Yes, Apple has a new iPad, and if you’ve been waiting to jump on the tablet wagon, this latest version might be worth your while. But besides the ultra-sharp resolution and ramped up processing power, how’s a Finance staffer going to make the best use of this hot tablet? Here are some solid suggestions:

1. Be cloud-friendly: To make the best use of an iPad as a substitute or replacement for your laptop or desktop (and this will make travel significantly easier), set up a relationship with a cloud provider. It can be Apple’s own iCloud or a third-party provider like Dropbox. But you’re gonna need some way to sync with other devices – your smartphone or your office data. The cost of cloud services for iPad users is minimal and, truth be told, essential.
2. Enable offline use: You’ll pay more for an iPad that connects to 3G or 4G networks. And the cost of these plans will add to your overall cost of ownership. Instead of plunking down big bucks for occasional use away from a WiFi access point, try using an app that bookmarks and stores websites or files for later examination. Instapaper is a good one.
3. Choose office apps wisely: Depending on your job, you’ll need use of some of the office productivity suite items that are commonplace in most businesses. But you don’t necessarily need the highest-priced version of these apps. Consider your options carefully. For example, nearly all Finance folks need to at least view spreadsheets spreadsheets on a regular basis. But you you need to just view them or create and edit them regularly? For just viewing spreadsheets, GoodReader will suffice. If you’ve got to generate these files, you may need to spend more and get Numbers.
4. Check out industry-specific apps: Every industry and every job function has specific needs and, not to put too fine a point on it, there’s an app for that. Talk to colleagues in and out of your organization to find out what apps they use to make their work easier, cheaper or just more efficient. Search Apple’s store for hidden gems.

Tags: adoption, finance, iPad, tablet