How Wireless Technology Has Helped Today, Term Paper Example

Technology is improving nowadays at a very exponential rate and this does not need any proof as it is evident from day to day. Taking cellphones as a case-study, we can see that there has been drastic improvements in the outlook and models of mobile phones and other technological devices since their inception. Everybody has stopped using the usual cell phones and almost everyone now use smart phones which is a great leap from what technology used to be a decade ago. Sometimes we wonder why and how technology has improved so exponentially but a scientist has predicted this exponential growth of technology and this prediction is known as Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits had doubled every year since the integrated circuits was invented and this would continue as a trend in the future (MooresLaw.org). Why do we care? We care because there is a direct relationship between technology and business, and as technology expands, business can be globalized. A substantial part of the upturn in measured productivity can be linked to increased real investments in technology (Brynjolffson et al, 2000). Wireless technology has helped business in many ways like globalization, advertisement, communication, transportation, organization, customer relationships and a lot more of which would be explained in this essay.

Firstly, the inception of wireless technology has brought about innovativeness in organizations, companies and individuals. Mobile E-commerce has given people an avenue to find a new way to make their products and services more appealing to customers and this can be done through various ways. For example, if one needs to send a package and there are two postal services; one which has an online tracking feature, and one which does not. Most people would tend to choose the one which can be tracked because everyone wants to go for the easier things. People like things that can be perceived as easy. Perceived ease of use is an individual’s assessment of the extent to which interaction with a specific information system or technology is free of mental effort (Lu et al, 2005). This also applies to other business organizations as they would strive to make their services better and more appealing to their customers.

Another way by which wireless technology has helped business is in the aspect of communications. There are many ways through which wireless technology has improved communication immensely. Social media is a way through which business organizations reach out to people. Because of the ease of communication, information can be easily disseminated amongst many people in such a short period of time. Also, it is very easy for employees to communicate with employees and it is also very easy for employers to communicate with employees as almost everybody now has one mobile communicating device or the other.

Also the ease of communication has brought about another advantage of technology to the business world and this advantage is globalization. Because everyone around the world can easily get information from anywhere, it has made both small and big companies channel their tentacles outside of their local environment. The world is becoming a global village and it is facilitated by communication technologies. Technology has reduced cultural distance, thereby making the world closer and closer (Charles et al, 2001). Apart from the abstract distance that has been narrowed, the advent of GPS (Global Positioning Systems) has also made impossible places become accessible. In the past, some people might be so scared to drive to wherever they need to go physically but because of the creation of GPS, a lot of people can even drive solely to a place where they need to be. Employees can be sent on errands without worries, and companies of like minds can meet together without worrying.

Another important way through which wireless technology has helped business is in organization. Companies have a more organized schedule due to wireless technology. Many companies provide their employees with wireless devices to aid them in their work. For example many big companies that have the need for tight security provide their security team with walkie-talkies and other devices that can make them perform efficiently and communicate adequately during emergencies. Also people can just get on a lot of companies website and get immediate response for whatever they want. For example, Subway just added a new feature to their website where one can order food online and pick it up in store. This helps people find ease while doing whatever they want to do.

Furthermore, another important positive effect of wireless technology closer customer relationships. Nowadays, when people are unsatisfied with a product or service, they have access to file their complaint appropriately and quickly. Many big companies have a customer service representative team that represent the company and take complaints. Also when the customer has unlimited access to information about the company, it makes the customer feel closer to the person rendering service to them. For example, if one had problems with their cable network provider when there were not many smartphones, then one would feel frustrated about being far away and have to go to a nearby outlet of the cable network provider. However If the same thing happens now, the first thing most people would grab would be their phones and go to the website of this company. Sometimes, if a customer is very interested in a business, he/she would follow them on social media and be updated if there is something wrong. This makes the customer closer to the service providers.

In addition, business organizations have put into use technology in the aspect of mobile application because of more efficiency. Mobile commerce (m?commerce) driven by wireless technology is generating interest from marketers. A partnership between marketers and technology developers is needed to create a successful application (Stan et al, 2005). Therefore this interest is further pursued and applications are developed. Many of this applications are useful in the long run despite the cost or clashes that might ensue with the developer. Due to the high usage of smartphones, people just need to have applications on their wireless devices that can get then closer to what they want. This is also a good thing on the part of the marketer because people would patronize for more products and services if they don’t have to go a long way to get it.

Finally, the last advantage of technology to business is being able to use wireless internet networks (Wi-Fi), and also being able to access information without much stress. We all know that switching from using the modem and wired internet to Wireless has been of tremendous help. One can easily access information on the go, without having to worry about going to a cyber café or somewhere else like that. A marketer who needs an information urgently while on the road can easily pull out his/her mobile device and check for it on the internet. Also many wireless devices can set reminders and also have personal assistants. For example, for a phone brand called apple, there is a personal assistant called Siri and she can virtually do anything that is asked of her as long as it is specified out. This could come in very handy at some times.

In conclusion, there are many ways by which wireless technology has helped business and this can in no way be fully covered in a 4-page essay like this. The advantage of wireless technology cannot be underestimated. Whether to the business man or to the ordinary lay-man. Improvements in technology has improved lifestyle and standards of living as well. It has made things easy for everybody. Wireless technology is a life saver in the medical field, in the engineering field, and also in the research field.  But for the business world, it has helped in areas like communication, access to information, Mobile commerce, organization, innovativeness, and many more areas that are beyond the scope of this essay.

References

Aungst, S.G., Wilson, D.T. (2005). A primer for navigating the shoals of applying wireless technology to marketing problems. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing. Pp 59-69

Brynjolfsson, Erik. & Hitt, L.M. (2000). Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organizational Tansformation and Business Performance. “Journal of Economic Perspectives” Vol 14, No.4. American Economic Association. Pg 23-28.

Ess, Charles. & Sudweeks, Fay. (2001). Culture, Technology, Communication: Towards an Intercultural Global Village. SUNY Press.

Lu, June. Yao, J.E., Yu, C.S. Personal Innovativeness, Social influences, And Adoption of wireless services via mobile technology. The Journal of Strategic information Systems. Pp 245-268