Upgrading Your Company’s Mobile Devices

Upgrading your company’s mobile devices comes down to a number of factors. Some favor the company, while others favor the employees using them. Considerations include: screen size, speed, security, battery life, storage and usage. This list, by no means exhaustive, is a good start when thinking through a decision that can have a large impact on the company. Let’s start with screen size.

Screen Size

Let’s look way, way back at 2012 and the release of the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5’s screen diagonally is 4” compared to the iPhone XR’s which is 6.1”. That’s a substantial difference. A larger screen makes it easier for employees to multi-task. Smartphones with the larger screen may have a split screen option, letting you open two screens simultaneously.

Speed

How long does it take your mobile device to load an app? Application processor performance seems to improve with each new mobile device release. You can use benchmark apps, with a series of preprogrammed operations, to test the speed of your smartphone’s internal components. There are two types of benchmarks: Browser and Graphic. Browser benchmarks may reload the same page to check for speed. Graphic benchmarks will open-up a graphic to see how quickly it loads. These apps can track the performance of your device over time.

Security

Make sure your employee’s devices offer hardware level security. Some newer models offer a “pattern lock” – a personalized shape or pattern that is drawn on the screen to grant access. Other security options available may be touch ID, facial recognition and iris scanners. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from Google runs the stock version of Android Pie. If a security vulnerability is spotted in the Android software, Pixel phones are the first to receive security patches correcting vulnerabilities to hacking or viral infections.

Battery Life

If your smart phone battery seems to drain faster than your kitchen sink, it’s time for an upgrade. Signs that your battery is bad include decreases in length of charge, if you need to keep it plugged in order for it to work and when your phone simply refuses to work.

Storage

Older smartphones may have less memory and storage space. On the iPhone XR you can either opt for 64 GB up to 256 GB of storage while the iPhone XS Max offers 64 GB to 512 GB. Make sure your employees have devices that have substantial storage space so they have no issues opening and utilizing apps.

Usage

Smartphones often collect debris in areas that you cannot reach. The older the device, the more likely it is to have dirt built-up in places that are impossible to clean and may affect how well your mobile device will perform.

Average lifespan (replacement cycle length) of smartphones in the United States from 2013 to 2022 (in years)

This graph indicates that in 2018 the average smartphone was replaced in just under three years.

Smartphones for businesses are here for the long haul. Just remember to have a detailed mobile device policy in place for your enterprise. Keeping your mobile device policy up-to-date is key. If you decide to upgrade your employee’s phones, make sure to run it by your Managed Mobility Services (MMS) provider if you have one, or your IT department, to ensure it’s necessary.

The post 6 Considerations Before Upgrading Your Company’s Mobile Devices appeared first on Motus.

Why BYOD? 

Companies using a bring your own device program reimburse employees for the business use of their personal devices. The reasons to do so are many. One of the most popular options, corporate device, has companies providing employees with business-specific devices. First, phones aren’t cheap. Depending on company needs, several departments may need to be outfitted with new devices. Taking into account the cost of each smartphone and the plan costs, prices can add up quickly. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of replacement expenses and IT stress from additional support needs. A BYOD program has none of those upfront costs. 

Second, employees prefer to use devices they know. Alternative options will have them switching between personal and business devices, and those don’t always have the same operating system. When an employee uses their personal device, they know what they’re working with. However, with this benefit comes a serious corporate concern. 

Bring Your Own Device Guidelines 

Security is a major concern for most companies. Every device that has access to sensitive company information is a potential entry point for cyber-attack. This seems to be twice as concerning when employees’ personal devices are that entry point. To mitigate this risk, companies must implement security measures that can easily be adopted by all devices and other endpoints. 

Secure Platform 

Everything begins with the platform employees engage with to install necessary corporate software. Having a single secure platform as the source for all updates is a big step toward ensuring employees aren’t downloading malware and exposing the company to cyber security risk. Security management extends beyond the platform to those pieces attached to it, covering content and domain filtering and anti-malware functionality. That would include mobile threat defense solutions and professional services capabilities. 

Vetted Applications  

A secure platform doesn’t help much if the applications added to phones have exposures. Implementing a guaranteed app takes more than a scroll through its website and review section. Set up time with the company, ask for references and come with questions specific to your system. Even if an offer is too good to pass up, be ready to walk away if the security is questionable.    

Multi-Factor Authentication 

This is more than a Face I.D. or Touch I.D. An employee may misplace their device, and it may fall into the wrong hands. When it does, you want to be sure there’s more protecting sensitive company data than a four-digit password. Pushing an authenticator to all devices offers an additional level of security.   

