From mere phone to mini-computer that changed the way businesses work – the rise of the smartphone has brought with it some huge changes to our society. This is particularly astonishing as the first proper smartphones only started being made toward the end of the 2000s.
How have these powerful little gadgets been impacting the business world? We’ve taken a closer look at five of the best examples.
Uber
Uber is essentially a cashless taxi service, which requires a smartphone app. Almost anyone can become an Uber driver – you’ll need your own car and get to set your own schedule. If you wish to make use of this service, then the app will show you your nearest Uber vehicle and you can simply tap it for the rates. It’ll show you who the driver is, what car he/she is driving as well as the number plate. You’ll also see a rating for the service this driver provides. On top of that, you don’t need to worry about having enough cash on you as the payment will be handled through Uber and not your driver. Since Uber started its operation in 2009, it has been at war with regular taxi companies because its service tends to be good but at the same time much cheaper.
Mobile dating
What was once a lengthy, romantic process has become a swipe with a finger. Dating apps such as Tinder have made “hooking up” incredibly easy. All you need to do is upload a photo of yourself. Then you’ll be presented with photos of other singles in your area. If you swipe to the left you say “No thanks” and if you swipe right you indicate that you’re interested. Should you both like each other’s picture, then you’ll get a notification. Whether you love it or hate it, the rise of online dating app has certainly changed the way we meet.
Mobile casinos
Long gone are the days when you had to physically walk into a casino to wager a bet or try your luck at a round of poker. You can now even place a wager while you’re in the pub with your friends watching a football match. With more and more people owning smartphones, access to mobile casino games and sports betting services has become much easier. This, in turn, has led to an increase in their popularity making mobile gaming a culturally accepted pastime, especially in the UK.
Online banking
Online banking has revolutionised how we manage our funds. We’re no longer restricted by banking hours and have access to our accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This makes it easier to monitor transactions and uncover potential frauds. Many companies don’t even send paper bills anymore because payment can be automated. All you have to do is download your bank’s app and already you can check your balance, make payments, etc.
Takeaway
There’s no more need to actually phone a restaurant to order food. If we want food delivered straight to our door, we simply visit sites such as Just Eat, click on what we’d like to have and then choose our preferred payment method.
Having the internet at our disposal at all times has changed our world. From travel to movies and fashion to social media – smartphones have found their way into all parts of our daily lives. As technology rapidly advances, we are very likely to see more products changing not only our lives but also the industries in which they operate.