We live in a time where the convenience of mobile devices allows us to be productive wherever we need to be, even if that’s outside the office. If you’re evaluating adding mobility to your teams, that’s a great step towards making your teams happier, and more productive! It’s even been reported that mobility increases morale and decreases stress levels. As you move forward, keep these topics in mind to make your transition a successful one.
Draft a company policy
Your company mobile policy will map out specifics like device ownership, management strategy, physical security, data access security, and basic web security, . If you already have a technology policy, then all you’ll have to do is amend it to include the sections above, and make sure it meshes with the requirements you’re setting for mobile devices. You can view a sample policy for mobile devices here.
Consult your team
It’s always a good idea to seek input from the individuals who will actually be working with a new technology strategy. US Census Surveys from 2005-2014 suggest that 25% of workers already conduct remote work in some capacity of their workflow, so you should seek out the ways that your team wants to connect! Would some prefer a home workstation? Would some prefer a smartphone to teleconference from the car? A poorly received mobile option is just one more obstacle for users, so it’s ideal to gauge your team before moving on a strategy.
Mobilize at your own pace
Don’t shy away from prioritizing which processes you mobilize first, rather than going all out from the start. If your sales team is the department that stands to gain the most from mobility, then perhaps you begin provisioning devices and/or mobile software for them, before launching a company-wide mobility plan. If you’re not sure where to start, look for the departments or employees who rely the most on communication and data access.
Consider the User Experience
Providing mobility to your team is great, but if it doesn’t live up to their expectations and provide a positive user experience, your team is going to be just as unproductive as they were without it. Mobility brings many new devices, operating systems, and applications into the fray, so make sure these new elements are compatible with your current platforms. Cloud-based applications are particularly great for mobility because most solutions offer multi-platform support, meaning you won’t need to adopt a new piece of software just to handle email from a mobile device, for example. A great experience will keep your team happy and excited to get a jump on the day’s tasks.
Prepare a security strategy
Adopting mobility can be as simple as opening up company data to be freely accessed by devices offsite, so having a proactive and easy to follow security strategy is key. Those looking to manage mobile devices like Smartphones and tablets, look to an MDM. Are users connecting to your in-house servers? Be sure to have your VPNs configured and security appliances up to date. If your data is in the cloud on the other hand, strong password and team training surrounding malware and spyware is the most important—and if your cloud platform allows you to install an SSL, go for it. Having a simple, common sense security policy will make it easier for your team to embrace mobility, yet keep company data secure.
If you’ve taken the time to think about and document each of the above areas, you’ll be on your way implementing a great mobility strategy. Of course, some teams need some help and we’re here to lend you our expertise of helping thousands get the most from mobility solutions. Don’t keep your team waiting on mobility—you’ll be missing out on productivity and morale boosts. Let’s talk about exploring mobility solutions for your team.