Reimbursement 

With a BYOD program, employees are still paying their phone bill. Most companies offering a BYOD program provide a stipend to offset the cost of the personal device’s business use. Is it mandatory? That depends on the state(s) your company operates in. Cases have resulted in million dollar lawsuits, and avoiding that is more than worth the monthly reimbursements paid to employees. 

Eligibility 

Rolling out a BYOD program to the entire company means a longer implementation process and increased endpoint risk. Look at what departments, or even specific employees, require the program and prioritize onboarding based on greatest need. If the process goes smoothly you can think about adding the entire company, but there’s no harm in starting small to begin things.  

Education 

When fighting cyberattacks, few things are more valuable than knowledge. Help employees learn to identify the clues that something is a suspicious message or phishing attempt. You might even go as far as ensuring employees enrolled in the BYOD program take a quiz first to determine their email etiquette doesn’t pose a security risk.  

MMS or BYOD?

Choosing between MMS and BYOD can be a challenge, especially when your company has potential use cases for both. Maybe sales representatives need a corporate device while employees in IT can stay in the business-know on their personal devices. There are plenty of reasons a company could use these programs simultaneously. But the hassle of running them through two different vendors, or a combination of in-house and outsourced? Just thinking about it might cause a headache. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Your company could have both, without jumping through the hoops of using multiple vendors. Find out more about what that could look like in our blog.

Getting Your BYOD Program Off the Ground 

The bring your own device guidelines outlined in this blog provide first steps for a company ready to implement a BYO program. Certain determinants, like the reimbursement portion, secure platform and vetted applications may be more challenging. Companies often use managed mobility service (MMS) providers to help implement their mobile program. A lot of these providers lack experience in the BYOD space. We have proven expertise and methodology, backed by a sound platform that supports both BYOD and corporate-liable programs.

The post Bring Your Own Device Guidelines: Savings and Security with Your Mobility Program  appeared first on Motus.

Five Benefits of Mobile Devices in Business 

1) Mobile Workforce

When you use your smartphone at work, your desk is mobile you can get a signal. Aside from the benefits of making employees more reachable, this feature allows them to work wherever it is most comfortable. Especially during a pandemic, a change of scenery can go a long way toward refreshing work ethic and productivity. 

2) Apps

What can’t you do with a mobile app? While there are plenty of outside applications (like Motus), many companies have their own apps to help with workplace housekeeping tasks that would otherwise have to wait until the employee returns to their desk. According to the Motus Mobile Workforce Benchmark Report, 79% of companies plan to introduce at least one more mobile app to employees in 2021. Using a smartphone for business purposes would keep all these resources organized in the same place.  

3) Cameras

Smartphone cameras provide a wealth of organizational opportunities for both in-person and remote work. Aside from allowing employees to attend meetings virtually, they allow employees at in-person meetings to instantly capture notes from a whiteboard or take photos for social media use. Camera apps also hold other information that allows employees to track down things they may have otherwise not been able to find, like the exact date or location of a meeting where a photo was taken. 

4) General UX

Smartphones have a multitude of features that set them apart from desktop computers. Using a smartphone gives employees access to features like gestures or voice-activation, which can help them navigate their device at top speed, without the clunkiness associated with a computer. There is also the benefit of using an operating system that employees are already familiar with from using their own smartphones. 

5) Data

Having employees use a smartphone for work allows an employer to access more of their data, which can feel a little Big Brother. However, this data can contribute to companies’ future success. For example, proximity-sensing data from smartphones has been an asset during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic for contact tracing and ensuring social distancing policies are being followed. 

Encouraging Employee Mobile Device Usage 

Does your company currently encourage employees to use mobile devices? Their current mobile device program is a solid indicator. Your company may choose to outsource Managed Mobility Services, the administrative work associated with your company’s electronic devices. This can take the form of Bring Your Own Device, Company Provided Device, Choose Your Own Device or a hybrid program. 

While mobile devices are frequently seen as a distraction from work tasks, they are an integral part of the future of technology in the workplace, and they have unique benefits compared to desktop computers or laptops. Particularly in the era of work from home, smartphones’ portability and features make them an ideal tool for increased efficiency and success. Companies that encourage mobile device use by outsourcing MMS can reap these benefits.  

Ready to Benefit from Mobile Devices?

