SEPTEMBER 24, 2015Doing more in less time seems to be a running theme for many of today’s small-business owners. That means embracing innovations that can make your business more productive is more than a good idea—it may be a necessity.
Fortunately, intelligent personal assistants, such as theiPhone’s Siri, can help make it easier than ever to increase productivity and run your business successfully. This built-in feature that allows you to make voice commands for things like directions and reminders has become even more powerful in the all new iOS 9.
“Today’s business owners have to do more per unit of time, and everyone is looking for ways to improve productivity and maximize the time we spend on our business and personal relationships,” says Ken Moll, founder of the business advisory firm Blue Elevator™. “The Siri enhancements are again moving the proverbial needle. As more of our life transitions into the electronic or virtual realm, these improved Siri features with iOS 9 look to bring us back to the balance we all need to live a more ‘present’ life while still remaining ‘plugged in.’”
Siri for iOS 9 can complete literally hundreds of tasks activated by your voice, adds Rob Nelson, founder and CEO of Grow. “It allows you to read messages, launch apps, set reminders, find notes, manage social media accounts, solve math equations, schedule or reschedule meetings and much more. Any tool such as this that allows you to access the data you need quickly and easily should be in your business arsenal.”Here are the highlights of the new Siri for iOS 9 upgrades that have the potential for making the running of your business more smooth and productive.
- Set tasks by location. “One of the most powerful aspects of Siri in iOS 9 is the ability to set tasks by location and not just by a specific time period,” Nelson says. “This allows you to be reminded about not leaving important documents before stepping outside your home or to grab the company credit card before leaving to wine and dine a client.”
- Voice activation. Rather than having to search out your phone and touch the screen home button, you can now call out to Siri and give your virtual assistant instructions. Your phone could be across the room; you need only shout to get it to do what you want.
- Updated photo search functions. If you think of a great photo you took and want to use in a blog post or for social media, Siri for iOS 9 allows you to search by location or time. For instance, you can tell it to show you photos taken at a specific tradeshow and the dates. Or you can simply tell the device to display photos from a certain date.
- Intuitive. The new Siri doesn’t just answer your questions. Your intelligent virtual assistant is so good that it can predict what you want to do and with whom you want to talk. For instance, it will make suggestions for who you might like to contact and the apps you may want to use. There is even a suggestion screen that directs you to restaurants, which can make choosing a place to meet a potential client quick and easy.
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