How using a tablet at work can boost your efficiency

In today's fast-paced business world, productivity is the name of the game. Many of us are looking for ways to streamline our workflows, optimise our time, and accomplish more in less time. And what better solution to boosting your productivity and striking a healthy work-life balance than working on a tablet?

We spoke to Hayley Holden, Senior Digital Merchandising Manager, Digital Channels and Customer Success Strategy at Optus who uses her tablet a lot around the office. Find out why and how a tablet can help with your professional endeavours with us.

One of the greatest advantages of using a tablet at work is its portability. Unlike laptops (and certainly desktops), tablets are lightweight and compact, making them easy to carry with you wherever you go. This untethered freedom allows you to work from virtually any location, whether it's a conference room, a client's office, or cafe. By breaking free from the confines of your desk, you can grab those productive moments that might otherwise be lost in transit or during downtime.

According to Hayley, “Optus is a big campus so I’m moving around a lot either present or be part of a meeting. Meetings could be up to 500m away, so portability is important to me. 

“My tablet is lighter, more portable than my laptop. It’s small enough to fit in my handbag as I move around.  

“I have a SIM in my tablet and data share across my mobile. This gives me maximum flexibility to be connected whether I am. If there’s WiFi I’ll use it but if not I’m covered,” she says. 

(Coverage availability varies depending on your device and location. Check coverage at optus.com.au/coverage.)

A tablet allows you to easily take notes - jot down thoughts, sketch concepts, or even record audio notes easily. No more fumbling for a pen and paper or trying to remember that great idea until you're back at your desk. Tablets allow you to readily capture and organise your thoughts, ensuring that no brilliant notion goes to waste.

“When I’m in meeting I like to handwrite notes in the notes app using my stylus, so drawing diagrams and process maps becomes a lot easier,” Hayley says. 

Tablets can be invaluable tools for improving collaboration and presentations in meetings. With their large, high-resolution displays and touchscreen interfaces, you can easily share documents, presentations, or even real-time annotations with your colleagues or clients very easily. 

“While I do love being able to plug my tablet straight into a presentation projector, not all meetings are in big groups. I like to work on campus, so I often meet with people over a coffee or in small meeting rooms. My tablet allows me to have a face-to-face meeting with one or two people while having access to my files in a low key, informal way. It’s like having a paper pad in that it doesn’t say ‘this is a serious meeting’ like a laptop but of course it’s got all the benefits of one,” Hayley says.  

With today’s cloud-based apps, your tablet can become a fully-fledged mobile office and do most things your laptop can do. From word processing and spreadsheet editing to project management and cloud storage, you can access all the essential tools you need to stay productive on a tablet, no matter where you are^[1]. This portability ensures that you can make the most of your time, whether you're waiting for a flight or have a few spare moments between meetings.

According to Hayley, “I use it to hotspot to my work laptop when I’m on the go (if I have my laptop). This also makes ensures my phone battery doesn’t drain because I can use my tablet to connect my laptop to the internet.

“It was great on my flight yesterday as I could easily prop up my tablet to watch movies and then jump back to my work messages and type out my responses. I like to use the keyboard in my case as I’m a touch typist but am also completely fine to use the native keyboard on the tablet,” she says.  

A tablet can help you declutter and consolidate by acting as a hub for all your important documents, notes, and even personal organisation. With apps like digital notebooks, task managers, and cloud storage solutions, you can keep everything you need in one place, reducing the time spent searching for information and increasing what you get done in your working day. 

“It brings me ease knowing my tablet notetaking will seamlessly transfer from my tablet to my phone, so I can easily access my notes on the go,” Hayley.

Many newer tablets boast impressive battery life, often lasting an entire workday or more on a single charge. This extended runtime, combined with reliable wireless connectivity options like WiFi and cellular data, ensures that you can remain productive without being tethered to power outlets or wired internet connections. 

“Now that my iPhone uses a USB-C charging port – I can easily transition between charging my smartphone and tablet with the one device. This means my bedside table is streamlined and my travel accessories have become simpler and lighter,” says Hayley.

Want to boost your productivity at work? Check out our iPad and tablet range at Optus and latest deals. 

^{[1] Coverage availability varies depending on your device and location. Check coverage at optus.com.au/coverage. Cloud storage accessibility and back-up dependent on cloud storage provider settings and connectivity.}