The Importance of Reliable Devices in Unpredictable Work Environments

We’ve all been there. An outdated, poor quality or even damaged smartphone can be an expensive and frustrating experience for anyone, but for people whose devices are integral to their work, the consequences can be far worse.

According to a 2024 study by Censuswide of 2,000 UK hybrid workers, 39% claimed weak mobile network signal was a key connectivity issue that impacted their productivity.

So when a device is damaged, broken or in need of an update, it’s likely to have a significant impact. And in demanding, unpredictable industries like healthcare, construction and engineering, this is unfortunately an ever-present risk.

If you’re a business leader, equipping your workforce with the reliable devices they need to thrive in these demanding environments is key. Here’s why:

1. Ensuring productivity and efficiency

With so many workers now making use of mobile phones, providing them with reliable and secure devices is key to helping your teams maintain their productivity, no matter the conditions they’re working in.

Virgin Media O₂ Business, in partnership with Samsung, provide advanced mobile devices and trustworthy network connectivity with wide coverage.

With this combination, you can keep your teams connected and ensure they can access all of the critical resources they need.

2. Durability and resilience

For many businesses, the typical work environment isn’t a comfortable, air-conditioned office.

Construction professionals, for instance, often spend as much time on site as they do in the office. They also work long hours and often perform their role regardless of the weather.

These challenging environments present major risks for most devices. With this in mind, the importance of equipping your teams with rugged, weatherproof devices can’t be understated.

Samsung devices, for instance, can have both an extended battery life and the ability for batteries to be swapped out easily. This, coupled with an ultra-sensitive touchscreen and military-standard reinforcement, makes it ideal for challenging environments.

It also boasts more longevity than traditional consumer phones, so you’ll save valuable time (and money) that would otherwise be spent repairing, maintaining or replacing your team’s devices.

3. Adaptability and versatility

It’s not just the weather that can be unpredictable. On-site teams frequently face an array of challenges, and alongside their typical responsibilities, they’ll also need to connect with their teammates, who may be back in the office or on another site entirely.

Equipping your teams with adaptable devices, designed for multitasking and easy integration with a wide range of different systems, can give them an invaluable competitive edge.

With its 5nm Octa-core processor, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G is perfect for heavy-duty multitasking. From data collection to real-time collaboration, this device has the versatility needed in rapid, fast-moving work environments.

And with the visibility of Knox Suite, you can easily keep devices updated and configured with the exact tools and capabilities your teams need.

4. Enhanced security measures

Another unpredictable risk in the digital world is the threat of cybercrime. Cybercriminals cost the world economy $7.46 trillion USD in 2024 and this activity shows no sign of slowing down.

Unfortunately, remote and hybrid work is often a major weakness in an organisation’s security architecture, making it a common attack vector. According to a report by Netwrix, 79% of organisations experienced a cyberattack in 2024, an uplift which has been partly attributed to the vulnerabilities of flexible work environments.

This is especially risky in industries like healthcare and banking, where the use of sensitive customer data is fundamental and the financial penalties are significant.

With defence-grade solutions like Samsung Knox, you can give your teams access to the critical information they need to perform in their roles, while having confidence in your ability to safeguard this data with features like triple-factor authentication, encryption and mobile device management (MDM).

5. Seamless connectivity and communication

While the emergence of flexible working allows teams to operate from various locations (including on site), it’s vital that all workers are still able to remain connected and communicate in real time.

In industries like logistics and transportation, where the slightest change can have major ramifications on customer satisfaction, the impact of poor communication can be severe.

Virgin Media O₂ Business offers extensive 5G coverage across the country, giving your deskless and on-site teams the rapid, resilient and reliable coverage they need to maintain seamless, high-quality communication.

How Virgin Media O₂ Business and Samsung can help

Virgin Media O₂ Business, in partnership with Samsung, offer durable, secure and advanced mobile devices that can empower your teams to maintain productivity and collaborate across different locations in real time.

No matter the environments your teams operate in, or the kind of work they undertake, our range of advanced and sophisticated devices can be customised to align with the specific needs of your business.

What’s more, with the reach and reliability of Virgin Media O₂ Business, you can have confidence in your workforce’s ability to remain connected, no matter where they are.