Mobile Workforce Report Q2 2011: Page 1: Introduction | Page 2: Redefining Social Boundaries | Page 3: The Right Tools for the Job | Page 4: On the Road with Mobile Workers | Page 5: Conclusion
On the Road with Mobile Workers
The mobile workers we surveyed have several things in common; they have smartphones, increasingly have tablets, telecommute, and travel on business. In fact, 94 percent expect to travel on business this year. 49 percent expect to spend at least 30 days on the road for business.
One interesting point is that extensive business travel does not necessarily equate to hyperconnectivity among mobile workers. Those that spend at least 30 days annually on the road on business, mirror the general mobile workforce population when it comes to social boundaries.
In this section, we look at business travel. Are employees traveling more or less than in 2010? Do they use hotel Wi-Fi, and how much of their mobile stack (laptop, smartphone, and increasingly tablet) are they connecting to hotel Wi-Fi?
Business travel
49 percent of mobile workers expect to spend a month or more on business travel, compared to 56 percent that made that prediction in 2010. This represents a 7 percent decline. While 27 percent of mobile workers expect to travel more than last year, more than18 percent expect to travel less.
Figure 23 – How much time do you expect to spend traveling for business this year?
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Figure 24 – Is this more or less travel than last year?
(Click Image to Enlarge)
From the survey, we are seeing collaborative applications, such as web conferencing, play a role in why 18 percent of mobile employees expect to travel less this year, although it is not the primary reason. According to survey respondents, cutbacks in travel are due to:
For 35 percent of mobile workers, more than half of their travel will be international. Not surprisingly, nearly 53 percent of Europeans believe that more than half of their travel will be international, while 37 percent of those in the Asia Pacific region believe this, and only 19 percent of those in North America believe this.
Figure 25 – Estimate what percentage international travel will make up of your total planned business travel this year?
(By Region) (Click Image to Enlarge)
Hotel Wi-Fi
On the road, nearly 68 percent of mobile workers will pay for a faster connection at a hotel when a free network is also available. 28 percent will only pay if the free connection is too slow, and almost 33 percent will pay depending on what they are using the connection for.
Figure 26 – At a hotel, would you pay more for a faster connection when a free network is also available?
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Mobile workers also connect their complete mobile stack to Wi-Fi at the hotel. To start with, almost 96 percent of mobile workers use hotel Wi-Fi. 71 percent connect two or more devices, and nearly 16 percent connect three or more devices.
Figure 27 – How many devices (smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.) do you typically connect to Wi-Fi (when available) when staying at a hotel for business travel?
(Click Image to Enlarge)
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Recommendations for IT: Speed often matters. Most mobile employees will pay for a faster Wi-Fi connection even when free Wi-Fi is available. Travel is still a fact of life and is increasing in some areas. Make sure that the cost of mobility does not rise out of control. IT should implement reports and policies to help ensure that 3G roaming is not abused and that free Wi-Fi is used when practical. The user experience should be simple so that support requirements are not bogging down IT. |
Mobile Workforce Report Q2 2011: Page 1: Introduction | Page 2: Redefining Social Boundaries | Page 3: The Right Tools for the Job | Page 4: On the Road with Mobile Workers | Page 5: Conclusion
