Five Benefits of Push-to-Talk

It would be challenging for a field force to operate efficiently without mobile phones in tow. After all, they help workers connect to the office, clients, and suppliers. But one feature that sometimes goes unnoticed when organizations consider the role mobile devices can play in helping them achieve their business objectives is push-to-talk (PTT).

On its most basic level, PTT enables real-time communication. But there are many more advantages beyond just being able to quickly connect with others, including:

The ability to connect with multiple people at once. PTT is like an amped up version of using a walkie-talkie – except you can connect to large groups of people (up to 249 simultaneously) with the single push of a button on your mobile device. In a typical 8-hour workday, our research indicates that a foreman can save up to 49 minutes by using PTT, with 16 minutes saved on 50 one-to-one calls, and 33 minutes saved with 20 group calls. This is because the time per call is drastically reduced: it takes about 20 seconds to complete a typical voice call, versus less than a second per PTT communiqué.

Cost control. Being able to connect to multiple workers at once helps reduce call costs, not to mention long distance usage. Research indicates that foremen save an average of $17,250 over three years by using PTT, or $5,750 per year. And with special PTT-enabled rugged devices like the Sonim XP 7, mobile inventory costs can go down thanks to fewer instances of damage due to the harsh work environments.

Better call management. Contacts can be stored in groups so workers can easily contact all of the necessary people at once. And workers can see a user’s status so they know immediately if the person is unavailable, which allows them to avoid wasting valuable time trying to connect.

Increased safety and convenience. Hands-free functionality helps simplify calls while operating heavy machinery or when wearing thick work gloves, for example.

The flexibility to use virtually any device. Did you know that PTT functionality is also compatible with mobile devices from the likes of Sonim, Kyocera, Samsung, Apple, and HTC? If your company supports it, workers can get nearly any device they want and still enjoy the benefits of PTT. All PTT-enabled devices are compatible with each other. And workers can also use them to comfortably complete other tasks, like sending e-mail reports or job site videos.

The bottom line

In the majority of cases, PTT enhances communications among field force teams. After all, it can’t get much easier than pressing one button to get an important message to dozens of people instantaneously. This empowers employees to have more control over their workflow process, helps reduce risk, and allows them to avoid time-consuming voice calls or e-mails back and forth.

Does your field service team use PTT technology yet? Tell us in the comments below.