The Best Phones for Small Businesses Have These 5 Features

Communicate and collaborate anywhere

No matter what kind of work your small business does, it’s wise to ensure your employees have what they need to talk to customers and collaborate among themselves. That’s why carefully considering the best phone for small business purposes is important.

At Walmart Business, we know you have many options to consider—and a busy schedule. This guide will help you identify key features to prioritize in a business smartphone to find the best fit in less time.

1. Versatility

The first feature to look for when considering business phone options for small businesses is versatility. You don’t want to invest in a small fleet of smartphones only to realize they don’t support all the apps you need.

The smartphone market is now largely differentiated by two main operating systems: iOS and Android. Start by ensuring the applications and services you need will work with your choice of mobile OS.

Then, account for how the specific phone’s features can support your business:

• Do your employees regularly need to navigate to new locations? Look for solid GPS support.

• Will employees deal with large quantities of data on their devices? Prioritize smartphones that support expandable storage via SD card.

• Do you process payment information or access credentials via contactless cards? An NFC-equipped phone could streamline the process even further.
  

2. Performance

Having a phone that can do it all doesn’t mean much if it takes forever to actually do it. That’s why performance is another important factor to weigh when looking at small business phone options.

Look for a phone with a fast enough processor and enough memory to handle all the applications employees use daily. It should be able to keep multiple apps running in the background to minimize time spent loading and reloading, all while intelligently managing its battery for all-day use.

It’s true that the best phone for small business probably doesn’t need top-of-the-line graphics (unless you run a mobile game studio). Just remember that the more you invest in performance now, the longer you can likely go before having to upgrade.

3. Security

Business information no longer lives in locked filing cabinets. It’s in the cloud, in local storage and in your business’s fleet of smartphones.

Look for devices that offer strong yet speedy access control. Requiring a long password to unlock the phone may be the most secure option, but it could prove so onerous that employees resort to less-secure practices (such as keeping sensitive info on their own devices) instead.

Similarly, look for devices that offer automatic storage encryption and are compatible with VPNs for more secure internet access when away from the office.

4. Support

Don’t forget about reliable, extended support when weighing phone options for small businesses. You should feel confident that your phones will work well and remain compatible with the apps you need for years to come.

The best way to determine how long a manufacturer will support any given phone is to look at its previous products. How many years did their phones receive feature updates after the initial release? When did they switch to security-only updates and when did the manufacturer officially end support for them?

The rapid pace of advancements and the realities of compatibility mean no smartphone will last forever. But it’s reasonable to expect several years of solid service before your next upgrade. 

5. Affordability

With all those other features accounted for, it’s time to consider affordability.

Purchasing a new set of smartphones will likely be a significant expense for your small business. You’ll also likely need to replace individual units from time to time as phones are dropped or lost, or new employees join your business. 

Finding a phone that checks all the previous boxes while remaining budget-friendly will be a balancing act. But taking the extra time to get that balance right will prevent long-term headaches.

Free up time and budget

You’re taking a proactive approach to addressing your communication needs. You’re ensuring you and your employees have the best phone for your small business so you can work more efficiently. Why stop finding efficiencies there?

Next, leave time-consuming supply runs and shopping trips behind. When you become a Walmart Business+ member, you’ll unlock free shipping, no order minimum¹ as well as free delivery from store, $35 minimum².

Sign up for Walmart Business+ today.

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.