Back in the good ol’ days, before the advent of BYOD (bring your own device), life was a lot simpler. Employees used the computers and devices they were assigned to by their company and carried out their tasks in the confines of their workstation during normal business hours.
Although limited in functionality and range, these corporate-issued IT devices were able to help you get the job done for the workload that was required at the time. If someone happened to be “out of the office” for that day, they were truly unavailable to take calls and get any work done.
Nowadays, there has been a steady shift towards mobility in the workforce. In fact, according to a Harris poll cited by Business Solutions Magazine, 90% of IT decision makers say that enterprise mobility is critical to important facets of business growth such as customer engagement, productivity, and competitiveness. Nearly three-quarters of them report that their company is planning to mobilize the entire organization.
With the emergence of smartphones, tablets, iPads, etc., working outside of the office with greater ease and flexibility has become the norm.
The “Consumerization” of Technology
Technology is all about the user experience. If a certain type of software ends up being overly complex or hard to use, then it’s likely that it won’t ever catch on and be of any value.
That’s the genius behind a BYOD strategy. When employees are given the freedom to bring the devices they know and love into the workplace, and have an intuitive and consistent user experience both in and out of the office, they’re more satisfied. With greater satisfaction comes greater productivity and results.
Plus, a BYOD strategy allows your company to reap the benefits of having new and up-to-date technology without the capital expenses of buying and maintaining your own devices.
Increase Engagement Outside the Office
Everyone knows that business doesn’t just happen in the office anymore. When employees have the means to communicate on-the-go with the same ease and convenience of working in the office, they’re able to be more responsive and productive. That means on your next business trip, you can spend those countless hours on the plane responding to emails, touching base with clients, and getting ahead on your projects.
Or, if you choose to work from home for the day, you can stay in contact with those you need to be in constant collaboration with to maintain productivity.
If you’re ready to join the movement towards a BYOD strategy, the time to start is now. Give the team over at Hill Country Tech Guys a ring today, and we’ll tell you more about how to jump on board.