With the advent of more and more apps, individuals have the ability to complete a growing number of tasks in the mobile environment and access an increasing amount of data while doing so. From managing one’s finances to making purchases and everything in between, there most certainly is “an app for that.” But how are consumers responding to the endless number of apps in their app store? And more importantly, what does that mean for enterprises who manage both company-provided and BYOD assets?
Though the existence of mobile apps is nothing new, the way in which consumers are using them may surprise you. While smartphone penetration across the total U.S. population for adults 18+ increased to 74% (81% of mobile subscribers) in Q4 2015, the number of apps accessed per month has remained relatively stable for the past three years. Meanwhile, the time users spend on apps has grown by leaps and bounds from approximately 23 hours per month in Q4 2012 to nearly 41 hours per month in Q4 2015. This 77 percent increase indicates that users are finding ways to get more from their favorite apps, and are concentrating their time using only those from which they can derive benefit.
Additionally, the breakdown of mobile app usage by category highlights a notable increase in sectors such as Travel, Family & Lifestyle, Productivity & Tools, and Search, Portals & Social as seen in the chart below.
The ever-increasing number of apps available allows us to identify a tool for specific purposes personally, and specific job roles professionally. Ultimately, these apps can help improve efficiency, profitability and productivity in the workplace. The growth of the Productivity & Tools category comes as no surprise given that an increasing percentage of the workforce is integrating their mobile devices in their jobs. While that can provide huge enterprise benefits, it poses inherent security risks if the right policies, procedures and processes aren’t in place.
As an organization, it’s important you:
- Determine what devices you will manage and how
- Secure the data accessed and transmitted by your approved devices
- Establish an approved set of mobile apps your employees can access to excel in their jobs
- Communicate expectations and opportunities to everyone in the organization
- Evaluate your mobile management program over time and make adjustments as new apps become available that could benefit your workforce
At TechOrchard, we can help you select, secure and manage the mobile apps that make sense for your staff. Give us a call to learn more!
Source: Nielsen’s “Wanna Get Away? Travel App Usage Increases among Americans Who Wish To”
