Wherever and whenever they are working, employees are using multiple devices, rather than just one to get their jobs done.
That's one of the biggest findings from a study by Dell and Intel - the Global Evolving Workforce Study - which identifies and explores current and future trends pertaining to the workplace and workforce, and the role technology has played in their evolution.
The research surveyed almost 5 000 employees of small, medium and large organisations in 12 countries.
Of those who use desktops, more than half also use another device; and those who use either a tablet or 2-in-1 laptop for work only use these in conjunction with other devices. However, tablet and 2-in-1 adoption is growing, with the highest use among executives and in emerging markets, the study found.
It also emerged performance tops the list of what employees want in their work device, with 81% stating it as either the first or second most important attribute.
Location of work also has an impact on the devices used, the research discovered, with 62% of employees considering the desktop PC as their primary business device while at work, with the highest use in financial services, public healthcare and government, but when doing work at home, laptops are used as frequently as desktops.
For personal purposes, employees are switching to more mobile forms of technology where laptop, tablet and 2-in-1 usage is higher than when working in the office.
"As the research shows, now, more than ever, the 'office' isn't defined by a desk within an employer's walls," says Steve Lalla, vice-president and general manager of Cloud Client Computing at Dell.
"With constant connectivity blurring the lines between professional and personal lives and devices, its essential employees have access to data when at the office, at home and on the road, so they can stay productive, and IT secures and manages the data wherever it goes," he adds.
Lalla notes as employees conduct work in different locations, the office is still the primary place of work.
According to the study, 97% of employees spend at least some time in their employer's office. On average, employees in developed markets are spending 32 hours per week in the office, compared to 26 hours for employees in emerging markets.
Thirty-five percent of employees globally indicate they work in public places on average two hours per week. Employees average four hours per week working at an external location, such as a client's office, and another five hours per week working from home, compared with 29 hours per week working in the office.
Perceptions of at-home workers are shifting as 52% of employees surveyed believe those working from home are just as productive as those in the office, or even more so. As innovations in technology continue to advance, Dell says people have increasing flexibility to choose when and where they meet their professional obligations.
Some 64% of employees globally conduct at least some business at home after business hours. Employees in emerging countries are increasingly expected to be accessible at home, with 83% indicating they check work e-mail after hours, compared to 42% in developed markets, the study found.
Share