APAC firms vexed by employee demand for multi-platform environment
Asia-Pacific companies are finding it tough to keep up with employee IT demands, with 53 percent acknowledging the need for better remote IT tools to support their mobile workforce.
Just 40 percent said their IT team provided employees with the latest devices and technology needed to obtain the company's business objectives, according to a Forrester Consulting survey commissioned by Dell. The study polled 327 IT and business decision-makers from 10 Asia-Pacific markets including Singapore, China, India, Japan, and Australia.
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Some 61 percent believed their company's existing technology deployments were adequate in meeting their business goals, but only 32 percent said they were able to customise software and configure PCs to fit the needs of individuals or teams within the organisation.
Employee demand for multiple operating systems, devices, and applications also was described a major security headache for 71 percent of respondents. Only 43 percent said their organisation had implemented a remote device management security system.
Some 54 percent acknowledged that stronger security would improve employee productivity, with 63 percent pointing to new PCs as more secured than older hardware systems.
Niloy Mukherjee, Dell's Asia-Pacific Japan vice president of client solutions product marketing, said: "We are witnessing the digital-first mindset of customers permeate the workplace and this requires IT and business leaders to embark on a workforce transformation strategy, and provide employees with the devices and software that enhance their efficiency.
"Organisations will need to find a balance between managing budgetary constraints, delivering efficient IT support, and enabling enhanced productivity and workforce experience," Mukherjee said.
The study further noted the need for businesses to better understand employee expectations and requirements. Some 52 percent of respondents said they conducted periodic passive audits to assess employee experience, while 34 percent tapped monitoring tools and 20 percent ran surveys.