Majority of Small Business Owners Believe Mobile Devices are Essential to Stay Competitive

CDW recently published The Mobility Edge: CDW’s 2012 Small Business Report, which found that almost all of small business users (94%) believe their mobile devices make them more efficient, with roughly two-thirds (67%) believing their companies would lose completive ground without those devices.

Additionally, the study found that 89% of employees use personally-owned devices for work, which highlights a serious issue, as only 51% of IT managers report that their company has an effective strategy for securing those additional devices.

Jill Billhorn CDW vice president believes these numbers illuminate the potential for new business and security apps to enter the market; she explains:

“CDW’s report says that small business users consider productivity and business apps on mobile devices to be game changers that make them more efficient and competitive. They want still more apps to help them manage unique aspects of their businesses, and the prospect is for dramatic growth in tablet use. That expanding demand, though, also means growing need for solutions to manage and secure mobile devices, as only a fifth of small business IT managers say their company has deployed or even plans to deploy such a solution.”

About the Study

CDW’s 2012 Small Business Mobility Report includes findings of 742 mobile device users and IT professionals from U.S. small businesses. Those chosen to participate in the survey were part of five key industries that have a high potential to benefit from mobile innovation: food services, manufacturing, professional services and retail.