The current trend in organizations is to allow employee-owned smartphones to be connected to corporate infrastructure. But what are the benefits and obstacles to apply such a model for user's laptops?
Employee-owned smartphones model is growing because:
- Smartphones life-cycle is extremely small (less than 2years), so assets fail to depreciate.
- State of the art technology desire is moved from IT to the employee.
- Central policy and encryption to these devices can be applied.
Also, a very popular model is to fund a base amount and employees pay (and therefore own) any additional fee for every mobile device they choose.
But how about organizations, instead of purchasing laptops, have their employees to own them?
Employees are granted an amount for every period of 2 or 3 years (amount varies for different positions and levels). They are allowed to choose only from a specific list of products and suppliers (agreed prices). Users can acquire any "dream" model but they have to pay the difference or can stay to the base model. Hardware belongs to employees, but usage of it subjects to corporate policy.
All reasons mentioned for smartphones fully apply. In simple words, less effort for IT, more happy users and an excited CFO.
