Help with Mobile Office

[soupdawg]

If you were going to set up a completely mobile office, what equipment would you use? PC or MAC, wireless scanner and printer, crm(one that includes email prospecting) and any other thing you can think of. Thanks.

 

[djs]

How mobile do you need? For instance, do you need to scan on the road or can it wait till you get home?

PC or Mac makes no difference (yeah, let people argue).
Either way, you need a decent battery life and something like a verizon wireless card (or AT&T).

I use the Visioneer RoadWarrier scanner, but I rarely scan on the road. If you aren't familiar with this scanner, it is basically a stick, the paper goes through it, it is powered by USB. Works pretty decently.

I use the HP 460 for a printer on the road. It's battery powered and bluetooth, no cables necessary (battery and bluetooth are options, the 460 has been replaced with a newer model). It's not the fastest printer, but it does okay.

CRM with email prospecting and truly mobile probably don't mix well. ACT would work if you add some additional features to deal with the email bit. (partly depends on what you mean by email prospecting).

Oh yeah, add a cell phone with unlimited minutes.

The other things you need to think about are being overzealous on backups (especially mobile) and security. What happens when you lose the laptop? Are your clients personal files on there? If so, are they encrypted?

With today's technology, setting up a mobile office is easy.

Dan

 

[gzpxyj]

If you were going to set up a completely mobile office, what equipment would you use? PC or MAC, wireless scanner and printer, crm(one that includes email prospecting) and any other thing you can think of. Thanks.

You'd better use the PC. Most illustration software can be run on PC but not Mac.
You can buy a cheap small all in one printer, that takes care of your scanner, printer and fax need. Of course you may just scan your documents and submit your case in email if your carriers allow it.
You do need an wireless aircard, or use your cell phone or pda with data services from your cell phone service carrier.
Just focus a few items you need at the begining and then gradually upgrad/expand your arsenals.

 

[InsuranceRus]

I know another Farmers guy that bought an ambulance on ebay for $1300, he had Logos put all around it. He got a cigarette lighter power converter, thats how he runs all of his electronics. Signed up for sprints simply everything for $99 with a blackberry curve that he can hook up to his laptop as a modem at no additional cost and BOOM!!!!! He has a mobile office that attracts people to him!!!

 

[beatuplunchbox]

Those power converters are great, don't have to worry so much about battery life or everything being wireless. One of those and a small power strip and you are good to go. The one drawback, those cords can get to be a mess...

 

[wfs]

I have a "mobile" office, so that I can easily work from my PA and NV home.

Mobile Setup:
2 Mac Laptops, both using VMWare to run Windows as required
Skype
iPhone
RingCentral
Google Voice
ALISS system - paperless app/CRM
Adobe Professional (windows)
OpenOffice
MS Office for Mac

In PA:
1 Landline
1 Fax/Scanner/Inkjet
1 Laser printer
Cable Modem w/2 wireless networks (in case one gets stupid. It happens)

In NV:
1 Landline
1 Fax/Scanner/Inkjet
DSL Modem w/Wireless network

That's the basic hardware/software setup that I have. If I were traveling to hotels a lot, I would get a wireless broadband card, but I don't need it. If I go on a true vacation, I won't be working, just checking emails and messages with my iPhone.

PC vs. Mac really doesn't matter for this business. Although I am a Mac person, the reality is that most (or all) of the companies provide software for PC only. Even ALISS requires IE+Windows, so I just use VMWare as needed. This way, I get the best of both worlds.

For me, it's all pretty much paperless, except when the app is delivered.