South African workers buy into BYOD - bring your own device

South Africans are more likely to use a smartphone at work than a tablet.

That’s according to a recent survey of 12,000 office workers nationwide by Inspiration Office‚ which also found that local smartphone and tablet users are part of the global BYOD - bring your own device – phenomenon.

The survey‚ which “quizzed South African office workers on their technology preferences in the workplace” found 52% “most needed” a smartphone while 38% opted for tablet.

Inspiration Office MD Richard Andrews said: “The results show how mobile devices are making greater inroads to just about everyone’s working life. Even if people have access to desktops and laptops‚ they spend an hour a day working on their smartphones. We expect this number to climb.”

Andrews also noted that “the survey also showed that when people work on smartphones or tablets‚ 77% prefer to do it away from their desks‚ even if they are still in the office”.

“It’s a habit - people think of smartphones and tablets as mobile tools so they often use them elsewhere. Many of our clients are now setting up more casual areas of chairs‚ couches and mini desks where people can nip away from the desk and work elsewhere for a while‚” he said.

Other findings:

- On operating systems for desktop computers‚ 80% said they preferred Windows‚ while only 11% preferred macOS‚ Apple’s desktop operating system.
- But for laptops‚ 79% chose Windows‚ while 15% preferred macOS.
- On smartphones‚ 41% prefer Apple’s IOS operating system to Google’s Android at 50%; for tablets‚ Apple comes top at 49% compared to Android’s 37%.
- For IT support 35% approached the IT help desk‚ 21% “simply googled the problem”‚ while 13% asked colleagues.

– TMG Digital