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How to spend less time managing your company’s BYOD policies

Allowing employees to use their own mobile devices doesn’t need to increase your administrative burden.

 

A group of people sitting around a table using their cellphones

Every time you hire an employee, you bring new mobile devices into your company—whether or not you intend to.

People are attached to their favourite devices and will use them for business, even if they have corporate-issued phones. In fact, more than 67 percent of employees rely on their personal devices for work.

Many companies have created bring your own device (BYOD) strategies to give employees the flexibility to use their preferred devices. BYOD not only makes your employees’ lives easier but is also good for your business. According to a recent study, the average worker gains 81 minutes of productivity each week when they use their personal devices at work.

Every employee you put on a BYOD plan saves you $1,300 per year in device and software costs.

Sapho

While a BYOD strategy offers a number of benefits, it can also create challenges for your telecom administrators. If you pay for your employees’ plans, you will need to track everyone’s telecom expenses and review dozens—or even hundreds—of wireless bills each month. You must ensure each employee device meets your security and compliance requirements.

Luckily, there are ways to support BYOD while you reduce your administrative burden. Here are five ways telecom administrators can save time while better managing employee devices and wireless plans:

  • Minimize the types of devices that you support.

Make your mobility strategy more manageable by placing limits around what employee devices you will support. For example, you can specify that employees only use devices that meet your security requirements. This will ensure your corporate apps and data are secure.

  • Choose a wireless plan with flexible data.

Your plan should allow employees to use their mobile devices without worrying about data caps. But you also shouldn’t need to worry about manually adding data plans or paying high fees if someone goes over their limit.

With flexible data, your wireless provider should automatically give you extra data at a pre-determined, low rate if someone needs it. Then, the plan should reset the following month to keep your costs in check. Flexible data allows you a measure of cost certainty while your employees get to focus on what’s important, rather than on overage fees.

  • Automate telecom expense management.

Many companies use spreadsheets to track their telecom and BYOD expenses. But manually entering this data is slow and can lead to errors. Telecom expense management eliminates many time-consuming and costly processes. For example, you can automate your AP workflows to make payments faster and avoid late fees on invoices. With TEM, you can also identify devices no longer in use and stop maintaining technology you don’t need.

  • Choose a wireless provider that gives you a dedicated account rep.

A dedicated rep will gain an understanding of your business, employees and BYOD needs. Working with a “personal concierge” can save you a lot of time when you’re setting up new plans. Your rep will also help you avoid long calls with tech support. When you phone in with a question, you will speak directly with your rep, not with random technicians who may ask for basic information they should already have. Since your dedicated account rep knows your business, they will also be better equipped to resolve your issues on the first call.

  • Empower employees with worry-free roaming.

In today’s global market, more employees are traveling for business. Business Travel News reports that corporate travel expenses are expected to hit $1.7 trillion in 2021—up from $1.3 trillion in 2016.

Employees need roaming plans that give them all the voice minutes and data they need to work effectively while they are on the road. With a predictable plan, employees can get a flat, daily roaming rate. The plan should automatically kick in when an employee roams and turn off when they return. That way, you don’t need to manually add or remove roaming packs, or worry about high roaming rates.

Companies that support BYOD can boost employee productivity and happiness—while they lower their mobility costs. But bringing in new devices doesn’t mean you have to spend more time on administration. With the right strategy, you can give employees the tools they need to be productive while you free up your time for mission-critical projects.