We all want our employees to work in a place they enjoy. Yet millions of people are being asked to work with one hand tied behind their back. Well, not literally. No-one could work like that. But is that so different from giving someone a certain kind of hardware, or telling them only to use a certain type of software? That’s exactly what’s going on up and down the country when workforces are issued with standard IT equipment.
The old adage is that a poor workman blames his tools, but that’s something that’s really falling out of fashion. Wouldn’t it be better if employers could provide the tools employees most want to work with? It’s a view that’s growing in popularity, especially as the line between consumer devices and devices for work continues to blur.
In research we carried out with 5,000 businesses, 16 per cent said they had already introduced schemes that allowed staff to work in a way that best suited them. A further 20 per cent said they’re looking to roll them out this year. It stands to reason that if people are using a certain kind of tablet at home, then wouldn’t it be wise to use their familiarity with the device to carry out work as well – for one thing, people wouldn’t need to be trained up on new hardware all the time.
We’re fully aware it’s impossible to provide everyone with exactly what they need all the time. The cost would be astronomical. But there’s a middle ground such as ‘buy-your-own device’ schemes. This is a cost-saving tactic which allows employees to choose their own work devices which the company puts up part of the cash for.
We realise this can create an issue around security, accessing work networks or backing up documents. That’s why we embed specialists with customers where needed and have helpdesks dotted across the country. By working closely with service providers, businesses can ensure personal devices can be used without worrying about the fuss. It’s that insight, relationship and familiarity with the challenges customers face that we feel makes us closer to our customers than BT.
Technology has come on leaps and bounds, you can even email from the London Underground. The days of standard computers, having your hand tied behind your back, using one software package, are well on the way to coming to an end.
