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Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to Track Assets

Technology continues to revolutionize the way companies do business. Nowhere is this seen more than in the devices used by employees to complete their work. Gone are the days of completing work tasks using only the computer provided by an employer. Instead, 70% of users carry three or more devices; with 67% of those using their own personal devices for work. It’s been projected by the research firm, Gartner, that 70% of mobile professionals will complete their work on personal smart devices by 2018. What does this mean for your business – especially with regard to tracking your company’s fixed assets? According to David Willis, vice president and analyst at Gartner, “The benefits of BYOD include creating new mobile workforce opportunities, increasing employee satisfaction, and reducing or avoiding costs.” Device Expectation Consider also the level of employee expectation; users expect to merge both personal and business calls and data to a single device. 78% of employees believe that having a single mobile device – whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, or laptop – helps balance their work and personal lives, and the advances in mobile technology are making that expectation very real. Companies that ignore or fail to provide their employees with the means to use their own personal devices for some work tasks, like answering email, are ignoring the potential benefits of a mobile workforce. How does this expectation factor into managing fixed assets? The answer is very simple – the ability to download an app to a personal device that connects to an existing asset database. These types of work related apps are becoming increasingly popular and assist users by allowing them to address work responsibilities when needed. Instead of manually tracking fixed asset information, whether by pen & paper or an Excel spreadsheet, an app conveniently downloaded to a personal device provides individuals the ability to quickly and accurately record asset information when needed – rather than requiring time be spent completing data entry on a PC while sitting at a desk. Mobile Opportunity Of course, one of the most significant benefits for companies in allowing employees the ability to use personal devices – in this case to track fixed asset details – is the reduction in or avoidance of costs related to the equipment (laptops, phones, tablets, mobile scanning devices) used by staff. Asking employees to set aside technology to which they’ve become accustomed, is asking them to spend excessive amounts of time documenting asset information. All of that time means wasted effort – especially when there are options available for improving the process as a whole. According to the CDW 2012 Small Business Mobility Report, 94% of the mobile device users polled, say using a mobile device for work tasks has made them more efficient. Additionally, BYOD implementation means smaller companies can have a mobile workforce without the huge investment in the initial purchase or the continued cost of maintaining devices. Gartner’s research also found that 38 percent of companies expect to stop providing workplace devices to staff by 2016. The MobileAsset App Give your company and employees the flexibility to manage valuable assets using their personal iOS or Android devices. Investing in an IT asset tracking solution is only the first step in protecting the financial investment you’ve made when purchasing equipment. Manage those assets whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you or your employees by simply purchasing a device license, downloading the app from Google Play or the App Store, and then completing common management tasks, including: asset creation, check-in and out, disposal, and audit. Sync your mobile device data anywhere with a network or cellular connection and update your MobileAsset database whenever you’re away from the PC. Implementing an asset tracking solution means you’re on your way to protecting your fixed assets. Now, you have the opportunity to take the process a step further by allowing employees to use their own personal iOS or Android devices to complete their entire asset tracking tasks – saving them time and saving you money. Watch the Product Tour below to learn more about how MobileAsset can save your business time & money.