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By Mark Henricks
Almost half of CIOs said their organizations will use more
tablets in the next two years, according to a recent survey. Surveyors
sponsored by IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology asked more 1,400 CIOs at U.S. companies with 100 or more employees
to what extent they expected to use more tablets. Forty-nine percent said
expected an increase, 40 percent saw no change, 9 percent didn’t know or felt
it wasn’t applicable and just 2 percent forecast no change.
The increasing use of the cloud for storing data, along with
emphasis on file sharing, portability and mobile productivity fit naturally
with greater use of tablet computers, according to John Reed, executive director of Robert Half
Technology. Reed said IT departments will be challenged to support and secure
the devices, however.
Tablets may accelerate trends toward mobile, decentralized
workplaces and lead to growing demand for IT professionals skilled at mobile
applications development, support and security, Reed added. “An increase in tablet
use will likely add to the roles of IT professionals,” he said. “Businesses
will need experts who not only are knowledgeable about mobile applications and
security, but also can help the company make better strategic use of mobile
devices to enhance productivity and customer service.”
CIOs’ views may just be reflecting reality. A recent Morgan Stanley report forecast tablet shipments could reach 100 million by 2012. in
our bull case scenario. The Morgan Stanley report, based on surveys of 50 CIOs
as well as 8,000 consumers indicated two-thirds of companies expect to allow tablets on their networks within a
year.
Frost & Sullivan, meanwhile, said the global tablet market grew more than any
other during 2010 and would repeat as a major IT market trends in 2011. Frost
& Sullivan noted that while almost 100 new tablets were launched in 2011,
they all trailed far behind the iPad, with 18.3 million sold worldwide last
year giving it 90 percent market share.
At technology consulting firm PwC,
analyst Bo Parker concluded in the 2011 technology report that. “Consumer-grade
tablets, smartphones, and supporting technologies are more powerful than ever
and are now becoming secure and reliable enough for enterprise use.” Parker
describes several enterprise uses of tablets, including a California
construction consulting firm that equipped field workers with iPads for on-site
quality assurance diagnoses and to transmit documents including audio and
digital photos.
Silicon Republic quoted Merck’s CIO as being bullish about using tablets at the
pharmaceutical company for sales and marketing as well as research and
development applications. Merck’s Chris Scalet said tablet talents such as the
ability to use video to connect
physicians and therapy experts more easily and readily than can be done with
current technology could produce sizable gains in efficiency and productivity.
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