With the smartphone snapping at the heels of the laptop as the primary workplace for sole operators in Australia, many are taking the notion of “work from anywhere” to heart. In fresh research just released from Solo by MYOB, beds, cafes, playgrounds and even bathrooms are trending locations for time-consuming admin tasks.
The survey of 394 sole operators found that 89% use their smartphones to work on their business, proving there is increasing flexibility around where people choose to work. Almost half (45%) undertake admin from bed, 27% from the toilet or bathroom, 23% from the supermarket and 15% from the beach.
This propensity to work from literally anywhere is having an impact on personal and family time, with 15% conducting work from special family events like weddings or birthdays, 11% from school events and 5% logging on during a date.
“While it’s clear sole operators are taking the ‘work from anywhere’ concept extremely seriously and there are clear efficiency gains from being able to do it, the data indicates a risk of admin creep into times of enjoyment,” said Dean Chadwick, Chief Customer Officer at MYOB.
“With 38% doing their business admin on holiday, this is an important reminder for sole operators to let digital tools automate as much admin as possible so you can make the most of your downtime.
“You should be able to take a break from your business with the right supports in place.”
While laptops remain the top tool for business admin (38%), smartphones come a close second with 30% of respondents opting for them as their primary device for admin. The most common tasks undertaken on the smartphone include customer communications (41%), banking (34%) and social media for the business (31%).
Marriage celebrant Sarah Davoli is a busy mum who relies on her smartphone to quickly get admin jobs done when it suits her most.
“My smartphone is the easiest way to get admin done. I can use little pockets of time, like when my daughter’s napping, to work from bed or the couch. It makes the work feel effortless.
“Keeping on top of admin in comfort means I can spend more time with my daughter and on the parts of my work that really matter, like getting to know my couples and creating beautiful ceremonies that reflect their love stories.”
Like Sarah, unlocking more time with loved ones was a key desire among survey respondents.
“When asked what they would do with the time they gained back from adopting a digital tool, most sole operators would spend more time with their family,” said Dean.
“There are 1.6 million sole operators in Australia and working by yourself, for yourself can at times be tough.
“Being able to regularly connect with your community is essential for the ongoing happiness and success of these business owners.”
Solo by MYOB is an all-in-one mobile app built exclusively for sole operators. Day-to-day tools include embedded finance such as Tap to Pay, on-the-go invoicing, connected banking, AI powered transaction smart-matching and reconciliation, and faster expense management with snap and track expenses. These features are supported by a GenAI-powered assistant for real-time trouble shooting.
For more information, please visit solobymyob.com.
About MYOB MYOB is a leading provider of cloud-based business management solutions with a core purpose of helping more businesses in Australia and New Zealand to start, survive and succeed. MYOB’s next-generation technology platforms deliver end-to end solutions for people and finance through to tax, supply chain, projects, employees and customers, empowering businesses with 0 to 1000 employees alongside a network of accountants, bookkeepers and consultants. For more information visit myob.com or follow MYOB on LinkedIn.