If your company is ready to enable employees with mobile devices, we’re happy to help! And if you’re not ready, we’re also here to provide the information you need to make the right choice. Whether that choice is empowering employees to use their personal devices or enabling them with corporate devices, or a combination of the two, you want to know what you’re getting into.

The post Benefits of Mobile Devices in Business: Five Ways Smartphones Benefit Companies  appeared first on Motus.

Why BYO?

A company might have any number of reasons to choose a BYO program. Say they’re low on capital. Instead of spending money on devices for entire departments and a carrier plan that covers those devices, they can opt to reimburse for the business use of employee devices. Companies could also choose a corporate-liable program for their sales team, but implement a BYO program for the rest of their business. BYO offers a low-cost flexibility corporate liable doesn’t quite achieve.

BYO may be the choice for a company that already has other reimbursement options. If employees are reimbursed for driving their personal vehicles for work and their personal Wi-Fi to work from home, adding a phone stipend seems a logical inclusion.

Regardless of the scenario, companies should provide their employees with a cell phone stipend. Depending on the state, businesses may be breaking labor laws by not doing so. Which raises the question: what’s the right amount for a fair cell phone stipend?

What’s a Fair Cell Phone Stipend?

According to IRS code, reimbursements must be “reasonable.” Employers have several options when considering a cell phone stipend. Some companies just ask employees to expense their phone bills. Other companies provide a fixed allowance, maybe $50 a month, to cover business use. These options provide employees with payments, but at a much higher cost to the company. Both of these methods lack accuracy.

In order to give an accurate cell phone stipend, costs specific to each employee should be taken into account. This ensures companies aren’t overpaying and employees aren’t under-reimbursed. But calculating those rates specific to each individual… that’s gotta be easier said than done, right? That’s why so many companies choose to outsource their BYO program to arrive at the correct rate.

Determining the Right Rate

When it comes down to it, there are two major factors to consider when calculating an employee’s cell phone stipend. The first is their job role. Are they in a position that requires higher cell phone usage than other employees? Or, are they in a role where a higher stipend might be provided as a perk? Answering these questions should help determine what each employee receives. The other, and more obvious factor, is location.

Costs vary from location to location. Employees working in one area might have the exact same cell phone plan as nearby coworkers, while employees in a different region will see different prices. It’s important to consider differences in cost-of-living when determining an accurate rate. Without this information, stipends lack accuracy.

Evaluating Your Rate

As with many stipends, it can be easy to set a rate and pay it no more attention. If it isn’t causing problems, it can’t be a problem. This logic doesn’t save companies money or help them enable their employees with accurate rates. Here are a few questions to consider when thinking about cell phone stipends:

• When the last time you re-evaluated your rate? A year or two can have a serious impact on whether the cellphone stipends your company provides its employees are enough.
• Is the person who determined it still at the company? It can be easy to lose track of a cell phone stipend when key decision makers are no longer around to update or justify rates.
• How do you know what the right rate is? The right rate should accurately reimburse employees for business use according to their location and job role.  The answer to this shouldn’t be “because no one seems unhappy about it.” Companies with employees expressing frustrations over cell phone stipends have failed to create and communicate the right rate to their employees.
• Should all employees be getting the same rate? Ultimately, this is your company’s choice. With the cost of living accounted for, maybe you want to be sure all employees, regardless of position, receive comparable stipends. Or maybe you want to ensure that employees in roles with more cell phone use receive higher payments. As long as the reimbursements are reasonable, the decision is up to your company.

The Motus BYO Solution

Companies may not have the time, tech or expertise to analyze employees’ carrier and device costs. Using the Motus Platform, we take all these factors into account. With millions of data points, we calculate fair and accurate reimbursements specific to employee locations and configurable to the needs of your company. These reimbursement can be calculated based on availability requirements for job roles, aligning to factors like more data-consumptive role or even international requirements.

One or the other? Why not both?

Managed mobility program? Or bring your own device (BYOD)? Companies often think they can only choose one of the other. Which one works best for the employees of your company? Well, now you don’t have to choose between them. Motus provides both MMS and BYOD offerings. Some employees need corporate devices, others can be enabled to use their own. Now you can support both!

Next Steps

When it comes to cell phone stipends, it’s best to take the right approach. Understanding what that right approach is, for your company and its employees, may take time, meetings and education. So your next step may simply be to better understand what a bring your own program with Motus looks like. Our solution not only empowers employees to use their preferred device for business, it also reduces the administrative burden of a mobility program. Customers gain flexibility by being able to add or remove users as their teams scale and can reduce their capital outlay.

