3 tips for building products for a workforce that’s on the go

The ongoing pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, most significantly in the way we work.

Work-from-home arrangements, as a result of lockdowns and safe distancing measures, have become the norm all around the world. And even as economies begin to reopen, flexible working arrangements are likely to remain as people move between their homes and offices as necessary.

This means that businesses looking to connect with enterprise customers need to ensure that their products address the needs of a workforce that’s on the move.

Having the right wares

In developing products for enterprises, software and hardware are both important components of the process.

There is a whole array of software tools available that enable flexible work arrangements, from business management solutions to video-conferencing platforms and everything in between.

But such tools are useless if workers don’t have the right devices to run these programs on.

“Both hardware and software need to work together to provide a seamless experience for users,” says Wong Wai Meng, general manager of product strategy for mobile computing solutions, devices, and IoT at personal computer manufacturer Dynabook.

“Without the right hardware, the software may not run efficiently at all,” she adds. This can affect the way the user works and negatively impact their productivity.

Photo credit: Dynabook

Dynabook was the client solutions arm of Japanese conglomerate Toshiba until 2018, when financial difficulties led to fellow electronics manufacturer Sharp Corporation acquiring a majority stake in the business. Earlier this year, Dynabook became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharp after the company bought the remaining shares from Toshiba.

With over 30 years of experience in building computers and other devices for users, Dynabook is familiar with the demands of enterprise customers when it comes to the products they use.

According to Wong, there are three things companies need to keep in mind when creating products to meet the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce.

1. Design differentiation

The first thing businesses need to be aware of is that design is a key differentiator. With numerous companies offering various products and solutions for enterprises, good design will help separate them from the rest of the pack.

“Companies should have a clear understanding of the target business segment and customers of the product that they are developing,” says Wong. This understanding will help inform the product development process.

User interface and user experience are talked about a lot in discussions around product development, and for good reason.

After all, a user that has a smooth and enjoyable experience with a well-designed product is a happy user, and happy users are likely to be returning customers.

Companies need to consider and address key aspects of the user experience in order to ensure that their customers will be satisfied with their product.

2. Usability is key

A product’s features must be helpful to users. This goes hand-in-hand with the earlier point on user design: When customers struggle to use a product, things will end only in frustration.

Photo credit: Christina Morillo / Pexels

There is no sense in stuffing a product full with features and functionalities if they don’t actually benefit users at the end of the day or if they make the product too difficult to operate.

This is especially true among enterprise customers who are looking for solutions that can help them work more effectively.

“Great usability features help increase efficiency and productivity,” affirms Wong.

Dynabook’s customers want to be able to work from anywhere, without needing a variety of accessories or cables in order to do so.

So to serve their needs, the company’s products have multi-port capabilities. Whether it’s having sufficient USB ports for flash drives and wireless mice or projecting slides on a screen using an HDMI cable, users won’t need to worry about having the right adapters or dongles for any given situation, affording them flexibility and convenience as they work.

3. The importance of security

Lastly, Wong is of the view that integrating security and data protection into a product is key so that end users have “complete peace of mind,” whether they’re in the office or working from home.

Security has been a particular point of focus in product development in recent years.

Data breaches cost businesses in Southeast Asia about US$$2.71 million per organization in 2020. And financial losses aside, data breaches can cause customers to lose trust in a company – something that can be especially damning with enterprise products, as sensitive business information could be at risk.

Dynabook addresses the question of security by ensuring that every step of the development process is conducted in-house. This guarantees greater security and higher product quality, and reduces third-party risk that may arise from outsourcing other parts of product development.

Similarly, businesses need to make certain that they have oversight over all aspects of product development to assure clients of that security

Meeting customer needs

While Wong’s advice is geared toward hardware manufacturers, the logic applies to software companies as well. After all, creating a great product is all about addressing user needs and making the entire user experience as seamless and fuss-free as possible.

Product development is a never-ending journey, and companies are constantly evolving to address their customers’ changing demands.

Ultimately, the most important thing a business has to do is to ensure that the products they’re building are meeting real customer needs.

Originally known as Toshiba, Dynabook is a personal computer manufacturer that strives to maximize productivity at work through best-in-market quality and reliability and by creating intelligent designs with smart features.

Its newest offering, the Portege X30L-G, is one of the lightest 13.3” laptops on the market, with a 10th gen Intel Core processor and full connectivity. Find out more about the Portege X30L-G on Dynabook’s website.

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.