4 Tools to Help Boost Your Business Clients’ Productivity

Overview: We’ve often cited various ScanSnap models as being beneficial to tax and accounting firms, helping them make the move to a paperless environment and client engagements. However, these benefits aren’t limited to just this profession, and many small businesses are joining the less-paper movement. I’ve seen ScanSnaps in doctor’s offices, retail stores and even gas stations, which shows that virtually all types of business are realizing that digitizing documents makes them more accessible and organized.

The same is true for the ScanSnap S1100, the smallest fully-functional scanner on the market that includes one-button PDF creation. At less than 10 inches long and two inches wide, and weighing in at less than one pound, the device is a great fit for any mobile business professional, whether a frequent flier or a road warrior. It can scan in full-color and has the ability to reproduce full-sized documents or smaller items in under 7.5 seconds, plus it can even scan plastic cards such as IDs. The device is Mac and PC friendly, and draws its power from via connection to a laptop or computer via a USB cable.

Potential Benefits: For frequent business travelers, keeping up with documents can be a hassle, and if receipts or invoices are lost, then it can have a bad effect on accounting and expensing activities. The ScanSnap S1100 is a solution to this dilemma, providing full scanning capabilities in an easily portable size. The S1100 costs $199.

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Toshiba Mobile Monitors (us.toshiba.com/computers/accessories/mobile-monitor)

Target Small Business Type: Another great tool for mobile business professionals who don’t like sacrificing their multi-monitor productivity when on the road.

Overview: More and more business professionals in many industries are accustomed to using multiple monitors at their workstations. The productivity boost has been proven, and can be a definite drawback when a user is relegated back down to a single laptop monitor. But being mobile doesn’t have to mean giving up multiple screens.

The new USB Mobile LCD monitor from Toshiba is designed specifically to act as a second (or more) monitor for mobile professionals. About the size of a tablet device and weighing under three pounds, the monitors are easy to pack and offer a 14-inch diagonal screen with up to 1366 x 768 resolution. By pulling power from the laptop or desktop computer via a USB cable, it doesn’t need a power cord or batteries. Plus, the monitors come with an included, custom-fitted carrying case that doubles as a fold-out stand.

Potential Benefits: Whether making presentations or grinding away at day-to-day tasks while on the road, working on a single laptop screen can feel like going back to the stone age for productivity-focused professionals who are used to having two, three or even more monitors at their workstation. The Toshiba Mobile Monitors not only offer a compact and simple USB plug-and-play option for adding monitors, but the included case/stand is also a great addition. Retail pricing is about $199 at major technology retailers and online.

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Epson PowerLite 1750 Multimedia Projector
(www.epson.com/projectors)

Target Small Business Type: Road-warriors with the need for a lightweight and sleek mobile projector, whether for business proposals, demonstrations or other functions.

Overview: For those businesses with mobile sales representatives or leaders who give presentations to dozens or even hundreds of people at the same time, an easily portable professional projector is a must-have. The New PowerLite 1750 packs high-quality performance into an airport-friendly design, featuring XGA and optional WXGA resolution, 2600-3000 lumens of color and white light output, with 1024 x 768 native output. The long-life UHE lamp is rated to last up to 4,000 hours.

The projector connects to laptops, desktops or tablets via a simple USB connection or via optional HDMI and wireless input, or can be used with USB memory devices such as flash drives, for PC-free presentations. It also includes closed captioning functions, a built-in speaker for audio, has horizontal and vertical keystoning, and comes with a carrying case for easy portability and protection.

Potential Benefits: The 3.7 pound PowerLite is great for business professionals giving demonstrations and presentations while on the go, and its multiple connectivity options can be a fit for virtually any user. The PowerLite 1750 starts at $549.