How to Use a Smartwatch for Business

1. Smartwatches can make sure you never miss a call.

One of the initial appeals of a smartwatch is that you’ll never miss a crucial work call because you can’t get to your phone. For business owners, sales professionals, and IT teams, missing a critical call can cost an organization dearly. 

How extensively you can use your smartwatch to take calls depends on your wearable device model. For example, the Apple Watch Series 7 offers cellular connectivity – you can wander as far away from your phone as you wish.

If Apple isn’t for you, there are other choices. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and the LG W150 also offer connectivity and work with both iPhones and Android devices.

However, keep in mind that cellular connectivity is going to cost you. With most carriers, you’ll pay $10 extra per month for your watch to access the mobile network. It’s a bit steep considering you’re not going to use much data, but for those who want to stay connected, the price might be worth the freedom.

2. You can take notes with smartwatches.

Inspiration can strike at any time. Smartwatches allow you to dictate a quick note so you can expand on your thoughts later. Apps such as Evernote and OneNote enable you to dictate voice notes while on the go.

You can also check current notes or get reminders from several different services without taking your phone out of your pocket. Use the Apple Reminders app or your favorite third-party service to ensure nothing slips your mind. No matter what watch brand you use, there are apps and services to ensure your fleeting thoughts are documented for later use.

3. Smartwatches are a key travel tool.

If your business or career takes you on the road, a smartwatch can take the stress out of business travel by extending the information you usually get from your phone. 

Updates from watch-accessible services such as TripIt can ensure you don’t miss any critical itinerary details. Also, regular calendar alerts – and the ability to pull up a map – help make travel information more easily accessible. 

While you can access your business travel details via your phone, accessing the best business travel apps on your smartwatch can save you time and be a much more efficient and convenient way to stay on track. 

4. Smartwatches make great task managers.

Smartphones have eliminated the need to scratch out your daily to-dos on paper; however, it’s not always convenient to reach for your phone, especially if your hands are full.

In that case, a smartwatch is an ideal companion. With a glance, you can check what you need to accomplish or pull up essential meeting notes on your wrist with apps and services like Todoist and Any.do.

If you have an Apple Watch, iPhone business apps with task-management capabilities can organize your day. If you use an Android smartwatch, there are excellent Android apps for efficient workday planning that will sync seamlessly with your phone. No matter your ecosystem, you can also use Google Calendar to access all your appointments from your wrist. [Learn more tips and tricks for using Google Calendar.]

5. Smartwatches make communication convenient.

Such a tiny screen won’t replace the convenience of messaging from a smartphone, but your smartwatch is still an excellent messaging tool. For example, you can subtly glance at your wrist to find out when your next meeting is – while you’re currently stuck in a different meeting. 

Apple Watch, in particular, makes it easy to sketch out a note or reply with a preprogrammed phrase while you’re otherwise occupied. While it may not be the most polite way to keep in touch, it’s an efficient option when necessary.

A smartwatch strikes the right balance between using your smartphone less while not missing any important calls or notifications.

6. You can stay abreast of current events with a smartwatch.

A smartwatch makes it possible to stay informed about what’s going on in your industries, your region, and the globe. With a range of available smartwatch applications, you can download your favorite social media or news apps and enable notifications. 

While reading a full news story on your wrist isn’t ideal, glancing at headlines on your smartwatch is an efficient way to stay abreast of developing or breaking news in situations when it’s not possible to read a news article on a computer or phone. 

7. Smartwatches help you pay bills on time.

Missing bill payments at work or in your personal life can cause enormous distraction and hassle. You can use your smartwatch to stay on top of your home and business expenses, and to pay pending bills quickly. 

Smartwatches make it possible to manage bills and expenses without using a cell phone, computer or wallet. They also include tip calculators, making it easier to calculate gratuities for business lunches and ride-sharing services. 

Derek Walter and Adam Uzialko contributed to the reporting and writing in this article.