The post Cell Phone Stipend: The Benefits of a BYO Program appeared first on Motus.

What does TEM stand for? 

TEM stands for Telecom Expense Management. What does that mean? Telecom Expense Management refers to the cost and administration specific to the telecommunication needs of a business. This may include landlines, mobile devices, carrier plans and other related costs. In today’s mobile-centric world, most companies have some semblance of TEM, whether they know it or not. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s doing all that it can for the company. 

Taking Advantage of TEM 

Knowing what TEM means is a very small step on the long road to implementing the best TEM program for your company. Companies should be able to save costs and improve efficiencies with the right TEM program in place. Most businesses do so through outsourcing. Won’t outsourcing cost more money than standing up a TEM program in-house? Let’s look at an example. 

Getting Down to Business 

A business services company that specializes in food machinery consulting needs a better TEM program. They’re not large, only 150 employees, but they rely on their phones for both customer communication and sales enablement. The company’s first step towards improving their current situation is searching for carrier plans. They’ll be using the five IT members they have currently working on security and help desk support to implement the program. Additionally, up until this point, the company has relied on employees using their own devices, without reimbursement. Still, the company intends to provide their sales team with corporate devices. 

What’s the problem here?  

First, the company is putting a considerable amount of administrative burden on their current IT team. Their expertise is certainly in computer security and troubleshooting. Thrusting this program on their shoulders won’t be winning the company any favors with the IT department.  

Second, ongoing carrier contract and data pool management can be time intensive, not to mention costly when lacking expert oversight. Further, the process of procuring devices, preparing them for employee use and, inevitably, replacing them is an expansive and expensive undertaking. 

Finally, legal and security compliance get complicated when running hybrid programs. Not reimbursing employees for the business use of their personal devices is a violation of labor laws in many states. BYOD programs should be structured around the reimbursements employees will receive. In addition, managing security on personal devices can be nearly impossible without proper visibility and control, leaving companies vulnerable to data and security breaches. Unfortunately, implementing hybrid company-provided device and bring your own device programs can even be difficult for many TEM providers, let alone a company doing so in-house. 

Outsourcing TEM 

Education is an important factor in decision making. That goes well beyond knowing the answer to the question “what does TEM stand for?” The good thing is, your company doesn’t need to have the expertise to implement a TEM program in-house. You just need to be experts in what your company does, as well as the products and services it offers. As long as you can identify your company’s TEM needs, you can leave the rest to the experts. Which is where Motus comes in. Interested in learning more about how our device solutions cut costs and improve efficiency?  

Learn More Here

The post What Does TEM Stand For? Understanding The Importance of Telecom Expense Management appeared first on Motus.

How do you reimburse for BYOD?

Growing legislation requires companies to reimburse for personal tools used for business purposes, such as devices and home internet. Many states have laws in place to prevent companies from benefiting from employee-owned assets used for business growth and productivity. To ensure compliance, companies must fairly reimburse employees for the business use of these devices. There are a couple ways companies typically do this. 

A Flat Stipend

One approach to BYOD management services is to provide employees with a flat stipend to cover the costs of their personal devices. Flat stipends simplify the reimbursement process by allocating a set amount to each employee for the use of their device. However, these stipends are traditionally taxed and not “flat” on either side – costing companies and employees valuable dollars from their bottom line. 

Flat stipends are typically dispersed through company payroll, and thus taxed accordingly. For example, employee stipends are taxed 7.65% FICA on both the giving and receiving end, while also being subject to traditional income tax. This means the company is paying out more than the original stipend, while the employee nets much less. 

Expense Reporting

Another option for reimbursement is employee-driven expense reporting. With this method, employees report their associated device costs and phone bills through traditional expense reports processed internally. This is often done to avoid corporate tax implications by ensuring the reports substantiate the reimbursement. However, this method creates high administrative burden and often results in employer overpayment (for example, paying the employee’s entire phone bill).  

Outsourced BYOD Management Services

Both flat stipend and traditional expense reporting leave a lot to be desired. When considering reimbursement options, outsourcing BYOD programs to BYOD management service providers benefit both the employer and the employee by improving compliance, decreasing administrative burden and ensuring fair and equitable reimbursements. Outsourced programs can also: 

• Eliminate tax waste by restructuring reimbursements to provide equal or higher reimbursements to employees with little to no out of pocket cost to the employer  
• Customize role-based reimbursements based on reasonable business use parameters and consumer cost data for both mobile device hardware and wireless rate plans, ensuring fair and equitable payouts 

• Reduce administrative burden while increasing scalability through automation 
• Create a better end user experience by giving employees freedom of choice while maintaining fair cost categories 

The post BYOD Management Services: The Definitive Guide to BYOD Taxes  appeared first on Motus.

