Mobile Workforce Survey Results Q2 2012:
Mobility Trends and Mobile Usage Among Business Users
Executive Summary
This quarter’s iPass Mobile Workforce Report examines the most recent trends in the usage of mobile devices. It reveals how these devices are influencing the lifestyle of people who not only travel constantly, but also think globally-what we at iPass define as the “globally mobile”: the international and domestic business travelers along with the “always-on” mobile worker. The report also provides insights into the impact of these trends on the workforce, as well as on the supporting cast of information technology professionals who support the workforce’s mobility services. IT plays a significant role in determining the productivity and security levels of a company. Both human resources and building management also need to start thinking about how we work differently, and the impact it is having on employees and the physical workplace.
Some of the trends and observations obtained from this quarter’s report include:
- Addicted or obsessive? A significant number of workers are incredibly attached to their mobile devices. Many are now so reliant on continuous connectivity that they might be called “addicted.” Wireless access has become pervasive, infused into almost every aspect of our day-to-day living. 88 percent of respondents said wireless access was as important to their lives as running water and electricity or almost. Most workers don’t have a professed problem or let it cause friction in their personal relationships, though a significant percentage of people do. Their partners, children, and friends are letting them know that it’s causing a problem-especially as the workweek now extends firmly into the weekend.
- Bring your own device (BYOD) is a recurrent theme for the most productive members of the workforce. An increasing number of mobile workers are relying on their own devices, and are using these tools to connect to corporate networks to access work applications-often with great frustration. The dawn of BYOD appears to link strongly with mobile workers who’ve revealed that they are a resourceful group and will do anything to ensure ubiquitous connectivity, including work-arounds that could unwittingly threaten the security of a company. However, they also feel a sense of responsibility and care deeply for what they do. They are far more willing to use their personal devices for work, but much less willing to use their work devices for personal reasons. The impact on IT departments can be onerous, but we have some suggestions on how IT can tackle both security and productivity issues and become the company heroes they ought to be.
- Data roaming bills are creating a considerable amount of bill shock, even for the savviest of mobile workers. Globally, 34 percent of mobile workers admitted to being hit with an expensive bill. Workers in Asia appear to be the worst-hit-38 percent reported bill shock-while their European (33 percent) and American (32 percent) counterparts didn’t fare much better. One of our respondents received an unexpected $7,900 roaming bill, and anecdotally, we know of an industry expert who suffered a $60,000 data roaming bill. The cost of data roaming can be astronomical and is generally hidden in expense reports. Many companies have insufficient visibility into their network costs and may be spending far more on network costs than they actually need to.
In this Report
- Introduction
- Section 1: Hyperconnected and Globally Mobile
- Section 2: Data Roaming Charges
- Section 3: Checking In Around the Clock
- Section 4: Sleeping with Your Smartphone
- Section 5: Mobilephilia -Technology Friction
- Section 6: Connecting 24/7
- Section 7: Mobile Work Habits
- Section 8: Device Preferences For the Globally Mobile
- Section 9: The Road Warrior
- Section 10: Survey Methodology
- Conclusion
