Small Business Discussion on May 8th from 2 PM - 4 PM EST

Hello. What are we discussing today?

What challenges do you face as a small business owner?

I want to first thank everyone that sent over questions.  We were able to get answers to all the questions.

Here is our first small business answer to one of those questions.

I’m hesitant to invest a lot of money in mobile phones and devices because my employees have been known to break them. What options are there to protect my device investment?

That’s an important question. In fact, studies have shown that smartphones are the most likely device type to be broken in the workplace. So, you may want to to protect that investment. First off, we always recommend a good case and screen protector from our accessories portfolio. AT&T offers cases and screen protectors from trusted names. Additionally, we always recommend adding a protection package.

Hey BartMoon

We will be happy to look into your fiber installation.  A moderator will be reaching out to your via Private Message in a few moments to get your contact information.

To view your Private Messages you can click on the envelope on the top right of the site next to your username.

Thanks,

RCastle

Community Manager

I really enjoy working with small businesses in my day-to-day life. I've met some interesting people over the years. However, I had no idea the impact they have on our economy. According to the Small Business Administration,  approximately 28.4 million small businesses comprise 99.7% of U.S. employer firms. I had no idea.

 The SBA also notes that small businesses provide jobs for about 56 million employees in the private sector. Not only that, but small businesses created net 63% of new private sector jobs from 1993 through mid-2013, and pay 42% of the U.S. private sector payroll.

I just admire people who have a vision of a small business and pursue it. It takes guts to venture out and take a risk.

Here is the answer to the next question.

As a Service technician I deal with client work orders, repairs and inspections that may also require capturing photos and bar codes. Scanning, submitting, faxing these forms along with damaged/lost forms can be both time consuming and costly. Is there a way to make this process more efficient and better quality?

You can use your smartphone or tablet to easily and quickly capture rich media for inspections and service repairs.   You can have easy access to product and parts inventory list, contact information. Then also save time by submitting the forms to your back office in near real time from any compatible mobile device, without the need to fax or scan. Go here for more information.

That sounds like a great product for a small business. It may help to run the daily operation more efficiently.

Our next question is….

I think tablets are intriguing, but I’m not sure that they are worth the investment for my business. What can tablets do for my business?

That’s a great question that so many businesses have been asking recently. First off, tablets do not necessarily have to be a major investment. AT&T has a number of great offers on business ready tablets. Go here for more information.

 I think using a tablet allows one to accomplish more because it allows you to meet with others just about anywhere. I can say from personal experience as a customer, the flexibility of meeting outside the office was more convenient for me. As a result, I will probably continue to "do business" with that person.

The “next” question is…

I hear all the wireless carriers talking about their networks, and I’m not sure what to make of it. How do I figure out whose network is going to be best for my business?

Great question. For more information about our network, go to: http://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html to see what kind of coverage you can expect in your area. And we are always working to enhance our network. You can see some of the recent upgrades we’ve made at this link: http://www.att.com/gen/sites/focus?pid=22633.

Here is the answer to another question…

As a realtor I deal with a lot of documents that are required in order to move a sale along from listing to close. Delays in submitting/receiving documents as well as lost or misplaced documents can be very costly. Is there a more direct and efficient way to manage these documents?

Yes, you can create, fill, manage and submit forms with accurate data. Forms can be submitted in near real time for quick reviews and processing. Click here for more information.

Here is the answer to our 6th question…

I’ve always been hesitant to upgrade because of the fees and high upfront device costs. Is there a more affordable way to stay current on our devices?

YES! You may pay a monthly installment for your device that varies based on the device you choose and whether you want to become upgrade eligible in 12, 18, or 24 months. For more information, go here.

Our final question is…

As a service provider, I like to send over a copy of completed work order or job to the client, with my company’s logo, to improve customer satisfaction. Is there a way to automate this process once the work order is completed?

Yes, you can not only dispatch work order forms to field technicians, but also allow them to fill out the work orders via their compatible smartphone or tablet, capture pictures, location/time, signature for job completion and submit them quickly for payment processing. Additionally, you can generate work order submissions in a PDF/Word document with your company format and logo. For more information, click here.