The Growing Popularity of BYOD

BYOD is here to stay. According to a recent survey from Zippia, BYOD usage has increased 58 percent since 2021. There is a good reason for this: there are real, tangible benefits for both employees and employers.

For employees, it’s a chance to work with devices they’re used to and are already a part of their lives. That means increased efficiency, productivity and convenience. The same efficiency and productivity gains will benefit employers, who get the additional benefits of low overhead and minimal management. However, with these benefits come security concerns.

The Risks of Inadequate BYOD Security

While employers can save time and resources on device management with most BYOD policies, the tradeoff comes in the form of increased risk. Decreased management burden comes with decreased visibility into the devices that are connecting to your network and accessing your company’s sensitive data. This risk can take on many forms, including malware, data theft and legal issues.

Malware

Unmanaged personal devices may not have proper security. If you don’t believe us, how sure are you right now that you’ve downloaded the latest software on your cellphone? Devices lacking proper security or the latest patches are vulnerable to malware attacks.

Data Theft

Each device that connects to your network is a potential entry point for attackers to access sensitive personal, company or customer data. It only takes one infected device to let the bad guys into the network.

Legal Issues

When deploying a BYOD program, employers may assume responsibility and liability for the way data on those devices is handled. An insecure device is a ticking time bomb that can lead to lawsuits.

BYOD Security Solutions: Mobile Device Management

Successful device programs start with a properly configured and enforced mobile policy. When a company prioritizes security, that usually includes a mobile device management (MDM) program. This allows companies to realize the benefits of BYOD without inheriting too much risk across employee devices. MDM solutions enable employers to set specific profiles with customizable privileges across device applications and captures important information across all corporate and BYOD devices.

What is an MDM?

Mobile device management (MDM) solutions are common security tools put in place to secure, monitor, manage and enforce policies on employees’ mobile devices. This security measure is especially important when implementing BYOD programs involving the business use of personal devices.

With an MDM, employers can set specific profiles that allow customized privileges and set specific access perimeters across device applications. MDMs can also act as a point of reference for critical business information across all devices, corporate provided or BYOD. The best BYOD security solutions should feature an MDM solution that includes:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA): This is a critical additional layer of security for when employees inevitably lose or misplace their device, preventing sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.
• Automated role-based licensing: This gives employers the ability to terminate employee access, ensuring that the right employees – current and former – have access to the right level of information.

Are BYOD Solutions MDMs too?

Most BYOD solutions are not actual MDMs. However, finding a BYOD solution that integrates directly with your MDM is essential. The right integration can alleviate the licensing and management headaches often associated with onboarding and properly enforcement. Here are some of the ways a successful BYOD solution can simplify the concerns associated with BYOD security:

Device Security Policies

Mobile device policies are critical components of a successful BYOD program. Along with the profiles set up within your MDM, policies should be set into place outlining acceptable usage and BYOD security guidelines. Just like with any other policy, lack of proper and consistent enforcement makes your policy ineffective.

A complete BYOD solution can help ensure policy acknowledgment and ongoing compliance management while giving you unified insight.

Mobile Device Management and Support

Day-to-day management of MDM solutions can be a burden. Not to mention the additional bandwidth required to adopt or migrate to a new MDM system. With an expert BYOD solution provider, you can help alleviate much of that internal burden by allowing your BYOD solution to take over as your MDM project manager, whether on an as needed basis for large migrations, or even full day-to-day management, depending on your need.

When opting for complete day-to-day management, MDM solutions automate licensing enrollment and take care of follow-up. The right MDM also handles policing based on terminated employee workflows, role-based licensing updates and BYOD security policy changes across all devices.

Streamlined Programs and BYOD Security

While MDMs provide valuable insight, there are often key data components missing that are essential to proper management of your device programs. Motus BYO marries your MDM and BYOD policy data into a single, unified platform. This gives you complete oversight into user’s device program enrollment, policy acceptance history and BYOD security information within one system.

With our expertise and guidance, MDM adoptions, migrations, and day-to-day management become virtually effortless, alleviating the administrative burden of ongoing licensing and support issues.

