BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-A pair of studies conducted by Avaya Inc. and the BPM Forum found that businesses worldwide are struggling to keep up with the needs of expanding mobile and remote workforces.
The studies determined that the mobile workforce in the United States will reach 103 million by 2008, and by 2009, the worldwide mobile workforce will reach more than 878 million. According to the studies, this rapid growth has created an information technology crisis for many companies that are trying to adapt their technology and support infrastructures to meet a new set of demands.
Avaya and the BPM Forum said they spoke with C-level executives to provide views into the challenges of corporate mobility, including the growing pressures facing I.T. departments, costly business disruptions and missed communications employees still experience when away from the office. The studies also concluded that growing security vulnerabilities, increasingly complex mobile applications and demands for around-the-clock support are challenging companies worldwide. To cope with the problems, the studies found that I.T. departments are turning to automated systems, renewed I.T. training and outsourcing.
Other findings of the studies include:
Nearly three-fourths of all respondents predict an increase of remote workers at their business.
84 percent of executives report growing demands on their I.T. organizations to support remote and mobile devices.
40 percent of those surveyed say their companies suffered business disruptions because of ineffective support.
More than half of end users surveyed missed important business meetings, customer inquiries or business leads due to missed communications.
More than one-third said missed communications directly resulted in lost revenues or additional expenses.
Two-thirds of the respondents carry more than one mobile device every day, but most routinely pick up messages late at night, because people can’t reach them in a timely manner.
