Your elusive mobility budget solved—How small & mid-sized businesses are making it work

For small and medium-sized businesses today, mobility is a huge step forward in employee empowerment. Managers reported to Forbes an increase 65% in productivity from workers who have a mobile component to their job, and mobile teams see a 95% increase in employee retention—but is your organization investing wisely?

Take a look at how your mobility spend compares.

Does your organization’s mobility budget stack up?

While mobility doesn’t account for a majority of IT spending yet, 7 out of 10 companies (enterprise & SMB) are devoting at least 20% of their IT budget towards mobility in 2016, according to an IDG survey. Another survey, by SMB Group, gives us a clearer picture of SMB spending by breaking it down into 4 areas: applications, security, device management, and consulting.
 

11% spent on applications

Paying for licenses and software accounts for a little over a tenth of the overall IT spend, and that includes mobile applications. Software that is device agnostic and user-friendly will lead to easier management and happier employees.
 

11% spent on mobile management

Mobile management (usually with MDM software) helps organizations understand how their devices are being used, and gives IT a single place where they can manage the data and security of those devices. An MDM is a great investment for organizations working with different mobile platforms simultaneously.
 

10.5% spent on mobile security

Flawed mobile security cost small businesses an average of $126,000 between 2012 and 2013, according to a study, but responsible security, such as effective policies, training, and encryption, all help your staff remain safe while productive outside of the office.
 

8% spent on consulting services

Almost half of small businesses—48%—told Symantec that building a mobility strategy is “somewhat to extremely challenging.” You don’t have to do it alone, this can be a great strategy for partnering with a mobility expert/consultant to find the best fit for your industry and culture, as well as discovering best practices regarding applications, MDM, security, among other needs.
 

Is it paying off?

When your team can shape their own work environment, it’s going to lead to a more positive and efficient team. According to the same Symantec survey, 73% of companies investing in mobility are already reaching predicted efficiency. In Detroit, Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber saved over $500,000 over 5 years, and improved team productivity and collaboration since adopting mobile productivity software.

Is your team asking for ways to be more mobile? As you work to bring them mobility, read up on these 3 key topics that can’t be ignored.