At Motus, our BYO solution goes beyond security measures, helping customers drive compliance and mitigate risk, alleviating overstretched IT departments of these burdensome responsibilities. Interested in learning more?

The post The Security Tradeoffs of BYOD and Potential BYOD Security Solutions appeared first on Motus.

What is Telecom Expense Management? How is it done?

Telecom Expense Management is the practice of centralizing controlling a company’s wireless, landline and data needs. For a smaller business, that might be a single landline and a handful of mobile devices, in addition to whatever carrier plan fits their needs and spend requirements. For larger businesses, landlines, devices and carrier plans often have to factor in location and department needs.

Telecom expense management (TEM) varies from company to company. Some choose to manage the process in-house, which can be resource-intensive. Others outsource to TEM providers, experts that specialize in this practice. To be clear, a company with no expense management controls around their telecom needs is not set up to succeed. But having those controls is only a step in the right direction. The way a company manages telecom expenses determines the success of their program. Here are a few examples of areas in TEM that make this abundantly clear.

1). In-House Program

A company decided to run their mobility program in-house. They budgeted for the typical expenses: carrier bills, phone lines, internet. But there were also expenses they did not anticipate. Namely, device management and IT infrastructure.

What’s the problem here?

Mobile assets have an expected upfront cost. However, whether the program is limited to specific roles, departments or across the entire company, many companies have a ready supply. A company might experience high turnover or have the same team for decades. In either scenario, some employees will use a personal device, leaving the corporate device unused. Neither changes the fact that idle assets add unnecessary expense to bills and grow more obsolete with each year. Managing mobility in-house means problem solving in-house. But more on that later.

The solution here is outsourcing your program. Believe it or not, companies save money by outsourcing their mobility program. How? Well, for starters, they don’t have a desk full of phones waiting to be put to work. What’s more, they handle the device preparation, making sure it has all the right software before its sent to the appropriate individual. Additionally, they handle repairs and end of life management. No company wants a device with sensitive information floating around on the secondhand market. Outsourced mobility programs should ensure that doesn’t happen.

Finally, a company with an in-house mobility program is at the mercy of their carriers. Billing may fluctuate and charges may be listed in ways that are intentionally difficult to understand. Managed mobility service providers have experience with a multitude of carriers. By controlling the bill, they can cut through the complex verbiage and potentially even negotiate them down.

2). Device Management

A company is looking to provide its rapidly growing sales team with mobile devices. Exploring their options, they find the best carrier for their needs and order 45 phones with a nationwide coverage plan. Most of the phones will go directly into the hands of the reps, but 10 are held in reserve, as spares. When a phone inevitably needs repairs, it often takes days just to learn it’s not fixable. Dumping the old one, the company plans to use one of the spares, after transferring all the necessary information and software on the new device.

What’s the problem here?

There are a few. First, this company may be limiting itself to the best plan it can find. It’s not their fault they aren’t in the TEM industry, but it will cost them.

Second, having too many spare phones is an idle asset disaster. Depending on the quality of the device, that reserve could easily cost $10,000. Planning for the worst is always a good idea, but too many spare devices on the books isn’t doing your company any good.

Third, all devices should be wiped before they are disposed of. That goes double for a corporate device which may have sensitive company information on it.

One of the benefits of telecom expense management is not having to worry about excessive spend around device management. The right provider can keep support a mobility program by helping with carrier negotiations, avoiding a mountain of idle assets and maintaining proper life-cycle-management protocols.

3). IT Support

A company wants to provide mobile employees with in-house support. While initially thinking the current members of the IT department can fulfill this need, a conversation with the department head reveals mobile devices aren’t in anyone’s wheelhouse. Not wanting to slow down, the company roles out IT support as they begin the search for another head. This support is limited to 9 to 5 on weekdays only.

What’s the problem here?

IT is a big umbrella. Expecting the department to carry these additional support duties is expecting too much. Unfortunately, support for computers and support for phones aren’t easily translatable. Simply put, supporting TEM requires expertise.

Additionally, internal support stretches the IT team thin while limiting employee access to specific hours. Accidents can happen at any time. If a phone fails late Friday, it may take until late next week before the problem is solved.

The right TEM provider can offer expert support with better hours of coverage. Outsourcing TEM also removes the burden from IT staff. Cost control is often held high, but employee time savings is another benefit of telecom expense management.

