The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and enterprise mobility trend continue to become the standard across businesses in the UAE, with working professionals reaping the benefits associated with a more mobile workplace, according to a report.

 

The Citrix research study, titled 'The BYOD phenomenon: harnessing the disruptive influence of mobility,' detailed the impact of enterprise mobility in the UAE workplace, in partnership with IPOS, to determine the adoption of and attitude towards, mobile and flexible working in the UAE.

 

​The survey polled both employees and senior IT decision makers who were asked about the advantages and challenges associated with implementing mobile workplace initiatives. 

 

It also shed light on the importance of mobility for companies and its perceived impact for improving flexibility, productivity and agility.

 

About 83 per cent of employees in the UAE have already harnessed remote working in some form and believe that it leads to greater job satisfaction, a reduction in commuting hours and allows for a better work-life balance, according to key study findings.

 

However, with 45 per cent of companies offering just partial mobility solutions, the data is also indicative of the increasing need for businesses to move to a complete mobile working environment where employees have seamless, secure access to data and applications, at any time, on any device and any network.

 

About 82 per cent of the employees surveyed preferred working remotely as it allows for greater family commitment, while 80 per cent of employees feel mobility positively impacts their health.

 

The employees also felt working remotely from anywhere and on any device, they could add an average of 2.4 hours to their work day if mobile, while commuting was a big factor for the respondents.

 

A key stimulant for the growth of mobile workplace solutions in the UAE has been due to the adoption of mobile devices. 

 

The UAE boasts nearly 200 per cent mobile penetration and 74 per cent smartphone penetration rates, ranking it number one globally for the latter, according to a statement.

 

As an increasing number of businesses in the UAE recognise that their employees are making independent choices about the technology they use in the workplace, IT managers need to deploy best practices and internal recommendations to safeguard company assets, it said.

 

​While 75 per cent of IT decision makers surveyed are adopting enterprise mobility solutions in the UAE in some capacity, 25 per cent of organisations are at the start of their mobility transformation journey and are still deliberating whether employees should be encouraged to work remotely. 

 

IT decision makers’ topped three perceptions on working remotely are; ability to execute tasks quicker (71 per cent), greater flexibility to meet customer needs (63 per cent) and improves business continuity (62 per cent).

 

​The research also outlined that the number one concern for IT departments restricting mobile workspace solutions was due to security fears, with 44 per cent of IT decision makers citing security as the top reason, followed by cost and investment.

 

Johnny Karam, regional vice president, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Citrix, said: “The UAE has become a cosmopolitan society in such a short period of time, where the work culture in the region has evolved to become competitive, fast-paced and demanding. In this evolving work environment, businesses in the country, must look very closely at the provisions they make for flexible working. 

 

"This study indicates that firms who fail to respond, will fall behind their more forward-thinking competitors. They will also lose out in recruiting and retaining the best staff as today’s generation of tech-savvy ‘digital natives’ increasingly become intolerant of poor technology access at work.”

 

“At Citrix, our goal is to help companies transform their business with mobile workspace technologies and by giving employees the freedom to work the way they want – anywhere, on any device in a secure manner. Businesses will not only operate successfully as indicated by this study, but will also have a more productive and content workforce,” added Karam. - TradeArabia News Service