You’re already using your tablet for your order management system and electronic product catalogue. But did you know you can turn your tablet (or other mobile device) into a productivity powerhouse with the addition of a few key apps? Here are some of the best types of apps you need to install if you want to turn every day into a win-win for both you and your clients:

Note-taking app

Many still hold on to the notion that the notebook is the ultimate note-taking tool. While it remains to do the job adequately, how many times have you had pieces of paper floating around with no idea how they connect to each other or how to find a specific piece of info?

Note-taking apps (like Microsoft OneNote, Evernote and Google Keep) have very useful features that make organising your information much easier. Depending on the type of app you decide to use, you can add links, images and other attachments. All of your notes are stored conveniently in one area (versus messy hard to find notes) and can be sorted into folders or categories. If you connect your app on your smartphone to a web app, you can access notes from anywhere as well as forward them to colleagues. Oh, and above all, it saves paper!

Map and traffic apps

If you’re a sales rep taking orders on the road or perhaps need to find a client’s office at short notice, you are sure to run into traffic problems from time to time. Luckily modern smartphones and tablets have built-in apps like Google Maps to help you navigate as well as tell you how long a certain trip will take. A great tip is to store the coordinates of clients’ offices for future reference within your preferred maps app to make trips even quicker.

Traffic apps like Waze are great if you want to make sure you’re on time, every time. These types of community-based apps will help alert you to accidents and then guide you towards a shortcut that might not be well-known.

VoIP app

Phone calls are no doubt a part of your daily process but simply calling clients or colleagues the traditional way can become expensive. You might want to consider a VoIP app like Skype or Google Hangouts. These give you a choice between voice calls, video calls (for a more personal touch), and instant messaging. You can install these on your mobile devices and laptop, and link them together to give you quick access to all your contacts. You will also be able to see all past interactions so great for keeping yourself organised. Of course, make sure that those you want to get in contact with have the same app otherwise it won’t be useful at all. Sales managers can also make this process easier by specifying one VoIP app that the sales team needs to use to ensure uniformity.

Expense tracker app

As you’re travelling back and forth to clients and the office, it’s easy to forget to keep track of your mileage and other expenses that you might need to claim. Yes, you can use a paper notebook but with an app you have much more control. It can automatically add dates and locations to your expenses, which you might forget to add. You can scan and upload receipts if need be, store corporate credit card details and, depending on the app you choose, link the app to your company’s accounting system. It is also useful for looking back on past expenses, especially if you’re one of those people who throw out important documents too early.

Cloud storage app

Mobile apps for cloud storage systems like Google Drive and Dropbox are essential for handling large documents, especially if you’re on your phone or tablet. If an important document is emailed to you while you’re on the road, phone storage space restrictions might prevent you from downloading and viewing it immediately. A cloud storage app remedies this issue. It can also be useful for sharing documents with your colleagues or clients if they are too big for sending via email.