Whether it’s before the pandemic, during the pandemic, or after the pandemic, some things never change – it’s important for organizations everywhere to make workplace modernization a focus. When you give employees the best possible technologies to do their jobs, it makes everyone happier and more productive, which contributes directly to your bottom line. This is why workplace mobile device policies – such as bring your own device (BYOD) – have become such a hot topic in recent years.
According to TechTarget, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on companies’ strategies around workplace mobility and flexibility. Reda Chouffani, co-founder of Biz Technology Solutions, pointed out that business leaders have always been interested in how BYOD can foster flexible work and bring cost savings, but it’s only since the pandemic began that many have seen this concept in action. With so many people today working remotely, BYOD has become the default, and the world is adjusting accordingly.
“BYOD has exploded over the past year and changed how employees expect to do their work,” Chouffani explained. “New users are entering the workforce with the expectation of being mobile, and part of that mobility includes using their own devices instead of company-owned devices. BYOD enables more flexibility in how, where, and when employees work and collaborate.”
Today, it’s clear: BYOD is everywhere, and the only question is how you strategize around it. So let’s take a look at four of the key concepts involved:
- Improving the employee experience. The entire point of embracing BYOD is creating a better experience for everyone, so it’s important to maximize that. Allow everyone to customize the interfaces and apps they use. Encourage everyone to work in whatever style makes them happiest and most productive. Ultimately, this is what will drive results.
- Balancing privacy with security. You want to give people the freedom to work in private and get stuff done, but you also want to minimize threats to your business’ security. To that end, it’s crucial to have mechanisms in place for overseeing people’s device use and stepping in to mitigate security issues when necessary. Finding this balance can be tricky.
- Minimizing costs for your business. You might think that BYOD is a way to save money, since you’re not buying as many devices – and that’s largely true. But you also have to consider new expenses – including hiring mobile device IT specialists, supporting people network and cloud needs, and so on. You’ll want to draw up a budget that’s smart and efficient here.
- Making disaster recovery plans. What happens if a device is lost or stolen? What about if a mobile device-using employee falls victim to a data breach? BYOD brings flexibility, but there’s also downside risk. Your business will need to have plans in place to deal with disasters if and when they happen. The last thing you want is to be caught unprepared.
When done right, a BYOD policy can be a great way to make your entire team happier, more comfortable, and more productive with every day at the office. And at Zones, we work tirelessly to make that process easier for you. We specialize in Workplace Modernization, which means we’re passionate about outfitting our clients with the right devices to drive productivity and the right services to support those devices. Does this sound like it could make a difference for your business? If so, connect with the team at Zones today.
Zones : Oct 23, 2020 5:00:00 AM
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