Reasons Why Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is Here to Stay

Top Six Reasons Why BYOD is Essential for Your Company

Most people have heard of “BYOB”, but have you heard of “BYOD”? This new concept of employees and attendees bringing their own smartphones and tablets to participate in meetings is a growing trend in today’s tech-savvy world. BYOD stands for “Bring Your Own Device” and offers many benefits to meeting hosts, sponsors, and attendees.

ITS’S ALL ABOUT TOOLS

Initially there were fears that employees would use the BYOD trend to text messages and play games, thereby reducing productivity. However, as the trend matures, these fears are short-lived. It turns out that workers are using their devices to augment their skills and not waste away work hours.

FINE-TUNING WORK-LIFE BALANCE

The BYOD trend means ease of use for workers and more productivity for companies that implement a well-run BYOD plan. For example, a worker with her own iPad might read personal email, check Twitter, update her calendar, and sit-in on a video call, even as she waits to pick up her child from school.

ENSURING PROJECTS MOVE AHEAD QUICKLY

BYOD has big benefits for business too. Less time offline for workers means that projects move forward more quickly and critical business decisions are not restricted to the 9-to-5 world. Also, once organizations and employees work out all the BYOD links, those extra tablets, smartphones, and personal computers look like they’re here to stay.

APPEAL FOR BOTH OLDER AND YOUNGER WORKERS

If companies want to engage Millennials, they need a robust BYOD policy, as these workers are very used to having ready access to the Internet and connected devices. However, a company-wide BYOD policy also engages older workers. They are able to complete many tasks at home which appeals not only to this group but to other groups as well. It also gives your company the edge in attracting quality employees who may not be able to work a normal day at the office.

LOWER IT COSTS

The BYOD trend has often been called “The Consumerization of IT” and is becoming popular fast in large corporations and government agencies. If you let your employees bring their own device to work, your costs decrease, as you centralize applications and company data for access via personal devices. You can also avoid upgrading hardware every few years. Also, your workers will become more self-supporting, as opposed to constantly sending our distressed calls to IT.

REDUCES SECURITY RISK

Mostly, if your employee carries a company phone or tablet, it means that she is carrying the keys to the company, which could lead to unthinkable loss and consequences. Rather than sensitive company information residing on the device, in a BYOD environment, all information moves to a cloud-based setup. This way, an employee’s device is just a tool to access the cloud-based corporate info. This means that even if the data is lost or stolen, you can simply remove the device’s access. This enhances data security company-wide.