"Innovation is the creation of the new, or the rearranging of the old in a new way." -Mike Vance
Most of my career I've used Microsoft products (Project, Project Server, SQL and SharePoint). I love technology. I use the Apple iPhone for my smart phone device. What I love about the apps for the iPhone is the impact they can have on your effectiveness and efficiency. I’ve had a number of friends asked about the applications I use to increase my productivity. I then show them the app and how I use it to reduce errands and automate a personal task. After receiving a number of these requests I decided to create a series of posts that explains which apps are my favorite and have had the greatest impact on my throughput.
This week I'm starting a four part series that covers mobile apps that have increased my efficiency and reduce my time and cost. I hope that you will gain insight into how you can increase your productivity using one or more of these applications listed below.
- Amazon: I use the Amazon mobile app as I travel throughout my day going to meetings, client visits and running errands to help me capture books I discover that I’m interested in reading and add them to my wish list. I like to check out what others are reading and what books they have on their bookshelf. I'm able to type in the name of the book and add it to my wish list or order the book from Amazon right then and there. This app allows me to capture a number of books and enter them once without having to log in from my laptop.
2. Amtrak: The Amtrak app allows me to review train schedules, purchase tickets and make reservations. It can also be used to store a digital train ticket. Amtrak is going paperless!
3. Analytics Pro: The Analytics Pro app allows me to view Google Analytics data for tracking web traffic and user statistics. The functionality of the app provides many of the same features available on the web. This is a great app if you want to track you website’s performance on the go.
4. Audible: The Audible app allows me to listen to great books. A few of the books I've listed in the book recommendation section I've listen to while driving, riding my bike or practicing at the golf range. This is a great resource for taking advantage of your commute while saving time.
5. Bookshelf: Bookshelf is an app that allows me to read textbooks or other books from most university courses. When I took the online program at Cornell on Executive Leadership all of the books were distributed through Bookshelf. I still have access to the books from these courses and I'm able to access them anytime. This allows me to review information from the Executive Leadership training and refresh my memory on things like strategic thinking, scenario planning and many other courses.
6. CalenGoo: One of my favorite apps for the iPhone is CalenGoo which allows me to synchronize multiple calendars. As many of you have experienced, I was challenged with having my calendars on multiple devices and missing appointments because it wasn't on my main account. With CalenGoo, I'm able to synchronize my work and personal calendar. I also can schedule a meeting from my iPhone and anyone that I include on the invite will receive an appointment email. You can also setup popup, text message or email notifications as an alert for the appointment.
7. CardMunch: This is a must have app for networkers and was created by LinkedIn. With CardMunch, you are able to take a picture of a business card that you've collected at a networking event and the application will process the card and automatically format it as a contact. After the card has been processed, the contacts LinkedIn information is available for your review. You can then forward the contact information, send a preformatted email or send a connection notice to their LinkedIn account.
8. Chrome: Chrome is a browser app for the iPhone that allows you to log into Google and you can configure the settings so that your favorite links will be synchronized between your iPhone and your web experience.
9. CitiBank: The Citibank app allows me to conduct banking activities and has saved me hours by reducing the number of visits to my local bank branch. Because of the mobile check depositing feature, it has been literally 8 months since the last time I've gone to the bank and deposited a check. The app allows me to take a picture of a check and deposited directly into my account, which is a major time saver.
10. CVS: The CVS mobile app allows me to refill prescriptions and see the status of a prescription that I have submitted to be filled. If I need to find a CVS when I'm traveling the GPS feature helps me locate the nearest store.
Interested in learning more:
42 Apps for iPhone That Will Increase Your Productivity – Part 2 of 4
Principles of Execution Key Concepts:
- Best iPhone Apps
- Apps for iPhone
- Best Apps
Share your ideas or thoughts!