Mobile is a Lifestyle, not a Technology

With an increasing number of companies investing in deployment and management of enterprise mobility than ever before, it’s no surprise it’s one of the hottest trends in today’s business landscape. Remote work is fast becoming mainstream, as flexible hours and work locations allow employees to work more efficiently and accomplish more. Our teams are accessing data, meeting deadlines, servicing clients, solving problems, and moving business forward, while collaborating with their colleagues from wherever they are located. Powered by the Cloud and devices with super computing power that fit in our pockets, the workforce is more capable than ever of being mobile. But is mobile simply about technology? No. Mobile is a lifestyle. Let me explain why I think so.

The World is Getting Smarter

We have entered the era of a new type of workforce. The Millennials, a generation born in the 1980s and the first true natives of our high-tech world, are beginning to make an impact. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Millennials will make up nearly 75 percent of the workforce by 2030. We are witnessing an influx of hyper-connected employees, many who are online for most of their waking hours. In fact, the tech love of this generation and their lofty expectations of connectedness have in part spurred the revolution of “Internet of Things (IoT).” It’s interesting to note that the Millennial’s affinity towards technology isn’t cultivated or acquired; it comes naturally to this generation who grew up immersed in technology.

These lines from Experian’s Millennials Come of Age report capture the essence of Millennial behavior almost perfectly: “While the rest of adults see smartphones and the Internet as revolutionary, for Millennials, they’re just part of the natural order of things.”

Innovation is the new Focus

Business has always been focused on generating revenue, but no longer is making money the only goal. Blindly following successful business models doesn’t cut it anymore. Following the well-beaten path to success is a thing of past, as we see innovation cutting new pathways for us. Businesses that are broadening their focus to maximize their employees’ potential and productivity, as well as building and embracing a culture of innovation and change, will find themselves well-suited to this new work world. Mobility opens doors to flexibility and the freedom to do more. When employees are not tethered to their desks, when they are treated like trusted adults instead of clock punchers, they tend to be more passionate about their work and more dedicated to your brand and business.

Mobility is Permeating the Workforce             

The mobility trend isn’t limited to Millennials. While it’s spreading fast as they become a larger part of the workforce, Baby Boomers are working side-by-side with Millennials and either trying to adapt to this new environment, or they are already active tech users themselves, and quietly applauding these Millennials who are pushing for the kinds of workplace change that will benefit them also.

As mobile becomes a key to defining how we work, it ceases to be just a technology. In fact, it has really become part of a new iteration of work-life balance, one that, because of the mainstreaming of digital technology, actually reduces the stressors of juggling work and family. Mobility can create an almost ideal work environment for all employees, irrespective of their generation. It’s exciting to think that we are rapidly advancing towards this ideal.

Have you embraced mobility as part of your lifestyle? In what ways has it made work more ideal? I’d love to hear about your experience.  

This post was brought to you by IBM for Midsize Business and opinions are my own. To read more on this topic, visit IBM’s Midsize Insider. Dedicated to providing businesses with expertise, solutions and tools that are specific to small and midsized companies, the Midsize Business program provides businesses with the materials and knowledge they need to become engines of a smarter planet.

Image: Creative Commons

Daniel Newman

Daniel Newman is the Principal Analyst of Futurum Research and the CEO of Broadsuite Media Group. Living his life at the intersection of people and technology, Daniel works with the world’s largest technology brands exploring Digital Transformation and how it is influencing the enterprise. From Big Data to IoT to Cloud Computing, Newman makes the connections between business, people and tech that are required for companies to benefit most from their technology projects, which leads to his ideas regularly being cited in CIO.Com, CIO Review and hundreds of other sites across the world. A 5x Best Selling Author including his most recent “Building Dragons: Digital Transformation in the Experience Economy,” Daniel is also a Forbes, Entrepreneur and Huffington Post Contributor. MBA and Graduate Adjunct Professor, Daniel Newman is a Chicago Native and his speaking takes him around the world each year as he shares his vision of the role technology will play in our future.