Smartphones 'can encourage growth of mobile workforce'

Date: 07/02/2012 17:03:08

The increasing use of mobile technology could present a range of benefits for the growth of the mobile workforce in the coming years, although there could be some challenges for the companies to face.

The benefits being offered by the use of mobile phones and other devices was recently highlighted by Dan Shey, enterprise practice director at ABI Research, who stated that companies will be faced with some new and potentially perplexing options.

He explained over the next few years as mobile working becomes more popular there will be some decisions for bosses to make.

Mr Shey said that on one side of it, mobile will be providing some fantastic productivity gains, which is starting with smartphones and progressing through to the tablets that are being deployed by the mobile workforce, with the highest number being used by corporate liable employees.

"On the other hand, individual liable employees want to enjoy the productivity benefits offered by these devices, apps and services," the expert added.

With the move towards this sort of working practices within the workforce, the question arises of how much mobility should be offered to employees, as the issue also raises questions not only about employee productivity but also on data security and even basic workforce management practices.

The rise in the importance of new forms of technology has been seen across various sectors in recent times, with retail also seeing an increase in the demand for handheld devices.

Christine Bardwell, research manager at IDC Retail Insights, highlighted how companies which have been doing well in the current economic climate are those which have kept up with the latest changes in technology, with smartphones enabling consumers to find the cheapest prices on products while in another store.