4). Platform Solution

A company decides on a TEM provider that appears to offer everything a business could need: 24-hour support, device management, partnerships with software providers and a hefty bit of cost-savings. At least, that’s what it says on paper. Outsourced support is a source of frustration for the reps trying to troubleshoot device issues. Additionally, to navigate all the software and its administration, employees and managers have to juggle multiple logins for disparate systems. What’s more, the software itself is far from user-friendly. For all the cost-control promises, there always seems to be a reason for missing that number.

What’s the problem here?

One of the clear benefits of telecom expense management should be the prevention of headaches, not the creation of them. Issues with support is a major red flag. If the TEM experts don’t seem to be solving problems, they aren’t the experts your employees require.

Many TEM providers have old systems stitched together from multiple mergers and acquisitions. These can create frustrating experiences for employees and administrators alike, not to mention the security issues. A stitched together platform has multiple points of entry, or more vulnerabilities for cyber criminals to exploit.

Finally, if a TEM provider isn’t delivering on their promises, they’re not the TEM provider for your company. Fortunately, the TEM space is full of competitors, and one of them may offer the solution that fits your needs.

5). Inadequate Outsourced Provider

With all the benefits, a company jumps at the chance to switch from in-house to outsourced mobility. Unfortunately, without MMS experience, their first choice isn’t the right one. They being to notice after reaching a few milestones and noticing those promises of ROI and cost savings are going unrealized. Unfortunately, these warning signs have come after the decision has already been made.

What’s the problem here?

The problem is clear: the vendor is unable to deliver on their promises. That doesn’t mean the company is stuck with them forever. The solution is simple: find an MMS provider that truly meets the needs of your company.

Cost control shouldn’t have to come at the expense of what your company needs in a mobility program. When making the decision, don’t just settle on the company that offers the highest ROI. Press them to deliver on other areas of importance. Good service and support should be essential to any company. The provider should also have a platform that meets your mobile device management needs, from software to security and beyond.

What does Motus offer?

There are many ideas any company may have around cutting their telecom costs. At the end of the day though, there’s one major solution. Outsourcing your mobility program may seem like a step backward when it comes to cost control. Why pay someone when you can do it in-house? That’s an easy question to answer when it’s framed in another way. It’s the same reason people call plumbers, electricians and mechanics. You might be able to snake a drain, replace a light bulb or change your own oil. But not every issue is so easy. You call for the expertise and the peace of mind, knowing that if you hadn’t, you could have made the problem even worse.

Motus is a unique provider in many ways. While our offering is specific to Wireless Expense Management (WEM), it also provides flexibility. Some companies may want support for both a BYOD program and a corporate liable device program. We’re the only ones that can do both. We work with multiple carriers to ensure customers have the best deal available to them. The quality of our support team and our single platform also set us apart. Interested in learning more? Read about our mobility offering.

Learn More Here

The post The Benefits of Telecom Expense Management: Is Your Company On Top of Cost Control?  appeared first on Motus.

What is BYOD? 

First things first, a BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, program reimburses employees for the business use of their personal devices. This program is unlike a CPD, or Company-provided device, program where employees receive a work-specific device. Both of these options have their strengths and weaknesses. So what are the BYOD business benefits?

How does BYOD benefit companies?

There are a number of advantages a BYOD program can bring to its company. It’s a cost control opportunity, easy to manage and employee compatible. We’ll start with one of its biggest draws: optimizing spend.

Optimizing Spend 

A BYOD program doesn’t require an employer to purchase new devices for each employee, or carrier plans that encompass those devices. Employees continue to use the devices they own in a work capacity, and the company reimburses them. Some companies provide employees with a stipend that covers all or part of their phone bill. Other companies provide a reimbursement specific to the individual, their phone, and the costs of device ownership in their location. For companies just getting off the ground or looking to introduce a mobility program to another department, the lower price tag is a big plus.

Minimized Management 

BYOD programs also benefit businesses looking to minimize additional administration. While many companies will provide employees with security updates to ensure data safety, the rest of the program will require little management beyond reimbursements. No negotiating with carriers over bills or device replacement management. Employees troubleshooting their devices will use the same resources they use when device issues arise in their personal life.

Employee Compatible 

Employee productivity is directly tied to knowledge and experience. Adopting new tactics and technology always requires a transition period. Decision makers talk about change management when considering bringing something new to the company. And new can be good. Flexibility in a company is a source of strength. But it often takes time and may encounter opposition.

Employees that receive company-provided devices generally don’t have a choice in their new device. They may not know the system and may struggle to learn it. When they’re using their own device, this isn’t an issue. Consider how many days, weeks, months it takes for employees to adapt to a change in the company. However long that may be, with a BYOD program, you don’t have to worry about it.

