The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend mixes challenges and opportunities for trainers.
BYOD programs are growing. According to research commissioned by Logicalis, an international IT solutions and managed services provider, 57 percent of full-time workers engage in some form of BYOD. Employees are using their own laptops, smartphones, and tablets at work, or to do their work when away from the office.
As mobile technology penetration continues to increase, the appeal of BYOD is obvious. Nielsen, a consumer research organization, reports that smartphone users now account for 61 percent of mobile subscriptions. The International Data Corporation predicts that 172.4 million tablets will be sold in 2013. People invest in their technology of choice, and prefer using these devices for both personal and work-related tasks. Most tend to be more proficient with their own devices than company-issued devices.
The BYOD trend has important implications for the training and development industry. In research conducted in K-12 schools piloting BYOD programs, teachers report seeing increased achievement and engagement. For adult learners in the workforce, using their own devices means they can access instructional content, performance support materials, or other training resources on demand—which results in a continuous learning environment.
But BYOD is not a panacea. Numerous challenges exist related to security, support infrastructure and costs, and device management—and many of those burdens fall on the IT function. BYOD is ultimately where personal property and corporate security intersect. Having a clearly defined BYOD policy and mobile device management plan are paramount.
For the learning function, the challenges of BYOD are different. As more companies move to mobile learning delivery and BYOD becomes more widely adopted, training professionals will be tasked with designing and delivering more learning content that is device-agnostic.