Smartphones have become a huge phenomenon with an estimated 42.4 million smartphone users in the UK. In January 2017, the Labour Force Survey found that there were 31.85 million people in employment. When there are 10.55 million more smartphones per user than there are employees in the UK, it becomes that smartphones have changed the way we go about our everyday lives, both in business and pleasure.
It seems that the younger generation are the most influenced. Growing up with the technology, research has suggested that seven out of ten 18 to 24 year olds check their phones in the middle of the night. This post-digital generation are likely to shape the way smartphones are incorporated into working practices in the future.
Office copier supplier, United Carlton have investigated how the technology could in fact benefit your company’s productivity in the workplace.
What are the employer’s attitudes?
Although majority of employers will most likely own a smartphone themselves, their attitudes towards using them in the workplace isn’t positive. In most cases, smartphones are seen as a distraction that has the potential to reduce productivity.
Despite their attitudes, they refrain from inflicting mobile phone policies to avoid confliction with their employees. However, a simple way to counteract this, they suggested that employers should simply show them the math and staff are likely to co-operate because they don’t want to see the company go under or lose their job.’
The negative attitudes may stem from employers themselves as they are preoccupied in working practices by smartphones; however, they don’t yet realise the productivity benefits that a younger generation of smartphone users can accrue for business.
‘Bring your own device’ culture
Introducing the BYOD culture into the workplace could boost productivity throughout the company. If employees are connected to a wireless internet network, they can complete tasks in ways that do not limit them to sitting at a desk or having to be in the office.
According to a study conducted by Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group you can also save time by encouraging the BYOD user. The study claimed that ‘the average BYOD user across countries saves 37 minutes per week thanks to using their own device.’ This is because these users are working on the go and between ‘dead-times’ in the office when they aren’t stationed at a computer.
Contrary to popular belief, this suggests that globally, smart devices can aid rather than detract from productivity saving efficiencies. Furthermore, if smart device users can implement their own technologies into their working practices, then they are more likely to take work home with them – as these employees are working an extra two hours every day and sending 20 more emails every day
Whilst employers are strong with their attitudes towards smartphone usage in the workplace, it seems it might be worth their while if they trial it out with their employees. If companies were willing to incorporate a BYOD culture, then they may see what some research validates as being a 16% boost in productivity over a 40-hour week, a 23% rise in job satisfaction and a 21% rise in company loyalty. If businesses aren’t willing to incorporate change into outdated processes, then perhaps these operational efficiencies may not be experienced by many for years to come.
