Medium-Sized Businesses Are Leading Digital Workplace, Says Aruba
March 19 2019 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
New Study Shows that the “Hidden Middle” are
Committed to Technology, but Businesses Must Ensure Employees have
the Skills in Place to Reap the Benefits of their Investments
Medium-sized businesses now account for over 60% of US jobs, and
are investing fast in technology. However, with digital now a
priority for businesses of all sizes, they must ensure they have
the necessary skills and security management in place to handle the
change, or risk falling behind competitors according to a new
report from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.
Developed to explore how medium-sized businesses across the
globe are currently adopting workplace technology, and featuring
responses from over 2,700 employees in management and
non-management roles across medium-sized businesses, The Hidden
Middle study uncovered a number of key trends:
- Medium-sized businesses are the most
active users of workplace technology: Almost two-thirds (63%)
of medium-sized business employees rated the “choice of technology,
applications and IT support” at their company as either good or
very good. That compared to 53% of those also surveyed from the
largest companies. Medium-sized businesses are also ahead of the
competition in their use of advanced audio-visual technologies
(such as voice-activated and wireless communication tools), which
are offered by an average of 27% of medium-sized businesses,
compared to 16% of smaller and 22% of larger employers.
- They are placing a heavy emphasis on
the cloud: Around a quarter (24%) of medium-sized business
employees said their company had invested in cloud storage software
over the last 12 months, compared to 17% of large firms.
Medium-sized businesses are also prioritizing cyber security
software: 39% reported investments in this area in the last year,
compared to 31% of large businesses.
- And are offering a better working
environment as a result: In light of their impressive
commitment to new technology medium-sized business employees are
significantly more likely (66%) to rate their “environment at work”
as either good or very good in comparison to those at the largest
companies (57%). Businesses of this size are also more agile when
it comes to offering flexibility for employees to use personal
devices for work – with 72% of medium-sized business employees
allowed to do this, compared to only 53% of those who work for
larger employers.
- But there is demand for better
management of technology investments: Over three quarters (77%)
of medium-sized business employees either agreed or strongly agreed
that “if not managed correctly, the introduction of new technology
could damage employee morale;” while 78% agreed that “my
organization’s management and control of the connected devices that
are in use could be improved.”
A risky road ahead
With two thirds of employees at medium-sized businesses (66%)
saying their organization was “at risk of falling behind
competitors” by not implementing new technology, the pressure to
keep pace is clear – but so too are the associated dangers.
Despite being conscious of their organizations’ cybersecurity
policies, nearly three quarters (74%) of medium-sized business
employees said they had taken risks with company data in the past
year. In addition, less than half (48%) said that security was the
responsibility of “every employee” – compared to two thirds of
those who work for the largest employers (66%).
“As the adoption and integration of technology becomes a bigger
priority across the corporate spectrum, medium-sized businesses
have a distinct opportunity,” said Patrick LaPorte, Senior
Director, Product Marketing at Aruba. “Though often forgotten in
the digital transformation conversation – with the focus instead on
how large companies are struggling to adapt or smaller businesses
are seizing the ability to scale – it is medium-sized businesses
whose employees show the willingness and agility to make better use
of technology and understanding of the opportunities it brings. The
key is enabling them to do so. But with that comes a certain degree
of security risk.”
“The success of the digital workplace depends on the practical
implementation of technology – and that’s as much about the user
experience as it is the technical infrastructure. For medium-sized
businesses to realize the full value of their investments and
eliminate the risks, their leaders must ensure employees are given
the training needed to be productive and IT the tools to ensure
safe use.”
Link to The Hidden Middle study:
https://www.arubanetworks.com/en-gb/cloud-solutions-for-business-class-networking/
About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading
provider of next-generation networking solutions for enterprises of
all sizes worldwide. The company delivers IT solutions that empower
organizations to serve the latest generation of mobile-savvy users
who rely on cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their
work and personal lives.
To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba
on Twitter and Facebook, and for the latest
technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products visit Airheads
Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com/
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190319005572/en/
Kathleen KeithAruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise
company+1-707-529-4507kathleen.keith@hpe.comorSarah
GoodwinAruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company+1
650-236-7233sarah.goodwin@hpe.com
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