Prepress
Research shows local market is embracing mobile working
Thursday 11. September 2008 - A survey on mobile working trends, conducted by Citrix Systems, has found that 73 percent of South African organisations have already adopted a mobile working policy, while a further 20 percent have mobile working under consideration.
A survey on mobile working trends, conducted by Citrix Systems, has found that 73 percent of South African organisations have already adopted a mobile working policy, while a further 20 percent have mobile working under consideration.
Of the 132 respondents, over 70 percent work away from the office at least once a week, with 44 percent working away from the office more regularly at two to three times per week. An encouraging finding is that half of the respondents have exactly the same level of applications and information available as in the office, with the appropriate security measures.
However, mobile working still seems to be the exception to working practices rather than the rule, as 51 percent of the respondents only work from home after meetings or in exceptional circumstances.
“It is positive to see South African businesses growing acceptance of flexible working as a means of encouraging greater productivity among employees,” said Nick Keene, country manager of Citrix Southern Africa. “While we can always expect certain levels of concern with regards to security and bandwidth, the technologies are available to make meaningful mobile working a reality. The question business leaders need to tackle is whether they are ready to support the cultural and management style shifts required? As we can see from our research, the days of work being a place we go, rather than what we do, really are numbered and in my view, that can only be a good thing for the South African economy.”
The device most used for mobile working is the laptop, with 82 percent of respondents citing this. While bandwidth restrictions and security still pose the greatest concerns, the adoption of mobile working has been encouraged by general cost savings, rising fuel and related costs, and the increasing traffic congestion on South Africas roads.
Most encouraging is that an overwhelming 98 percent of the respondents believe that South African companies will adopt mobile working policies in the future.
The survey was conducted in August 2008 amongst those IT decision makers registered to attend Citrixs annual Virtualisation Solutions Seminar in Johannesburg