The business landscape has changed over the last decade, and employees want and need to be more accessible – with the number of remote users growing every day, it seems only natural to migrate toward a climate where workers can enjoy the benefits of being able to manage voice mail, email, and access to company networks all with a single device. Yes, I’m talking about CYOD (Choose Your Own Device). Organizations with this policy enable employees to be more flexible throughout the workday and ultimately more satisfied and empowered.
So how about managing inventory or order picking in the warehouse or improving the productivity of work cells on the manufacturing floor? We could say that the ability to choose a device that suits our job function enables us to be more productive, more motivated, and more efficient … right? Exactly. We’re talking about smartphones like Honeywell’s Dolphin™ 70e Black that can scan bar codes and iPads that can retrieve data on inventory and order status. It’s genius!
If it looks like a consumer device, and acts like an industrial device, and if it’s got the features and functionality you need but doesn’t cost more over time, then why not go for it? A smartphone, like Honeywell’s Dolphin 70e Black, fits the bill completely. This device can scan bar codes as quickly and accurately as any of their other mobile devices, was designed with the same durability that you’ve come to expect from the Dolphin family, and the price point is right on target. It fits in your pocket, you can talk into it, and check your email – life is good AND the job is getting done faster and more productively than ever before.
Hold on, IT, I know what you’re thinking: “This is a security nightmare!” Admittedly, it does present some challenges – but it doesn’t necessarily preclude organizations from empowering employees who prefer a consumer device to perform their work functions. Having a solid infrastructure and a strongly supported set of access rules will enable ease of use without overextending IT resources. Partnering with a knowledgeable resource (like us!) can help you understand ways to alleviate the bottlenecks and create a solution that works best for your business.
A CYOD policy isn’t just for the employees; management and IT benefit as well. A few of the benefits include:
- The ability to deploy the chosen device based on a defined process that can be managed automatically (referred to as “automated provisioning”)
- Increased control and access when on the company’s network
- Controlled (and in many cases reduced) operating expense associated with the use of newer technology and provisioning
- Utilization of the same access control as other company-approved devices
I may be oversimplifying this a bit, but when it comes down to it, it’s a manageable and cost-effective way to do more with less. If you’re still not convinced, here are a few suggestions on how to make sure the deployment of CYOD is safe and secure:
- Establish Your Plan Do your research! Have a solid understanding of the devices that would work best in your environment, and more importantly, which ones can be easily integrated.
- Build a Strategy Treat this the same way you would with a business plan. Include a list of all of the possible devices, the type of information that is accessible to employees and how the two shall meet. Consumer devices should be treated the same way you would manage any other IT device connected to your network.
- Create Policy Eliminate confusion and guesswork by coming up with guidelines defining how your organization’s information can be used and on what devices. A zero-tolerance policy will establish your position and drive home the importance of following rules.
- Educate your workers Hold training sessions for employees so they can learn how to get the most out of their device without compromising the organization due to inadvertent errors. Make sure they understand the risks involved and how where to go to get help.
If you’re interested in learning how to increase worker productivity, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction, contact L-Tron for more information on safe and effective ways to employ a CYOD policy within your organization.