Consumerization of IT in SMBs Worldwide: Developing Countries Outpacing Developed Ones in Leveraging Employee-Owned Technology

This IDC study examines how SMBs in six different countries vary in the extent to which they provide mobile computing and communications products to staff and also support employee-owned technology by providing access to company network and online resources. The consumerization of IT is helping a growing number of small and medium-sized businesses worldwide to leverage the advanced technology products that their workers own and use in their own personal lives.

"Smartphones, netbooks, and tablets are being used by a growing number of people worldwide to help in their personal lives, and employers, especially SMBs, are taking notice," said Raymond Boggs, vice president of SMB research at IDC. "These same resources can help improve productivity in a variety of ways, and SMBs in developed and developing countries are providing workers with network access, email connection, and even access to corporate applications through personally owned technology. What's especially interesting is that SMBs in developing countries, even smaller firms, are leveraging personal technology to improve flexibility and productivity."