Just a decade ago, connectivity in the workplace looked dramatically different than it does today. From leadership teams to project teams, groups of individuals tasked with finding ways of communicating and working together were subjected to expensive flights and time-consuming treks out of the office to get the job done. Today, whether working from home, the office or the road, employees of all levels can quickly utilize mobile devices, applications, file storage and dozens of communication methods for seamless integration and collaboration. However, most companies still struggle with creating a mobile first strategy to take advantage of everything mobility can offer.
According to a recent Harvard Business Review Analytics Services report sponsored by Verizon, there are five common barriers to entry that businesses must recognize and overcome to embrace a hyper-connected workforce:
- Lack of skill in using mobile devices
- Insufficient IT resources
- Unmet need for management guidance
- Lack of the right tools
- Unmet need for the network to support such a work experience
Does the environment in your organization reflect similar challenges? If so, you could be missing out on key benefits respondents reported that can be generated from increased connectivity, including:
- Increased business agility and responsiveness
- Increased productivity
- Improved internal and external collaboration
- Improved geographic diversity
- Enhanced employee attraction/retention
While it’s true that companies must find a delicate balance between security and enablement of these technologies, it can be done. At TechOrchard, we see these issues every day and work with companies in all phases of mobile strategy creation, deployment and management to address them. The reality is that ALL organizations struggle with catching up and staying current in this digital and mobile age. Yet, having leadership buy-in, a mobile first mindset, quality tools and applications, and a preferred enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution are critical aspects of a comprehensive mobile strategy that can meet your needs.
Take just a moment to survey what’s happening inside your business. If your organization resembles those recently surveyed in Harvard Business Review’s “The Hyper-Connected Workforce” 2015 report, you may find that 89 percent of your employees are using mobile and remote work technologies moderately to extensively. As Generation Z prepares to make its way into the working world throughout the next 10 years, these numbers will only increase moving forward. Therefore, you have two choices.
Fail to embrace connected working and put your organization at a competitive disadvantage while missing out on attracting and retaining top talent. Or, you can overcome the hurdles and leverage the benefits of a hyper-connected workforce to revolutionize your workplace. Contact us if you’re ready to be one of the mobile first companies who are preparing today for tomorrow’s success.
Phil Poje | CEO, TechOrchard
A serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive leadership and ownership experience, Phil has a unique understanding of the challenges that exist within the rapidly growing technology sector. Contact him directly at phil@techorchard.com to discuss innovative ways for overcoming those challenges and propelling your organization to new levels of success.
