There is a greater utility for iPads beyond emails, social media, and entertainment. Business users already benefit from iPads by accessing perks not specifically created for business, such as Google Drive and the larger Cloud Storage. Each iPad has its own unique contribution to business, even before we become proactive about it.
The potential for business utility is great, so we took the time to compile this list. There must be many other ways iPads can be utilized for business purposes, but we had to start somewhere. Keep reading to see the limitless possibilities if you can set up an iPad for business use.
Get Essential Business Applications
iPads have powerful built-in business apps for every imaginable task, and the App Store has even more to choose from. There are sales tools, accounting tools, human resource management, online meeting apps, etc. Other apps are unique to your line of business, like graphic design and architectural drawing tools. You can also build your own custom app to suit your unique business needs.
Some must-have applications are tailored for business use, making things easier to manage. You may not use all of them, but a combination is required for an effective workflow. Here are some of the most common apps.
- QuickBooks
- Microsoft Office
- Apple Pay
- Zoom
- Google Docs
Setting Up the iPad as a Point of Sale
The iPad can be the central point of sale for a small business. It is portable, so you can tally up your sales wherever you are. It is perfect for a mobile business like a food truck. This option is more pocket friendly than a complicated POS system. You can also download the best inventory apps for iPad with a barcode, improving productivity for your business.
Getting the Right Accessories
A business owner can convert their personal Apple device to a multipurpose office tool that can be used for long hours without fatigue with the right add-ons. When using iPad accessories, you can enjoy the benefits of a PC without the bulk of a computer.
iPad Keyboards
I believe that a keyboard is an essential accessory for any iPad owner, especially when you use it for business. It can help you get work done faster with fumbling with the touchscreen and a virtual keyboard.
The last thing you want to do, when editing a big spreadsheet file, is to cover half the screen with a keyboard. And I have two great keyboard recommendations from my own arsenal of keyboards that I use.
The Magic Keyboard
The Magic Keyboard by Apple is backlit, so you can continue working at night and in poor lighting conditions with minimal workflow interruptions. It has a trackpad designed for Multi-Touch gestures that engage the cursor in iPadOS. It enables ergonomic typing, reducing wrist fatigue when you have to type for long periods.
It doubles as a folio and offers front and back protection when the iPad is not in use. It has a USB-C port that allows you to charge the iPad while connected to another device.
The Magic Keyboard connects magnetically to the iPad and can be adjusted to achieve the perfect viewing angle. It is compatible with the Apple iPad Pro series and the fourth and fifth generations of the iPad Air.
The Smart Keyboard Folio
The Smart Keyboard Folio is an earlier version of the Magic Keyboard, also by Apple, which was designed for the iPad Pro. It also doubles up as a folio, and the screen can be adjusted to two positions for the optimal viewing angle.
It is compatible with the first three generations of the iPad Pro and the fourth and fifth generations of the iPad Air. It doesn’t require charging or pairing; you only need to attach it to the tablet.
There are also generic keyboards available for the iPad and iPad Mini at your disposal. Logitech has decent Bluetooth and iPad-ready keyboards that use Apple’s Smart Connector to attach to the iPad.
Stylus
The Apple Pencil
The second-generation Apple Pencil works with the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. It attaches magnetically to your iPad and pairs and charges automatically, meaning it is always ready for deployment.
The Apple Pencil can take notes, mark PDFs, draw, or shade. An intuitive touch surface allows you to change tools without placing them down for a seamless transition. It is an excellent addition to your business iPad because you can back up every idea as it comes, in whatever form.
Leveraging Apple Technology for Multiple iPad Users
Suppose the business has staff who also use the iPad, or there are a number of iPads to be deployed. In that case, Apple has a way to structure its usage so that you, or a designated system administrator, can ensure they all have the resources they need from a central point.
Apple Business Manager
Apple Business Manager is a web-based portal through which you can automate the management of your business iPads to simplify the process and streamline business workflow
The Apple Business Manager greatly improves your IT workflows. You can manage the business devices, content, and roles from a central location. This is where you grant your employees access to Apple services, set up an enrollment system for their devices, and distribute relevant apps, books or software where required.
It enrolls and deploys Apple Products like Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV devices already configured with content—apps, books or information—settings and controls to their direct users allowing monitoring and management.
Roles and Apple IDs are assigned at the point of enrollment, so keeping a log and managing the devices is easy.
Apple School Manager
Apple School Manager is similar to the Apple Business Manager but is primed for devices deployed to schools to improve education workflows. It allows the central purchase of relevant apps and books, installation of the apps to specified devices and monitoring the usage.
Apple IDs are created for students and teachers at enrollment and integrated with the Student Information System (SIS), so they can be updated as required. Depending on their designation, it gives them restricted access to Apple apps and services like Notes, iWork, Schoolwork, and iCloud.
Shared iPad
The Shared iPad feature in the Apple School Manager can also be customized to improve your business workflow. You set up your iPads to allow shared use by specific students or staff in this case. They can log in by tapping on their photo or using individual passwords tied to their managed Apple ID. They get a personalized experience from a shared device, and you can also keep track of their logins.
Where To Next?
This blog is a blog dedicated to using modern computing devices to run and manage a business. If you’re interested in using an iPad for your business, either as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or for your employees to use I recommend reading the following articles:
