Business Mobile Bundles in the UK: Should You Get Devices and Plans Together?

As a business owner in the UK, you need to decide whether you are going to bundle your mobile devices and plans from the same carrier or not. 

You will need to have a variety of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and mobile hotspots to ensure smooth business connectivity. Can bundling these with your plan help you get the best deal? 

Read on and let’s explore it in detail. 

Cost Savings

The main attraction of mobile bundles is the potential cost savings. When you purchase multiple devices and sign up for plans from one provider, you can often get discounted rates. 

Most major carriers and independent business mobile specialists like BusinessMobile, Vodafone, O2, EE and Three offer business bundles that package devices like iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phones and iPads with monthly plans. 

The more devices and plans you add to the bundle, the bigger discount you tend to get. So for a growing small business with say 10-15 employees, bundles can lead to significant savings over the contract term compared to buying devices and plans separately.

However, the extent of savings can vary widely depending on promotional offers. Sometimes you may actually find better deals purchasing products separately during sales. 

And if you only need 1-2 connections, bundles likely won’t provide much value. So crunch the numbers carefully based on your specific needs. Don’t assume bundles are necessarily cheaper in all cases.

Flexibility

A potential downside of bundles is that they lock you into one provider for the length of your contract. 

This restricts your flexibility should you want to switch carriers, upgrade certain devices faster than others or make other changes. With separate unbundled purchases, mixing and matching devices and monthly plans from different operators is easier.

For example, you may wish to get iPhones from Apple and pair them with low-cost SIM-only plans from an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) like Sky or Giffgaff. Breaking up bundles allows more customization and responsiveness to evolving business needs.

Network Coverage and Performance

When weighing bundles versus unbundled alternatives, analyze the network coverage and speeds of potential operators. 

Check carrier websites for coverage maps indicating data and call performance across your business locations. Testing actual speeds at your offices during busy times using apps like Speedtest.net is also wise.

If one provider has noticeably better reception at your premises, their bundles may be preferable even if slightly more expensive.

But if your facility is a dead zone for a certain carrier’s signal, purchasing devices and plans unbundled across multiple networks may help ensure reliable connectivity.

Administrative Ease

Managing a single bundle for your whole staff can be easier from an administrative perspective. You only deal with one account, one bill, standardized devices and usage policies across the board. Usage monitoring, tech support and plan changes are potentially more straightforward.

However, a downside is that any issues with the carrier could simultaneously impact the whole company. Network outages or customer service problems can leave your entire team without working mobile devices.

And not all employees may prefer using devices from the same brand. So balance administrative convenience against business continuity and individual preferences.

Specific Usage Needs

Consider your different departments and employees’ specific usage needs when deciding on bundled plans. Sales staff may require unlimited minutes and high data limits with national coverage and roaming. But support teams may only use phones minimally within a single local area. 

Opting for customized bundles or building your own piecemeal plans enables tailoring to these diverse needs. But it also requires more effort to track everything.

Also factor in overseas travel needs. Do executives need their devices and allowances to work abroad? Or staff who frequently drive long distances across the country? Understanding specific needs can clarify the pros and cons of standardized bundles versus unbundled custom plans.

BYOD Options

Some providers let employees use their own existing smartphones, tablets and other devices (aka BYOD or “bring your own device”). The business then just pays for mobile plans to enable them through eSIMs or other methods. 

This helps avoid paying for new devices when staff already have perfectly usable personally-owned items. BYOD policies complement unbundled purchases where devices and connectivity are separate.

But many bundle deals require that you exclusively use the included devices, preventing BYOD. Plus managing security, policies and support gets more complicated with everyone using different equipment. So gauge BYOD demand among your personnel as you evaluate bundles.

Early Upgrade Schemes

Some carriers offer early upgrade programs as part of their bundles, usually allowing refreshing devices every 12 months rather than 24. 

If having employees on the latest high-end smartphones and tablets year-round better enables productivity, such programs can provide value. But their pricing is generally higher than standard contracts without early upgrades.

Only opt for these accelerated upgrade options if the benefits outweigh their costs for your organisation. And investigate all carriers’ specific early upgrade schemes when comparing bundles head-to-head.

Insurance, Support and Other Perks

Lastly, bundles sometimes come with extra perks like device insurance, dedicated business support contacts and enhanced security features. If these services come free or discounted as part of a package, they can sway the decision towards bundles for some organisations. Just confirm exactly what’s included and what’s extra.

For example, Businessmobiles business mobile bundles highlight benefits like wireless mobile device management, data usage control tools and flexible data sharing across your account. Analyse what solutions like these are worth to your operations.

Key Takeaways

In summary, when evaluating business mobile bundles in the UK:

• Compare potential cost savings to unbundled separate purchases across carriers
• Weigh flexibility to change providers mid-contract against administrative simplicity
• Ensure bundled network coverage and speeds meet your whole business’ needs
• Align plans and devices to your employees’ specific usage levels
• Consider BYOD demand and early upgrade scheme benefits
• Check for free additional perks like insurance that can sweeten bundle deals

Final Words 

There’s no universal answer on whether bundles make the most financial and operational sense. Crunch the numbers for your unique mix of devices, plan types, data usage and other needs. Look beyond just pricing to gain a complete picture of the pros and cons of locking into a single provider through bundles. This lets you make the most informed, tailored mobility solution decision for enabling your business success through keeping your team connected.