Two-thirds of small business mobile device users and IT managers believe their company would lose competitive ground without mobile devices, according to a recent survey. Not a surprising finding, given today’s ubiquity of mobile devices in business. What might surprise you, though, is that only half of those surveyed say their company has deployed device management software, or at least has a strategy for managing employee-owned devices.
The findings are according to a survey conducted by the business technology reseller CDW. The company surveyed 752 mobile device users and “IT professionals” from U.S. small businesses in five industries (construction, food services, manufacturing, professional services and retail) about their use of smartphones, tablets and laptops — all of which CDW conveniently sells, along with mobile software.
The report claims that almost all small business users surveyed (94 percent) believe their mobile devices make them more efficient, and most (67 percent) believe their companies would lose competitive ground without those devices – which may explain why IT managers surveyed report that 89 percent of their employees use personally-owned mobile devices for work.
There is some risk, though, as just 51 percent of those IT managers say their company has an effective strategy for managing and securing employee devices. And if that isn’t enough to make mobile software vendors high-five with excitement, only a fifth of the small-biz IT managers admit to having deployed or even planning to deploy mobile device management software.
The report found that mobility benefits extend beyond small business employees to owners and customers alike. Sixty percent of users surveyed believe that mobile devices lead to improved communication between field and office personnel as well as increased availability to customers – resulting in better customer service.
“We are a catering company, and our delivery system wouldn’t work a fraction as well without smartphones,” said an owner/partner of one food services firm.
“We now manage all orders on a shared calendar, which is easily accessible by smartphone. All employees now have instant access to our production and shipping schedule, which is invaluable in the field,” said an executive with one manufacturing firm.
The findings are analyzed in more detail in CDW’s 2012 Small Business Mobility Report, which includes findings specific to five industries: construction, food services, manufacturing, professional services and retail. The report offers perspectives on aspects of mobility unique to each of those industries, focusing on top benefits, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) pros and cons, how mobile devices have changed the ways small businesses operate, the mobile offerings small businesses use to communicate with customers, and deployment and use rates of mobile devices. You can get the complete report on CDW’s website.
