Introducing employee-owned devices such as cell phones and PDAs into the enterprise can be a huge headache when considering the potential number of devices that are available. Enterprises devote huge amounts of resources to selecting, deploying, configuring, and managing specific types of desktop and laptop computers. The same level of dedication should be applied to mobile deployment; however, soliciting employee input can have benefits, such as cost reduction, increased productivity, and even raised morale. Of course, not everyone will be content, as some individual choice may have to be overridden, but there will be a greater chance of satisfying the most common needs in a cost-effective fashion.

The Votes Are In

Info-Tech Indaba’s 2006 Buyer Behavior Report, “Handheld Devices: Selection Criteria of Handheld Device Buyers,” cites the top three motivators for selecting handheld devices as Product Features (21%), Corporate Standard (20%), and Price (10%). These are followed by Familiarity with Vendor (9%) and a tie between Performance and Compatibility (each at 7%). These motivators are split depending on the size of the enterprise: smaller enterprises are more concerned with product features, whereas larger enterprises are more concerned with Corporate Standard. Corporate Standard is generally the top concern for almost all other technology purchases.