Canadian business professionals see tremendous value in mobile technology and don’t want to leave work without it.
According to a survey by Ipsos Reid and Microsoft Canada Co., a majority (59 per cent) of professionals believe mobile devices that allow them to connect to information like e-mail when they are away from the office can make them more productive. And 84 per cent of those who use a mobile device for work say this increases their productivity and helps drive company profitability.
In addition, 65 per cent of Canadian professionals find it is necessary in today’s competitive environment to remain connected when out of the office. Together, these statistics illustrate how mobile work is changing, from a simple information exchange to an extension of business processes and applications, regardless of location. The majority of Canadian professionals also expect more from their mobile devices, indicating that applications need to go beyond basic email functionality.
The online poll of 1, 155 Canadian professionals across the country was conducted in February by Ipsos Reid. For the purposes of this study, professionals were defined as those employed in work environment where computer access and e-mail are relevant and active components of their job.
The survey also showed:
— 61 per cent of Canadian professionals feel access to their organization’s information or business processes, such as company customer information software, or specific client files, would better enable them to make better or more informed business decisions;
— Over 60 per cent of Canadian professionals feel their ideal mobile device should be able to go beyond basic e-mail functionality and allow mobile workers to review and edit documents, connect to corporate intranet websites, surf the Web and make conference calls;
— Nine in 10 Canadian professionals would like the opportunity to work from home and still be connected to information like e-mail;
— Remaining connected is a concern, as 28 per cent of Canadian professionals always think of checking their e-mail when out of the office;
— 71 per cent of Canadian professionals would like the ability to check email, customer data and listen to MP3s with their mobile device;