Tablets have been changing the way people use computers since the iPad was first introduced in 2010. The iPad wasn’t the first tablet computer on the market, but it was easily the most influential. iPads and similar tablet computers are used everywhere these days, from the boardroom to the classroom. Naturally, they’ve been adopted by salespeople of all kinds. In fact, a growing number of businesses are replacing notebook computers with tablets for their salespeople.
Versatility and Convenience
The reason why so many sales teams have embraced tablet computing is mostly due to the superior versatility. Before iPads and other tablets were commonplace, salespeople usually had to make do with notebook computers. These notebooks were usually very reliable, and salespeople could use them to look up details on products and place orders on behalf of customers. Unfortunately, notebook computers came with some definite disadvantages that tablets lack. Sales personnel had to take the time to sit down and log onto a network before they could access any relevant information on their notebooks. This often meant that salespeople couldn’t give customers clear answers to their questions right away, and in many cases potential sales were lost. Customers want results and answers to their questions as quickly as possible, and they simply cannot get that if a salesperson has to put them on hold or otherwise make them wait while they log onto their computers.
With an iPad or a similar tablet, salespeople can access any information without taking the time to log on to a network each time and provide prompt answers to any questions they are asked. The tablets can also solve a variety of issues facing large enterprise organizations with distributed workforces, such as training new employees, clearly defining sales benchmarks in near real time, and sharing data about new product rollouts. Furthermore, tablets are portable enough to travel anywhere and be used anywhere a wi-fi connection is present.
Sales Enablement
The use of tablets in sales is part of a relatively new strategy called sales enablement. This term refers to getting relevant information to a salesperson in order to move a potential sale forward. Basically, it means making things easier for salespeople, which is exactly what these tablets do. Many even provide customized sales apps that empower sales channels by offering timely access to necessary sales and marketing material. As sales enablement solutions provider, Genwi of Los Altos, CA writes, “(Sales enablement) empowers your channel by offering easy and timely access to necessary sales and marketing material.”
As tablets continue to grow in popularity, there is no doubt that they will become essential to modern sales strategies. Some technology experts have even suggested that tablets could replace traditional computers by becoming far more advanced than any desktop or notebook computers on the market. The iPad has already empowered sales personnel and other business professionals in its five years of existence, and it will continue to revolutionize the business world for years to come.
