BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is a type of strategy that has been gaining speed within the business world. The days of working tied to a desk in front of a 6 year old desktop are over. Your phone is now your work station. The mobile revolution is officially taking over. Don’t panic, this is a good thing.
BYOD can range from your smartphone to your own laptop. Whatever it is, it’s your own device that is used within work and potentially in your personal life.
However, this strategy is not strictly within the work place as 29% of UK secondary schools have opted for BYOD strategies which has seen an increase in engagement whilst making it easier to transfer work between home and school.
So why is a BYOD strategy the way forward?
1. Up-to-Date devices
The iPhone’s iOS software is a prime example of the never ending necessity of updates. How many times have you updated your iPhone just to be confronted with a pop-up a few days later telling you the “latest” software is now available … Exactly what we were told about 2 days before that. For phones, updates aren’t a huge deal to give into, they take at the most 10 minutes to install, including the process of turning it off and then back on again.
Desktops on the other hand, lack this ability and they also usually don’t nag you every day about the new update until you eventually give in when you are interrupted mid-text by a black box telling you to install now or later. There’s no “I don’t want to update my phone ever” option because devices need to update to survive. If an update is needed within the office, this requires each desktop to be updated individually which is a massive task to attempt to do simultaneously. If BYOD strategies are introduced users can update their device on their own whenever it is convenient for them with no need for kit to be replaced either.
2. Flexibility and ease
The days of needing to carry; a laptop, tablet, phone and corporate phone are over. Workers who enable BYOD strategies will only need one device to carry out work efficiently. Work that would normally be done in the office will be able to be done wherever they choose as employees have access to any data they want, anywhere they need. This allows for greater freedom to employees and encourages out of hours working.
3. Cut down on the spending
IT is no longer responsible for handing out hardware such as smartphones, laptops, tablet computers and even desktops. Personal phones are now incorporated with business needs, replacing the traditional need of companies supplying their employees with devices. This supports a mobile and cloud-focused IT strategy as their own devices will rely on the cloud to be able to access work data resulting in an increase of productivity whilst encouraging mobile working. Own device= own upgrade. If a device needs upgrading this is the responsibility of the employee rather than a company supplying upgraded devices to each individual in the office.
4. Keep employees smiling
Allowing employees the choice to use their own most-loved personal device can keep end users motivated. As most of society today can’t go anywhere without their phone it’s likely employees will be extremely familiar with their own devices. No training needed, no time wasted. Yay!
5. Infrastructure and BYOD unite
So, what about my infrastructure I’ve spent countless hours on? BYOD gives businesses the opportunity to make better use of the IT infrastructure. This is an essential as companies invest a great deal of time and money into their infrastructures, particularly as more businesses adopt wireless technology and cloud computing services. A BYOD strategy would ensure these resources are utilized rather than unused. With careful monitoring and mobile device management, a business can ensure it uses its resources to the fullest without putting stress on its network.
Want to know how you could adopt a BYOD strategy? Come say hello.
