Mobile Workforce Report

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Conclusion

Based on the results of this quarter’s iPass Mobile Workforce Report, it is apparent that the mobile workplace trend is bigger than just one generation, and this tech chasm is more like a crack in the pavement. Overall mobile worker preferences and behavioral characteristics across all age groups were similar – apart from the younger generation’s loss of mobile devices in the back of late-night taxis, or dare we say it – in bars!

Perhaps the chasm that exists in the workforce today is between those who are made mobile by their employers and those that are not. Smartphone policies have now put the devices into the hands of the majority of employees between the ages of 35 and 54. Nearly all mobile workers under the age of 44 now have a smartphone. The data also indicates that these mobile workers are less tied to a traditional PC for work and more willing to embrace a variety of mobile/alternative devices. Yet, when it comes to individual liability, 75 percent of the 22 to 34 year olds will not use their personally owned smartphone for work. This is especially true when corporate policy may not reimburse them. And this is where the opportunity lies.

The mobile workforce is forever changing the face of the corporate world. At nearly one billion strong, mobile workers have trained themselves in the consumer world and are now bringing that knowledge into the office. Enterprises should not underestimate their power, but instead arm them with the right tools to make them even more motivated and productive.

We also see a visible disconnect between what IT thinks it has under control and what mobile employees are actually doing. Nearly a third (29.1 percent) of mobile workers were using a non-standard smartphone for work, even though their companies had standardized on a single smartphone operating system. We also found that two-thirds of mobile employees had used a personal device for work – unbeknownst to their IT departments. For IT management, it is no longer about maintaining command and control … that ship has already sailed.

At iPass, we believe these trends reveal a significant market opportunity for those carriers, vendors, and businesses who can figure out how best to serve their mobile workforce – especially the millennials – and harness their nearly unlimited potential.

As a mobile workforce, they now expect certain rights:

They have the right to stay connected
The right to access the best networks and services
The right to choose what they want to use
The ability to make it their own
To be free from security threats
To not be deprived of IT support
One person, one account, with mobility and connectivity for all!

The mobile worker is now in charge. At iPass, we believe that these individuals will define the next wave of mobile and cloud innovation, and recast the work environment to better meet their needs. If we serve them well, they will redefine business productivity and processes, work when, where, and how they want, and use the best tools to get the job done.

Summary of Recommendations for IT:

IT should look beyond the consumer hype in planning their smartphone deployments in 2011. While Gartner predicts the consumer market will go to Symbian and Android next year – iPass data shows that employee preference is for the iPhone and the Android. Look at implementing a flexible multi-smartphone policy that takes employee preference into consideration.
In planning a mobility strategy, enterprises should look beyond the laptop. Increasingly employees are relying on smartphones and tablets to stay connected out of the office. These devices help employees to be more productive, and an inclusive strategy will benefit most enterprises.
Enterprises need to figure out how to tap into the extensive smartphone adoption by younger workers. Corporate policies that make it easy for employees to check corporate email from their smartphone is a good place to start.
Security issues with mobile technology are real. IT should seek to attract the outliers into the fold with policies that enable employees to use personal devices like their home computers and tablets, but also ensure those devices meet a set security criteria before they get access to corporate data. Effective communications to employees will be essential to succeed.

About iPass

Founded in 1996, iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS) is a leading provider of enterprise mobility services with 3,500 customers, including more than 420 of the Forbes Global 2000. The company’s mission is to be the voice of the enterprise in the market for mobility services by providing solutions that simply, smartly and openly facilitate access from any device on any network, while providing the visibility and control necessary to contain spiraling mobility costs, maximize mobile user productivity and maintain security in a world where consumers drive enterprise IT. For more information, visit www.iPass.com or the iPass blog, Smarter Connections, at www.ipass.com/blog.