What’s The Deal With BYOD?

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One of the terms you are probably hearing about lately is BYOD. For those that are wondering what BYOD is, it is a term that is used by businesses of various sizes. The letters actually stand for “bring your own device.” In other words, people are encouraged to bring their own devices to use for work-related purposes. Until recently, it was common for businesses to supply the equipment for people to do their work. However, the demands and rapid advancements in technology has put a lot of pressure on businesses. As a result, more businesses have started adopting the BYOD approach.

The Advantages of BYOD

There are a few advantages to BYOD which makes business owners want to adopt this workplace practice. Among the advantages of BYOD are up-to-date devices, lower expenses, more productivity, lower stress for IT workers, and increased workplace engagement.

One of the greatest benefits to BYOD policies are increased worker satisfaction. BYOD allows employees to experience greater flexibility. A lot of employees believe that they need flexibility in order to be happy with their job. With company-issued devices, a lot of flexibility is taken away. Employees that use their own devices are often more portable than those who do not, able to take their work with them wherever they go. This improves the ability of employees to connect with each other on-site and off-site. When employees are allowed to choose their devices, they are less likely to fall behind. They are also less likely to take days off. Additionally, BYOD works well for people who participate in coworking spaces for a variety of reasons, as well as workers who desire to work remotely. These are just a few of the many advantages that have caused a lot of businesses to adopt the model of BYOD.

How This Affects The Company as a Whole

When people use their own devices, they are more comfortable with their work environment. They also are likely to have the latest device, which enables them to get work done at the fastest rate. In some cases, company-supplied devices can actually hinder productivity to an extent, because these devices may not be as advanced as devices which employees have, or because employees must take time to get accustomed to using different devices with alternate features and capabilities. When employees supply their own devices, the company is able to put the money they would have spent on new tech in other areas. Also, the increased productivity that comes with a BYOD approach can increase the amount of money the business makes.

The Disadvantages of BYOD

Despite all of the pros of BYOD, there are a few cons to consider, too. Among the disadvantages of BYOD are security concerns, difficulties with software on the premises, and the need for IT support for many different devices. There are a lot of practical concerns when it comes to the devices used for BYOB. For example, as many IT professionals will point out, it’s hard to set up guest printing for BYOD in an efficient manner if the employer doesn’t think much about it, leading to a lot of frustration for everyone involved. Also, there is the matter of IT security. For BYOD companies, there has to be a lot of thought about what to do with data that is on the device. Employees who use their own devices for work must be extra vigilant to protect their devices’ data.

As with any other innovative decision, there are pros and cons to BYOD. However, many businesses are finding that the benefits of BYOD are more than worth giving it a try. A lot of businesses see that they can get a lot more accomplished with BYOD. The cons of BYOD can be worked around with a good plan from the business.

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