Who says tablets and smartphones are just shiny, distracting toys? According to the latest CDW IT Monitor, nearly three-quarters of the IT decision-makers surveyed thought that the use of tablets and smartphones has led to an increase in productivity within their organization, with 25 percent saying it improve productivity significantly . Half of all IT decision-makers felt that the use of tablets and smartphones has led to cost savings in their organization and among large businesses, 64 percent of IT decision-makers reported that consumer technology adoption has led to cost savings.
Use of tablets and smartphones in the workplace continues to gain traction, according to the report. Although larger enterprises are most likely to adopt these technologies (62 percent), nearly half of small businesses reported tablet use (47 percent), and among those not currently using tablets, 31 percent said they plan to do so in the next six months.
Overall, the Apple iOS operating system (OS) is most preferred OS with 61 percent of IT decision-makers choosing it. Google’s open source Android operating system (24 percent) and Research in Motion’s (RIM) Blackberry Tablet OS (9 percent) followed as distant second and third preferences. The most common use for tablets was for sales or sales representatives (48 percent), replacing printed materials (36 percent) and workgroup collaboration (32 percent).
“Tablet computer data uncovered in the latest IT Monitor proves that tablets and other consumer technologies certainly have their place in the work environment,” Neal Campbell, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for CDW said in a statement. “As more organizations allow tablet computers and smartphones in the workplace, it will be important for IT decision-makers to ensure the technology can truly improve productivity, be integrated into their IT infrastructure, and be protected through IT security solutions.”
The report indicated the IT solutions spending outlook remained steady overall, with the information technology industry most optimistic about IT budget increases in the next six months (59 percent), followed by the healthcare industry (53 percent). When it comes to hiring, the IT and healthcare industries were most optimistic about their six-month staffing outlook, projecting six and seven point increases in hiring, respectively.
To read the original eWeek article, click here: Tablet, Smartphone Use Increasing Worker Productivity: CDW
