A couple of months ago I was introduced to the book Flash Foresight.
Premise of the book: By taking into account everyday information and basics of probability, it is possible to predict future trends quite accurately.
Interesting…
With this revelation in mind, I decided to do some research and work on a prediction of my own. I’ve been paying close attention to the rate of acceleration of 4G and other progressive network technologies, and believe that it will make low cost Internet services obsolete. (Hey ATT, I’m talking to you.) And I think that time is coming faster than any DSL provider would like to admit.
It isn’t that unbelievable. We’ve seen 2Mbps 4G services in San Francisco for about two years now since Sprint launched the first 4G phone, the HTC Evo. In the next generation of mobile wireless we could be talking speeds of 4-6Mbps by as early as 2014.
Okay, I may not be making a huge leap with my predications, but the inferences here are exciting and significant none-the-less. The 4G network is becoming ubiquitous and elevating every aspect of our connection and communication capabilities; this could mean a lot of new possibilities for organizations we serve.
For non-profits and other service industries, rather than spending significant capital on facilities and infrastructure, entire offices will be able to operate in a completely mobile fashion. In short, being “mobile” means that an individual can have permanent access to critical information and services on their mobile, regardless of time and place. It’s already happening with new companies that are popping up. Many are finding that they can still operate an efficient, effective business without the need for an office. This has the added benefit of eliminating the costs associated with renting/maintaining a space, housing an infrastructure and workers. The switch has not readily taken hold for most existing businesses – no doubt, it won’t be an easy adjustment – although this is already changing and will continue to redefine how and where we work, and with whom.
A completely virtual office may not be the answer for every organization, but the option for workers to be mobile is fast becoming a necessity.
5 Reasons to become ‘Mobile’:
- The ability to reach people and communicate more quickly and effectively.
- Those who work in the NP or other services sector know that sometimes when you’re out in the field or needed in many places at once, it becomes a challenge to remain efficient and organized – moving to a mobile network allows workers to optimize their impact in the community by eliminating the barriers of being confined to four walls in order to “get work done.”
- Maximum efficiency within a smaller time frame, as there won’t be that necessity to rush back to the office.
- It will put more control in the hands of the workers who are already putting in long hours for doing good in their community.
- Going mobile will be a way for workers to achieve the best results possible with less output.
This could also mean great things for an organization, such as: better worker retention, reduced costs, a competitive edge, and maximized impact.
The next leap is emerging and it will be a challenge to manage people and performance when you never see them, but the opportunity for non-profits and service organizations to become mobile presents some exciting possibilities.