Things to Consider

We’ve covered three big reasons a company might adopt a bring your own device (BYOD) program over a company-provided device (CPD) program. In short, those are low overhead, reduced management and employee compatibility. For some companies, those selling points might be enough. Others may need more information. Well, here are a few more things to consider.

1) Smartphone usage can increase worker productivity.

It’s safe to say you’ll perform better using a tool you’re familiar with. Smartphones are no different. But can you measure that? According to Frost & Sullivan research, you can. They found smart phone usage boosted productivity 34%. Imagine how that would look with a BYOD program enabling employees to use their personal smart phones for business purposes (granted they follow proper security protocols).

2) Mobile enablement works as a recruiting tool for companies.

Companies have grown from the buildings people spend their 9 to 5 in before racing home to tv dinners with their nuclear family. One indicator of corporate culture change is the adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) programs, pushing corporate liable out the door. In fact, more than 8 billion personal mobile devices will be used for work purposes by 2022, up from just 312 million in 2016. This also indicates IT is no longer the sole decision maker when it comes to choosing platforms. What does that mean for companies making the change?

Well, lower costs and lower infrastructure and support needs certainly don’t hurt. But it allows them to evolve with their corporate culture branding. No company wants to come across as behind the times or miles from the cutting edge. People across the workforce are seeking jobs with energy and life, not a corporate prison that crams them into an uncomfortable position with awkward tools.

Businesses with a BYOD mindset brand themselves as both empowering their workforce and providing a flexible work environment. This enhances the employee experience and broadens the available talent pool. The more open the company culture, the more likely it is to pull in fresh, innovative talent that might be turned off by stale corporate culture.

3) Mobile enablement works as a recruiting tool for employees.

As mentioned previously, people seeking jobs are likely to seek work with companies that are more flexible. But BYOD culture empowers them – starting with familiarity. Employees are more familiar with their own devices. That means minimized training requirements, reduced technical support and greater productivity.

An important piece of that familiarity is knowing carrier network coverage. It’s still frustrating dealing with a lack of coverage, but people know their phone’s limits. Switching between personal and work phones with possibly different carriers almost guarantees double the frustration. Should the company switch corporate networks, employee frustration only increases. That’s not something an employee must endure when bringing their personal device.

BYOD also benefits all types of phone users. Apple and Android companies release devices each year. Itching for that the latest device? Early-adopter employees can use the newest device without repercussion. Sticking with that trusty smartphone, cracked screen and all? Employees are free to stay with what works for them.

And if it isn’t about the familiarity or the flexibility, then it’s about the simplicity. 61% of Gen Y and 50% of workers 30 years old or more believe the tech tools in their personal lives are more effective and productive than those used in their work life. Employees prefer simplified communication and workplace tools. By allowing a single device, and streamlined communications platforms, employees are able to manage their workflow better.

That simplicity extends to the onboarding and off-boarding process. No need to set up a new phone for each employee, one that will later need to be wiped and recovered when they move on to other things. Avoiding the time-consuming and often aggravating process means an easier transition. An easy transition gets them access to company systems and pops them out of it more efficiently than many other programs.

The State of Bring Your Own Device Programs

There are many ways a company can implement a bring your own device program. One common approach is paying a stipend to highly mobile workers and those who split their time between remote work and office work, while allowing other employees to use their own devices for business purposes, without any stipend. Another approach is having employees expense their entire phone bill.

Neither of these approaches get it right. Especially the program that allows employees to do business on their personal phones without any stipend or reimbursement. This could be a labor law violation and exposes employers to lawsuits.

On the other side, because reimbursements can be difficult to split between personal and business use, some employers choose to pay the entire phone bill. That means paying far more than necessary, an amount that adds up month to month, employee to employee.

Offer More with Motus BYO

There’s a significant trend toward BYOD culture in companies across industries in the United States. BYOD might not be the right fit for every company. But if it is, both employer and employee can enjoy considerable benefits. That’s why Motus offers a Bring Your Own solution.

With a Bring Your Own (BYO) program, your company can fairly and accurately reimburse employees for the business use of their personal devices. Unlike typical BYOD programs, with Motus BYO, companies can also reimburse employees for tablet, home internet and home office use. Interested in learning more about the benefits of a BYO program?

Check Out Our BYO Solution

The post Changing from CPD to BYOD: Is a Bring Your Own Program Best for Your Company? appeared first on Motus.