According to a new study published by IDC Energy Insights, 40% of EMEA utilities expect to increase their workforces' mobility over the next 12-18 months. As previously revealed by IDC Energy Insights, of the four "3rd Platform" pillars, mobility is one of the most pressing for utilities, as mobility has been a key area of investment for utilities, especially for workforces operating in the transmission and distribution fields.
"Utilities across EMEA are embracing mobility to significantly enhance productivity across their entire organization," said Gaia Gallotti, research manager, IDC Energy Insights. "The mobility umbrella covers a wide array of devices, networks, platforms, and applications that require holistic management to be efficient, effective, and secure. At the moment, 36.1% of EMEA utility companies revealed they already have mobility strategies in place, with an additional 10.1% of respondents revealing plans to create one in the next 6 to 12 months."
The study highlights the following key mobility trends for EMEA utilities:
- With all the recent struggles utilities have had in retaining capital and turning profits, it is no wonder that enhancing productivity is cited as their number 1 reason for investing in mobility. Furthermore, EMEA utilities are committed to driving productivity gains, as 48.3% of EMEA utilities revealed they have already mobilized productivity functions (office apps, and file management and collaboration).
- Utilities are no strangers to dealing with protection of data and networks, and mobility creates additional transfers of data and information, and additional platforms and systems that need to be protected. EMEA utilities cited "protecting corporate network and corporate data on devices" as of utmost importance, and identified "information security" as the single most important criteria when selecting an enterprise mobility solution.
- Platform diversity is becoming an additional complexity to be managed, as over 42% of EMEA utilities claim they have to cater to at least two different operating systems.
- 17.7% of EMEA utility survey respondents have launched their first mobile app, and a further 15.1% are involved in developing a second or third mobile app.
The study, EMEA Utilities Getting Enterprise Mobility Right (IDC Energy Insights #EIOS05V, September 2013), reveals enterprise mobility adoption trends, attitudes regarding corporate mobility strategies, corporate mobility management, mobile apps, and bring your own device (BYOD) trends in EMEA utilities. The study leverages results of the IDC Biannual EMEA Enterprise Mobility Survey covering 119 utility interviews from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UAE, and the U.K.
For more information or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Roberta Bigliani or Gaia Gallotti, please contact Gaia Gallotti at ggallotti@idc.com.
About IDC Energy Insights
IDC Energy Insights assists energy businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers that serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the utility and oil and gas industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ei.com or email info@idc-ei.com.
"Utilities across EMEA are embracing mobility to significantly enhance productivity across their entire organization," said Gaia Gallotti, research manager, IDC Energy Insights. "The mobility umbrella covers a wide array of devices, networks, platforms, and applications that require holistic management to be efficient, effective, and secure. At the moment, 36.1% of EMEA utility companies revealed they already have mobility strategies in place, with an additional 10.1% of respondents revealing plans to create one in the next 6 to 12 months."
The study highlights the following key mobility trends for EMEA utilities:
- With all the recent struggles utilities have had in retaining capital and turning profits, it is no wonder that enhancing productivity is cited as their number 1 reason for investing in mobility. Furthermore, EMEA utilities are committed to driving productivity gains, as 48.3% of EMEA utilities revealed they have already mobilized productivity functions (office apps, and file management and collaboration).
- Utilities are no strangers to dealing with protection of data and networks, and mobility creates additional transfers of data and information, and additional platforms and systems that need to be protected. EMEA utilities cited "protecting corporate network and corporate data on devices" as of utmost importance, and identified "information security" as the single most important criteria when selecting an enterprise mobility solution.
- Platform diversity is becoming an additional complexity to be managed, as over 42% of EMEA utilities claim they have to cater to at least two different operating systems.
- 17.7% of EMEA utility survey respondents have launched their first mobile app, and a further 15.1% are involved in developing a second or third mobile app.
The study, EMEA Utilities Getting Enterprise Mobility Right (IDC Energy Insights #EIOS05V, September 2013), reveals enterprise mobility adoption trends, attitudes regarding corporate mobility strategies, corporate mobility management, mobile apps, and bring your own device (BYOD) trends in EMEA utilities. The study leverages results of the IDC Biannual EMEA Enterprise Mobility Survey covering 119 utility interviews from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UAE, and the U.K.
For more information or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Roberta Bigliani or Gaia Gallotti, please contact Gaia Gallotti at ggallotti@idc.com.
About IDC Energy Insights
IDC Energy Insights assists energy businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers that serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the utility and oil and gas industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ei.com or email info@idc-ei.com.
