It's just before 7am this morning. I couldn't sleep. The Patriots lost a heartbreaker (again) yesterday, which all but ruined my Sunday. This is only a slight exaggeration. Regardless, I decided to think about happier things, such as enterprise mobility and individually liable devices (Hey, I never said I have a life). I started thinking about wireless expense management - what would happen if we no longer had corporate liable devices?
Back in the old days…you know, circa 2007, when we were in the Wild Wild West of enterprise mobility, the vast majority of devices being used were provided by the employer…hence the advent of the notion of corporate liable devices. This all changed, of course, with the consumerization of enterprise mobility and the adoption of devices like the iPhone.
As we approach 2010, smartphone adoption will only accelerate. That’s pretty much a Captain Obvious statement. However, what is less obvious is the impact on corporate wireless expense management. So let me throw this question out. How important will wireless expense management be as there are less and less (relatively speaking) corporate liable devices?
Let me walk you through a scenario. What is preventing organizations from saying that they will either no longer provide employees a corporate liable device, or decide to only provide a monthly stipend, or choose to no longer provide ANY subsidy? This would be a very easy way to remove an increasingly sizable cost ($100 per employee per month). I’m still going to want a smartphone. I want to have access to my personal email, and my work email, and I certainly want to continue having access to the web on my device. Who’s in control now? My company or me? Isn’t my company providing me a perk that they really don’t have to?
OK, so there are real reasons why a company may decide to continue reimbursing or at least providing a stipend. First, mobility becomes a cultural thing for the enterprise…a competitive differentiator in terms of how your organization treats its employees. This is critical in my opinion, especially when we talk about organizations recognizing that mobility must be culturally instilled into the company.
So OK, provide a stipend. 30, maybe 50, maybe 70 dollars per month. Whatever you think is appropriate. Where do I need expense management in this scenario? You take away the issues around needing to know how many lines are under-utilized or even completely unused. No need for contract negotiations. No need for processing electronic invoices. No need to have tools for inventory management or procurement. Two of the nine pieces necessary for a complete mobility management strategy go away.
Wouldn’t this make things more simple for everyone?
