There is no denying the explosion of mobile devices but did you know that by 2019 there will be 11.5 billion connected mobile devices in the worldi? Mobile devices are already becoming entrenched as a working method in many modern offices. Trends like hot desking or flexible working arrangements make them a necessity as does the modern need of accessing information any time from anywhere, these days about 53% of total email opens occur on a mobile phone or tabletii. Employers who have not yet embraced a device driven workplace need to read the facts.
What are some of the benefits of a BYOD workplace?
support flexible working arrangements
reduce hardware costs
boost collaboration
simplify teleworking
increase employee retention
access to information anytime, anywhere
more mobile modern workforce
Businesses need to assess if they are willing to adopt a device driven workplace, how and to what extent they are willing to do so, and examine the risks before moving forward. It’s true some IT issues could crop up such as scalability, bandwidth capability and security issues. Some businesses choose to provide devices to their staff in the bid to overcome some of the security issues but many more are now moving to a BYOD environment.
Surveys indicate that businesses are unable to stop employees from bringing personal devices into the workplace so instead of resisting the movement, they are adopting it as a new working method. Some research suggests that BYOD makes employees more productive and says it increases morale and convenience. With around 95% of employeesiiistating that they use at least one personal device for work, BYOD is a reality that managers and IT leaders cannot ignore.
What about security?
Security measures and user policies will need to be adapted on a business by business basis; some businesses password protect sensitive information, encrypt sensitive data, do selective wiping of a device when an employee moves on from the company, and limit access to employees at certain times. Innovation has made available privacy compliant Apps that offer secure messaging of sensitive information between parties.
A policy will need to reflect what is most important to you and your clients, international research reveals that only about 20% of employees have signed a BYOD policyiv.
How does BYOD work?
The back bone of a true BYOD workforce is wireless capability. With employees now bringing smart phones, tablets and lap tops into work there is no need to be tethered to a desk anymore. In the past connecting PCs, printers and other devices to a network required running cables around and through the office which is out of the question in a BYOD environment.
Staff need to have the ability of moving between floors, offices and in and out of meetings with their devices connected to the network at all times. A seamless wireless network promotes effective collaboration and responsiveness and allows staff to be fully efficient at all times on their own devices. Although you may have a wireless connection in place does it work seamlessly throughout the entire office or are there “black spots” where a connection is hard to maintain?
Some of the benefits of investing in wireless technology can be:
quick access to information
increased productivity
a more efficient workforce
effective collaboration
provide secure wireless access to business partners and customers
i Cisco, VNI, 2015
ii Experian Marketing Services Q3 2014 Email Benchmark Report
iii http://www.vodacom.com/com/press/detail?articleId=4224
