By Nicole Gorelik, TeleMessage Intern
Highly successful companies change with the trends. It’s no secret that technology is rapidly becoming an integral part of any business. The development of advanced smartphones means more employees are sending emails, text messages, pictures and files over their phones. Smartphones are not going away, so building a productive workforce around them is necessary.
Forty percent of workers can do more than half their work on a mobile device.* Because of this, companies must create policies regarding work communication over mobile devices. Systems can be enacted that embrace the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) momentum. By allowing employees to manage schedules with their personal devices, contact clients, clock-in and out, and more, company productivity increases.
If most employees use mobile devices for work, security becomes an important issue. It’s often difficult for management to have control over what a worker does with their personal device. As a result, management must have an agreement with the employee. The Security for Business Innovation Council has a recommended checklist for BYOD policies**:
- Employees sign a legal contract before BYOD policy is enacted
- Employees immediately report if personal device is lost
- Employees take full personal responsibility if device data is wiped out
- Specific details on how company will monitor device, retain device for litigation purposes, or wipe device
- Employee must store corporate data in cloud
- Employees are responsible for backing up personal data (upon leaving company)
- Specify company versus user responsibility for all device maintenance
- Employees must remove apps upon company request
- State that company will disable use of device if blacklisted app is installed or phone is jailbroken
- Specify consequences for violations
After all policies are thought out, management needs to get feedback from the employees. This is vital to the success of a company. Culture of the workplace varies company to company; some employees may be opposed to the BYOD policy while some may be quick to jump on the bandwagon. It takes time to get everyone on board—and time requires patience from management. Collaboration is key when designing new mobile strategies.
Employees who feel that using their personal mobile devices in the workplace is productive are typically the ones who have access to IT support. When IT infrastructure is simpler and more relate-able to employees, things seem a bit more understandable. IT that works on collaboration with employees’ personal devices and trains the employees typically results in a happy, productive workplace.
It is evident that molding policies into a mobile-friendly way positively impacts employees and productivity. More workers are hoping employers allow personal cellphone use throughout the workday. Companies that decide against productive mobile strategies will have a harder time making it in our modern world. A highly successful company embodies change.
*: http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/productive-mobile-workforce/
