Report: iPhone having measurable impact on enterprise productivity

Strategy Analytics researched some 100 organizations that have either deployed the iPhone within their businesses, or allowed employees to bring their own iPhones into the workplace to find out what type of impact the iconic device has had on their organizations. Interestingly, when Strategy Analytics compared its findings with an additional 300 enterprises that don't currently allow the iPhone to be used within the workplace, it found that those companies that allow the device had measurably greater levels of work improvements, such as increased workflow efficiency and profitability.

"The great promise of mobility for the enterprise is the ability to drive increased convenience, efficiencies and employee flexibility to ultimately drive corporate competitiveness, revenues and profitability," wrote Philippe Winthrop, director of business mobility solutions with Strategy Analytics and author of the report. "Strategy Analytics' research shows that organizations that leverage the iPhone are in fact reaping greater benefits from mobility than organizations that do not have iPhones. This is most likely due to the platform's rich and intuitive user experience which makes applications easier to use, and thus make workflows easier for employees."

On the flip side, employees using the iPhone didn't improve these corporations' challenges in term of developing and enforcing IT policies for mobility, managing mobile devices and in fact offered greater challenges when it comes to deploying and updating mobile applications.

"In terms of mobility policies, the fact that companies with employees using iPhones face the same challenges in developing a mobility strategy as other organizations should not be considered a bright spot for the iPhone community," Winthrop said. "The fact that two in three organizations still struggle to develop mobility policies and a mobility strategy speaks to the challenges that all organizations face with mobile solutions."

Strategy Analytics' research shows that more than 30 percent of the companies surveyed in the United States have employees using the iPhone. It also noted that security remains a major hindrance to its adoption in the enterprise.

For more:
- check out Strategy Analytics' report (sub. req.)

Related articles:
Competing mobile-phone platforms may enter back door of the enterprise
New iPhone 3GS hacked in two minutes
Apple reports iPhone progress in the enterprise, but long road lies ahead
Apple: 5.2 million iPhones sold in 3Q; enterprise sales ramping up