Working on the move
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The number of employees in Western Europe that spend at least part of their working day on the move is set to increase to more than 80 million, close on half of the total workforce, by 2007, says a new survey carried out by IDC on behalf of communications provider, Orange.
The number of employees in Western Europe that spend at least part of their working day on the move is set to increase to more than 80 million, close on half of the total workforce, by 2007, says a new survey carried out by IDC on behalf of communications provider, Orange.
The biggest increase in mobile working practices is expected to be seen at small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). According to IDC, the number of SMEs using mobile data solutions in Western Europe will increase from 2% to 20% in 2007. To start with, most of those companies will primarily embrace simple mobile data services, such as WAP and mobile information services. However, IDC also expects the number of companies using integrated mobile data solutions, such as email, ERP and CRM, to increase from 2% to 20% during the period 2002 to 2007.
Lars Vestergaard, research manager for European Wireless and Mobile Communications at IDC, said: "We believe that the time for implementing mobile solutions has never looked better, as all the prerequisites for mobile working now exist. Depending on the circumstances and needs, varying mobile solution offerings will deliver a range of tangible benefits from saved time to increased productivity and revenue, as well as the less tangible benefits such as positive customer perceptions and increased job satisfaction."
