Insights
How tackling mobile working challenges can enrich your organisation’s digital culture
Authors
Jessica O'Connor
B2B Product Director
Yiannis Niarchos
Mobile Devices
Product Manager
6 minutes
16th October 2024
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A strong digital culture has the potential to deliver significant benefits to your workforce, your customers and your operational performance.
Ensuring your people are connected and set up to be productive wherever they are will set your organisation up for success.
The option of mobile working boosts staff satisfaction and retention and attracts the best talent. And well implemented mobility solutions increase workplace flexibility, keep your employees better connected and open up more efficient ways of working.
But risks of security breaches and connection failures put many employers off from investing in untested options.
How can you increase the mobility of your teams while maintaining the highest levels of data security? What steps can you take towards a greener solution when your tech needs updating or replacing? How can you ensure that employees will be able to use new devices effectively straight out the box?
And with so many complex considerations, how can you find the right solution for your organisation?
Understand the needs of your team
More than ever, organisations and their customers expect seamless service and strong connectivity that allows for uninterrupted operations.
Like consumers, UK workers expect to ‘plug and play’ any connected device with a SIM so they can quickly access the apps or services they need to deliver work effectively.
But employees will have diverse needs depending on role type and employers will have concerns about cyber security, sustainability and cost.
So, understanding your employees’ levels of digital confidence, skills, intensity of use and sector-specific requirements is the first step to getting mobility right.
Where some organisations will be setting their employees up with mobile devices to communicate on the go, others will be more concerned with ensuring their data sharing is safe and secure from devices across the office and home.
Organisations with large field forces, such as the police and emergency services, will need durable devices, device protection and strong mobile connectivity to allow their workforce to operate effectively in the community and in real-time rapidly developing situations.
With many police officers complaining of cumbersome or ill-suited technology and outdated systems, the forces that invest in improving technology for officers on the move see real benefits.
“Officers can do everything they used to do in the police station or in their offices (whilst) on their beat, in their vehicles, without returning to police stations.”
Peter Goodman - Chief Constable, Derbyshire Constabulary
Finding the right mobile solution goes beyond the specific devices that your staff use.
To fully meet the needs of your organisation you’ll need to consider role type personas, the right airtime plan, the level of logistical support you want to access and what kind of financing options you need. The right combination can be a powerful tool for creating a streamlined digital culture.
It will also help you keep up to date with the latest innovations impacting ways of working. With AI providing users with 24/7 availability, personalised experiences and cost savings, you’ll need to ensure that you are equipped with the right technology to meet rising customer expectations.
For example, iOS 18 software which launched 16 September 2024 no longer supports the first generation iPhone SE (pre 2020). Public sector organisations are obliged to use the latest software to comply with security regulations, meaning many have had to upgrade their devices to stay compliant.
Think about solutions holistically, and as part of wider business decision making, to identify mobile solutions that work with the specific needs of your workforce.
By addressing the specific needs of your employees, you’ll be able to deliver more for your customers and meet their ever-growing expectations for seamless experiences.
“It’s all about removing friction from the employee experience. That’s how we become more efficient, happier and better set up to deliver great customer service.”
Nigel Watson - CIO, Northumbrian Water Group
Strengthen your data security in and out the office
With the increase in workforce mobility there are understandably concerns about how to maintain data security and keep confidential information private. The set up and maintenance of a secure mobile solution can place a huge burden on a company’s IT staff.
Large organisations like our customer British Sugar often need to co-ordinate effectively and securely across multiple locations.
We set up a secure multi-site private network for them, the first of its kind in the UK. The sites used to be monitored and managed via a central control room, but our private network means staff and managers can now take the control room with them and access it via mobile devices to get real-time updates on what’s happening across all four sites.
“Previously we needed someone in the control room and someone who could walk around the site. Now we have one person who can walk around the site with the control room in their hands.”
Paul Hitchcock - Head of Engineering & Technology, British Sugar
Contribute to the circular economy
There’s increasing demand for solutions that will support sustainability goals, with many businesses opting for like-new, used and refurbished devices.
Aside from the significant cost savings that companies can make by opting for these services, customer buying decisions are influenced by an organisation’s green credentials.
Considered device management is key to driving down costs and delivering on green objectives. Increasingly we’re seeing the environmental impact being a key consideration and customers looking for options to reduce their carbon footprint.
We offer solutions like O2 Recycle for Business and our Tech Donation Programme to help reduce the environmental impact of implementing new mobile solutions. And fully managed services like our MLS (Managed Logistics Service) prepare the device for the best out-of-the-box customer experience.
Our Device-as-a-Service solution includes this managed service, meaning you get devices set up and ready to go out of the box, as well as finance options to lease the latest tech.
The power of partnership
Landing on the right solution for your business is much easier when you have good relationships with digital partners who can advise the best product and service for your needs.
These relationships will only become more important as A I makes a wider impact across the workforce. For example, Apple’s recently introduced Apple Intelligence will make its latest suite of devices more powerful and intelligent with new data management and writing features.
Getting the most out of new features like this doesn’t just mean being up to date with the latest developments. It’s about working with partners who have the native expertise of these platforms - they can help your employees get the value out of them from day one, so your investments go further.
The strength of our partnerships with some of the world’s leading technology suppliers such as Apple, Samsung and Google, means we can help advise you on how to get the most out of your devices, whatever your operating system preferences. We also host regular Customer Innovation Forums to explore the future of work with industry experts. So, when it comes to building a digital culture that works for you, our expert advice can make all the difference.
Want to find out more about mobility solutions for your organisation?
Explore more insights in our Digital Culture Insider series
To speak to one of the team
call 0800 064 3790
