Support T
he market is being flooded with new devices that increase competition, features, and desirability to own one. And, with such incredible features on offer it’s hardly
surprising; for example the iPhone 4s through its Siri software allows you to speak commands for calling people, setting up meetings, dictating texts and emails; as well as finding your way from A to B and reaching local amenities. Yet, as the amount of devices with different operating systems, software, features and functions grow this is causing major headaches for IT departments.
IT IS FAILING TO KEEP PACE The rapid adoption of these devices in the workplace continues to send ripples of change and challenge through IT departments around the world. Richard Neale, CTO of Esselar, a specialist provider of mobile device management solutions, says “The thing with bring your own device is, it’s been around for a long time now, but many companies are only beginning to really support this usage from a cost, security, and compliance perspective through creating formal policies.”
34 December 2012 | Volume 22 – Issue 4
Peer-to-Peer Smart working
with
Driven by the growing availability of easy-to-use tablet and smartphone devices, supported by 4G and lightning speed connections, BYOD (bring your own device) continues to gather pace. Apple iPads, iPhones, smartphones, and tablets galore; all making ‘working on the move’ fast, efficient, and dare I say – fun! By John Bancroft.
“In fact, many companies still don’t have a formal policy in place and this can be risky from both the company’s perspective as well as the employee’s. There can be many reasons for this but it more than likely comes down to good old fashioned ‘burying the head in the sand’. The truth is this is uncharted territory for many companies and their IT departments and the unpredictable nature of this trend and its associated problems have left the vast majority far behind the ever growing curve”, he suggests. This view is borne out by research for Hornbill carried out by TNS, an independent research company, in June this year: more than half (53%) of 1440 office workers who took the survey stated that corporate IT is failing to keep pace with business needs. Another slightly worrying fact raised in the survey, although not from a productivity view point, is that 40% of respondents state that they will use personal devices without getting permission from or informing IT in order to improve productivity. The research found that workers of a younger age said that they would save more time, but across all age groups an average of two hours per month could be saved. Based on various assumptions the average UK hourly wage, which the ONS gives as £12.21, this would translate to over £2 billion per year in lost productivity – all well and good, but what about IT support?
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