The fun and fashionable 'it' gadget of 2010 is also an incredibly powerful business tool…

Everyone's talking about iPad – how cool it looks, how much fun it is, the 200,000+ apps, and how it's going to transform the way we surf the web, watch videos and read books. In all the excitement, it's easy to overlook the fact that it also holds massive potential to revolutionise the way we do business. We think iPad is going to have a profound impact in three key areas.

A step-change in "on the road" business productivity

Much more than the laptop has done, iPad offers businesses the ability to streamline their "on the road" or "in the field" type activities. Take for instance a service-oriented company with mobile field engineers servicing clients. Typically they'll be completing paper-based orders or spreadsheet orders on their laptops, and then either emailing, faxing or manually rekeying them when they get back to base. If they're really efficient they'll have a mobile data card on their laptop so they can email the details directly from the client, or they may be able to access wifi, but both these options are costly.

In contrast, iPad's inbuilt 3G connection makes it exceptionally easy and affordable to access the internet – all you need is a 3G Sim card, available for as little as £5 a month. We can build web-based connections to your systems, allowing your people "in the field" to upload orders, check stock levels and access client information in real time, quickly and efficiently, without needing to do anything later on. The effects on productivity, time-saving and, ultimately, your profits can be dramatic.

Transforming the sales and marketing process

In the same way, iPad can supercharge your marketing and selling opportunities. Your sales people will be able to instantly provide product demos, presentations, access client records, take orders and collect data at the touch of their fingers. No longer will you have to make small talk, hoping a customer doesn't lose interest while your laptop boots up. iPad comes on instantly. If your CRM is web-based you'll be able to login and access client information and process client orders. You'll also have instant access to product data sheets, presentations and any other sales info needed – all displayed on a crisp, vibrant screen with IPS technology so it looks just as good off angle when you're sharing it with a customer. And all before we've mentioned email integration.

What's more, while even the smallest netbook can be awkward to carry, take an iPad to an exhibition or event and you can walk up to a potential customer… instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Improved efficiency for a competitive edge

Intelligent use of technology can have a major impact on efficiency – reducing your costs and increasing your profits. Take, for instance, a company selling beauty products to retailers. The person taking the order will generally write it down, and then email the details to the warehouse who will pick and pack the order. The shipping company will be contacted to collect the order. Accounts will be contacted to raise the invoice. A shipping docket will be printed. Supposing that every time someone 'touches' the order it costs the business £3, then one sale will have cost the company £15.

Now if the sales person instead hits the power button on their iPad and enters the order into the company's ordering system, there and then, the process is transformed. Shipping could be dispatching the order with the shipping note and invoice already prepared. The invoice could be automatically emailed to the client and the data entered into the business' accounting system. All parties could get information instantaneously – significantly reducing bottom line costs, increasing efficiency and giving the client the 'wow' service that sets a company above its competition.