spend less time in their offices and more time on the store floor.

So, the next time you’re in Lowe’s and ask a sales person if they have any floor tiles in Sienna Red, he can find the answer right on his iPhone. You no longer have to walk up to customer service and wait. Not only will they know if they have it, they’ll know how much is in their inventory and the exact aisle in which to find it.

SKF: A Global Engineering Company

SKF workers use custom apps on their iPhone to accomplish tasks they couldn’t do before. Employees in all areas use iPhones to accomplish their work:

• Machine operators use iPhones on the factory line.
• Sales and engineering field teams stay connected when out of the office.
• Global customers have access to business data in real time and communicate with their colleagues and their machines.

Perhaps the most unique way SKF factory employees are using their iPhones is with the MOST app. Using their iPhones, factory operators can view complex data from a variety of machines and backend systems. This means they don’t have to waste time walking all over the factory floor to collect data.

The Take-Away

These businesses are certainly using iPhones in unique ways. The possibilities with the iPhone are limitless. Whether your business is small or large, here are a few more ways you’ll find the iPhone useful for business:

• As a portable cash register
• As a storage device – think iCloud, DropBox, etc.
• To access the company Intranet
• To view documents
• With apps like Evernote
• To FaceTime or Skype clients or co-workers
• To process billing
• To remotely access a computer

At Studio Proper, we design with business users in mind. You’ll find products that enhance your iPhone use with durable products that balance function and form. We make using the iPhone for business easier. Our X Lock system is seamless and allows an ease of function employees appreciate. Visit our website to see our products in action!