Dell survey shows tablets improve workplace productivity

With mobility and virtualization is gaining strong foot in India, the time for change in business implementation has also changed. Today the business approach has changed and the large organizations are in favor of mobile workforce.

According to the Dell survey on International Tablet Survey in 2014 indicated that current implementations of tablets in the workplace are beneficial for businesses increasing mobility and productivity, while getting a favorable reception from employees.

The 2014 international Tablet survey of IT decision makers (ITDMs)in 10 countries was conducted by Harris Polls in summer 2014. The survey was designed to provide insights and feedback of ITDMs on tablet usage in the workplace. Survey results include policies, purchase habits, business impacts and challenges, comparison to other devices, and how well tablets met their expectations.

In India, the survey was conducted with 152 Indian ITDMs belonging to large organizations with a workforce of 999—5000 employees. From the insights garnered, Dell India announced the results for Indian ITDMs and their outlook towards tablet deployment in their organization’s IT policy.

“The workforce in India and across geographical boundaries is transforming as organizations are evolving in terms of how work is being conducted.As businesses and economies become globally integrated, the most pressing need for the employee is to be mobile and therefore accessible, wherever he may be. The Dell 2014 International Tablet survey is an abstraction of this sentiment across ITDMs in several geographies, including India. The study reflects optimism of ITDMs in India it terms of tablet adoption in organizations, which is eventually resulting in increased productivity of employees,” said IndrajitBelgundi, Director & General Manager, End User Computing, Dell India

Survey Highlights

• Tablets are a standard part of the IT offering: At least 9 in 10 ITDMs in all countries report that tablets are a standard part of their company’s IT offering or currently under evaluation, and/or they allow employees to use their own tablet. A large proportion of ITDMs in India (59%) say that it is a standard part of their IT device offering. More than half (57%) allow employees to use tablets purchased with their own money, and at least half  (50%) allow employees to use their own tablets purchased with the help of company funds
• Tablets are being met with favorable inputs from employees:In all countries except India (85%), at least 9 in 10 ITDMswhose company offers tablets as a standard offering received input from other employees in favor of using tablets prior to their company beginning use.In India 56% ITDMs whose company offers tablets as a standard offering received input from other employeesconsistently in favor of tablet adoption. In all countries, majorities of ITDMs in organizations in which tablets are not offered or under evaluation report that they have received employee input in favor of using tablets for work.
• Soliciting employee input: Prior to tablet deployment, a majority of companies in India (57%) solicited employee input regarding what company data should be accessed on the tablets and the operating system to be used.

• Android™ is the most frequently-used operating system globally for tablets;Windows® and iOS™also are widespread: While the use of Windows, iOS and Android is widespread across the countries surveyed, Android™ is the most frequently-named operating system. In India, Android isbeing named by 91% ITDMs; 60% naming Windowsand only 34% naming iOS.

• Tabletadoption has increased productivity: In most countries, a majority of ITDMswho acknowledge that tablet adoption has increased their company’s productivity say it has done so by making it easier to work while traveling, allowing better customer service, providing faster or more convenient access to information while out in the office or in the field, or allowing real-time entry of information to reduce duplicated work. In India, 58%ITDMs estimate at least a 25% increase in productivity, while in the US (60%) andUK (53%¹), majorities place this figure at a 20% increase or more. When asked about ways in which productivity is enhanced, 70%ITDMs in India believed it is easier to work on a tablet while travelling thereby increasing productivity while 66%ITDMs believe tablets provide faster/more convenient access to information while out of the office/in the field
• Tablets are meeting and exceeding expectations:For 9 of the 10 countries – US (61%), UK (59%), India (60%¹), Japan (75%¹), China (77%), Brazil (66%), France (77%), Russia (81%), and South Africa (20 of 32 surveyed) – majorities of ITDMs whose company offers tablets as a standard offering report that tablets have met the expectations their company had for them. In India (60%) majorities of ITDMs report that tablets have met the expectations their company had for them, and exceeded expectations for 36%.
• ITDMs plan to deploy more tablets:In the US (65%), UK (49%), India (69%¹), Japan (52%¹), China (76%), Brazil (67%), France (49%), Russia (65%¹), and South Africa (25 of 32 surveyed¹), majorities or near-majorities of ITDMs whose company offers tablets as a standard offering say that their companies plan to deploy more tablets into their workforce in the future. In India majorities or near-majorities (69%) of ITDMs say that their companies plan to deploy more tablets into their workforce in the future.
• Security is a top concern:Among ITDMs at organizations not currently offering or evaluating the use of tablets, a majority in India (67%) cite data security or other security concerns (eg. loss, theft) as reasons for not deploying tablets. In addition to device loss, a majority of ITDMs in India also consider threats, breaches of company policies, and compliance and regulatory challenges to be a security challenge posed by tablet devices. Among other apprehensions with respect to tablet deployment, 48% Indian ITDMs cite limited productivity, 37% are worried employees will use them for non-work activities, 37% fear risk of loss or damage, 33% believe tablets offer insufficient storage capacity and 27% are apprehensive about IT integration.
• Kinds of applications (apps) intended to be used on company-issued tablets: In India, 79% use email apps on company-issued tablets. 60% use calendar and scheduling apps, 72% for word processing, 62% use messaging apps while 45% use social networking apps.