The growing adoption of mobile devices and digital transformation is forcing companies to manage increased security risks and maintain a distributed workforce across various industries. As healthcare, transportation and logistics (T&L), and retail companies invest in new technology and devices, the need for better management and efficient workflows becomes essential to remain competitive.
Advancements in IoT, e-commerce, and real-time supply chain visibility have led to rapid growth in the number of devices deployed globally. According to a report by SOTI entitled ‘When Work is Anywhere: Managing Technology’s Role in the Distributed Workforce’, companies have reported increased device deployments globally. Furthermore, businesses across multiple industries have seen a growth in the mix of devices (smartphones, scanners, rugged devices, SaaS applications, etc.) used within their organizations.
With the increasing use of devices and the subsequent growth in data, companies face new security challenges. Over the last year, 42% of global respondents cited the need for better access to devices to control and protect their IT network, while 34% increased their spending on mobile technology security. As devices and data become more widespread, ensuring the security and management of these resources becomes a top priority.
Despite the growing adoption of digital workflows, outdated manual processes still significantly threaten productivity gains. The report found that over the past year, 31% of all manually-enacted workflows were still being done on paper, while 44% were managed via email. This unstructured method is especially concerning in the healthcare sector, where sensitive patient information is involved.
Digital transformation is essential for optimizing workflow management. In the healthcare industry, 61% of organizations manage their workflows manually, with the legal (69%), retail (59%), and education sector (59%). These manual processes expose sensitive data, such as patient and consumer payment information, to potential breaches.
Shash Anand, senior vice president of product strategy at SOTI, emphasized the importance of moving beyond manual processes to modern, secure, and compliant mobile device management. Properly managed mobile devices can boost employee productivity and retention while reducing security risks and incidents.
“Businesses must understand that discarding outdated legacy processes and software to ensure that data and devices are managed securely and follow compliance is crucial in their digital transformation,” added Anand. “Whether it is preventing malware attacks or breaches, addressing employee retention, or enhancing workforce productivity, the robust management of devices and data in an increasingly dispersed operational environment will be key to ensuring ongoing business health and success.”
The digital transformation paradox highlights the need for companies to balance adopting new technology with improved security measures and eliminating outdated processes. By embracing digital transformation and modernizing workflows, companies can enhance operational efficiency and remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Image credit: iStockphoto/Khosrork
