A survey of IT Decision makers and employees shows that workplaces with inconsistent mobile messaging policy and tools not only limits productivity gains, but also opens the door to privacy, compliance and security risks
CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2019released today by NetSfere, a secure enterprise messaging platform created by global mobility solutions provider Infinite Convergence, in conjunction with 451 Research, a leading information technology research and advisory company focusing on technology innovation and market disruption, found that flexibility in the workplace requires a mobile first, messaging first communications strategy to optimize productivity.
The study found that nearly half of both employees and IT decision makers surveyed believe they stand to gain six or more hours a week as a direct result of using their smartphones for business communication which is predominantly for messaging and collaboration. However, the right technology is needed, otherwise organizations set themselves up for fragmented collaboration and security risks.
"While IT decision makers and employees agree that productivity increases when smartphones are used for messaging and collaboration, consumer messaging apps are still primarily used," said Raul Castanon-Martinez, Senior Analyst - Workforce Collaboration, 451 Research. "Whether they realize it or not, many organizations are playing with fire because they aren't taking a comprehensive approach to business communication, mobile messaging and collaboration strategy."
Otherkey findings from the report include:
- Employees rely heavily on their smartphones and messaging for business communications; 64 percent of employees use their smartphones several times a day for work purposes
- Mobile messaging is the preferred way to communicate among Millennials, but this trend is extending to all age groups
- Mobile first is key for user adoption, with the majority of respondents showing a strong preference for mobile-first applications
- Security, compliance and productivity are key priorities for IT decision makers when it comes to business communications
- 80 percent of IT decision makers consider it 'very important' that their messaging tools be optimized for mobile-specific working
"It is clear that productivity gains delivered by mobile-first communication platforms, combined with instantaneous nature of messaging are huge, but they should be made available to employees without compromising the enterprise IT environment whether its security, compliance or reliability," said Anurag Lal, CEO and President of Infinite Convergence Solutions. "If the enterprise fails to do this, employees will turn to consumer-grade apps that will limit productivity gains and put sensitive business information out in the public domain."
IT decision makers are taking steps in the right direction, but more can be done
Security and productivity are key priorities for IT decision-makers when it comes to business communications. Nearly half of those surveyed noted that their organizations have a significant number of employees constantly traveling or working remotely, resulting in the need for secure messaging tools and digital workspaces. IT leaders are prioritizing scalability, security and productivity, while integrating consumer-driven innovations like video calling into corporate-issued collaboration platforms.
While the study found that IT decision makers understand what their organizations need for messaging and collaboration, it did identify several gaps in providing the right technologies for the modern work environment. Organizations still tend to address mobility as an added feature, rather than a mission-critical capability. Low adoption of corporate-issued messaging and collaboration platforms is proof, with 75 percent of employees stating that they use SMS for business purposes on a daily basis.
"The slow adoption of most corporate-issued collaboration platforms and the lack of support for secure mobile messaging should be a wakeup call to business leaders that they need to view mobile-first as their primary employee communication and collaboration channel," said Lal. "While mobile communication improves productivity, consumer-grade apps result in fragmented collaboration, a limited role for IT and poses security risks to a business."
For more information about the study, please visit the website.
About NetSfere
NetSfere is a secure enterprise messaging service from Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc. NetSfere provides industry-leading security and message delivery capabilities, including global cloud-based service availability, device-to-device encryption, location-based features and administrative controls. The service leverages Infinite Convergence's experience in delivering mobility solutions to tier 1 mobile operators globally and technology that supports more than 400 million subscribers and over a trillion messages on an annual basis. NetSfere is also compliant with regulatory requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
About Infinite Convergence Solutions
Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc.provides next-generation messaging and mobility solutions to carriers and enterprises globally, including an Enterprise Messaging Services suite, secure messaging through its standalone service NetSfere (www.netsfere.com) and SMS, MMS and RCS solutions. The company's technology supports more than 400 million subscribers and over a trillion messages on an annual basis. Infinite Convergence Solutions has offices in the United States, Germany, India and Singapore.
About 451 Research
451 Research is a leading information technology research and advisory company focusing on technology innovation and market disruption. More than 100 analysts and consultants provide essential insight to more than 1,000 client organizations globally through a combination of syndicated research and data, advisory and go-to-market services, and live events. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, 451 Research is a division of The 451 Group.
Contact
Colette McLaughlin
Uproar PR for Infinite Convergence
cmclaughlin@uproarpr.com
312-878-4575 x240
