Mobile office tools gain appreciation in South Africa

Mobile business has become more common in South Africa as companies recognize changing work patterns, according to a study by IDC.

The study, titled "Market Opportunity for Mobile Solutions," was conducted by IDC on behalf of Research In Motion, developer of the BlackBerry.

The study found that more than half of South African companies have rolled out mobile business products to up to 25 percent of their work forces, but only 20 percent of companies have mobilized 50 percent or more of their work forces.

"In a world where the lines between personal and work time are blurring, mobile devices such as BlackBerry smart phones ensure that employees can be in contact with the office wherever they are," the report stated. "Employees can be flexible to the company's needs and work in a way that allows them to balance their professional and personal life in an optimal way."

The research engaged representatives from 350 South African companies of all sizes from the retail, manufacturing, financial services and services sectors. Out of those interviewed, only 8 percent of the companies have no mobile workers.

Though the research indicates that more companies could still benefit from greater investment in mobile technology, it notes that companies with significant proportions of mobile workers are keener to invest in new technologies.

Most companies are prepared to cover the full cost of a mobile device used by an employee for work, the study found. Two-thirds of the companies surveyed prefer to allow staff to use one device for both personal and business use, while the rest prefer employees to have a device for business use only.