For an increasing number of professionals, mobility is essential. Recent advances in sophisticated and affordable mobile devices, faster connectivity, as well as cloud computing have enabled employees to be far more effective and productive while on the move.
According to the survey, 93 percent of respondents believed mobile technology made them more productive. Only 5 percent saw no influence from mobile technology on their productivity, and just one percent felt less productive because of mobile technology. The mobile masters were more likely to feel that mobile technology made them much more productive (80 percent), compared to the mobile maniacs (77 percent), mobile majority (67 percent), and the mobile minority (49 percent). Alternately, the mobile minority (14 percent) were more likely than the mobile majority (6 percent), the mobile maniacs (6 percent), and the mobile masters (4 percent) to see mobile technology as either having no influence on productivity or making them less productive:
Figure 2. How productive does mobile technology make you?
Productivity Comments
Survey comments included:
“I am able to check email from anywhere for work or personal, so when something comes up that takes me away from my desk I can stay on top of it.”
- Sales manager, tech company
“I can find the answers to questions quickly, be aware of problems and issues right away, and at least be thinking about solutions. Oftentimes I can speed processes by quickly approving things or delegating work on the go.”
- Manager, large bank
“The flexibility offered by mobile solutions means that you have the opportunity to deal with things as they arise. You do not have to wait until you get to your destination to deal with work.”
- IT, large bank
“I am able to VPN into work when I am working out on the street. If I had to come back into the office every time I needed to do remote work, I would only get half the work done.”
- Network engineer, transportation company
“Mobile technology gives me the ability to keep in touch with my team more effectively and get immediate responses to critical emails, thus providing solutions in half the time.”
-IT manager, pharmaceutical company
“Having the ability to respond when on the go, rather than having to fire up my computer, allows me to respond quickly rather than having to address an accumulation of email and messages upon my return to the office.”
- Operations supervisor, retailer
