The research, which was carried out in association with Microsoft, surveyed IT professionals from companies with more than 250 employees. The results show that:
• 85 percent of organisations currently offer a selection of smartphones, notebooks, ultrabook's, tablets and desktops to its employees.
• 95 percent of employees in South Africa use mobile devices when inside the four walls of the office, further highlighting the preference of portable devices for users in the country.
• 61 percent of companies in South Africa utilise tablets for business purposes demonstrating the extent to which this format of a mobile touchscreen device has progressed beyond only being a consumer device.
• Over 38 percent rely on their mobile device as business productivity, connectivity and/or sales tools whilst out of the office to effectively share information with third parties.
• 44 percent rated that processing power is the single most important feature of a smart device.
• Most smart devices are being used for email messaging services (91%) and internet browsing (88%) with office suites being used the least at 38 percent.
"IT departments need to provide employees with a balance between productivity, security, power and portability in order to be able to work efficiently when away from the office. This is a trend that has been reflected globally, as shown by the recent Dell Evolving workforce survey." Chris Buchanan, client solutions lead, Dell Southern and Central Africa.
The survey aimed to identify the types of devices that companies are providing to employees and which devices employees have a preference for. All respondents within the survey were involved in the decision around IT purchases. Respondents were sourced from a range of sectors, including education, technology, finance and engineering.
The results of the survey provided insights into the strong culture of remote working in South Africa, as well as highlighted the requirements of users in the country. From specific features and functions to challenges with devices, the survey identified how innovation and usage in the country is set to transform within the next two years.
Full survey results can be seen at here.
