productivity apps
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Developing a BYOD Policy? Include These Apps

When smartphones first came out, many employers debated whether to allow them in the workplace. There is still an ongoing debate whether employees should have Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, because there are both advantages and disadvantages.

Importance of Developing a BYOD Policy

BYOD policies can be very beneficial if they are well thought out. However, Andrew Borg, an analyst for the Aberdeen Group, said that it can also create an imbalance in the workplace. “The pressure on IT is intense,” Borg told CIO. “The implied threat is, ‘Give me what I know I can have, or I’ll self-provision.'”

The truth is that most companies are better off allowing BYOD, but it’s not appropriate for every organization. Allowing employees to bring their own devices to work can hinder productivity if the right safeguards aren’t place. It’s important to have a well-thought-out BYOD policy in place.

Productivity Apps for Your Company’s BYOD Policy

This policy should include a list of approved productivity apps. If you develop your own productivity app, we ask you to promote it and share it with lists like ours. Here are some of the most important to include.

1. Evernote

Employees rarely have access to their computers while taking notes. Taking notes on your mobile device before transferring them to your computer can be tedious and exhausting.

Evernote is the perfect solution. It syncs your mobile device and desktop, which minimizes the steps in the notetaking process.

There is another great benefit of Evernote. You can use your phones voice to text tool to create text documents. This is a much more efficient way to create documents and minimizes the risk of keyboard related injuries.

2. Google Drive

Google Docs was always a very useful cloud storage platform. However, it used to be limited to desktop devices. Google has since release the Google Drive app, which allows you to store and access documents from your desktop, tablet and smartphone.

3. Wunderlist

Wunderlist is an excellent time management app. You can create detailed list of tasks that you need to complete and easily check them off as they are completed. This app is a must-have for virtual assistants and other professionals that have numerous responsibilities.

4. LocalVox

LocalVox is a very valuable tool for managing online content. It’s intended specifically for local businesses that publish a lot of content on social media and news sites.  If you plan on promoting your business on these virtual platforms, you should consider downloading this app.

5. RescueTime

According to a recent poll from Salary.com, 89% of employees admit to wasting time every day. There are a number of ways that they waste time, but social media is at the top of the list.

RescueTime is a great app to help employees reclaim wasted time. You can ask employees to use this app to put restrictions on the amount of time they can use social media with their mobile device. This can be mandatory for any employees that want to access their mobile device at work.

Ryan Kh is an experienced blogger, digital content & social marketer. Founder of Catalyst For Business and contributor to search giants like Yahoo Finance & MSN. Follow his latest tweets on twitter: @ryankhgb