The benefits of bring your own device (BYOD) have been well documented. On the employer’s side, companies can ensure the latest technology to continually walk through the door.
Employees will upgrade their mobile devices far more often than a company will upgrade its enterprise solution.
Mobile Devices. The greatest benefit is employee satisfaction. Any individual is going to be happier with a device that they chose and have grown comfortable using daily than something that is assigned to them. The biggest drawback is in procuring technology that connects to a number of device types and operating platforms.
Presentation. When employees can connect their device to a screen or projector via wireless distribution, they are automatically familiar with the technology they are using to present. Consider also visitors or business partners that come in to present; they may not be accustomed to your client’s technology but they are well in-tune with their personal device. This might mean a dynamic system in which a device connects to
a display in order to drive content. This content can be manipulated on-screen, annotated, saved and shared.
Collaboration. This takes things a step further in how companies can allow employee devices to interact with enterprise technology. Usually accompanied by a downloadable app, collaboration tech can screen share content over a display and several devices, and then allow that content to be engaged with and reflected across all devices. Several employees can run a presentation together, taking and passing control of the screen as they go.
Audio Conferencing. Dialing in during meetings from a cellphone is not a problem, but there is technology that will securely save the information for dial-ins so employees can connect easily while on the go. Once they reach the office they can switch to their office phone, and then again switch back to their mobile device if they need to be pulled away.
Video Conferencing. Remote employees don’t need expensive equipment to stay in touch, and they can remain on the road. Video capture technology can also serve to save these sessions for later viewing across personal devices.
Network Management. You have to ensure that your client’s network has the bandwidth to support all of these devices. Private clouds may be a solution, but they are expensive to create and even more so to maintain. Public clouds are great also, but security can become an issue. A hybrid solution is often the best bet.
Network Security. With all of these new devices on your network there is more of a threat than ever to the network’s security. Educate and inform end users and employees on the dangers. Regular updates are a must, and employees should never give away password or username information through email. In addition, powerful network security software is available from a number of trustworthy providers.
