New Study Shows that the “Hidden Middle” are Committed to Technology, but Businesses Must Ensure Employees have the Skills in Place to Reap the Benefits of their Investments
Medium-sized businesses now account for over 60% of US jobs, and are
investing fast in technology. However, with digital now a priority for
businesses of all sizes, they must ensure they have the necessary skills
and security management in place to handle the change, or risk falling
behind competitors according to a new report from Aruba, a Hewlett
Packard Enterprise company.
Developed to explore how medium-sized businesses across the globe are
currently adopting workplace technology, and featuring responses from
over 2,700 employees in management and non-management roles across
medium-sized businesses, The
Hidden Middle study uncovered a number of key trends:
-
Medium-sized businesses are the most active users of workplace
technology: Almost two-thirds (63%) of medium-sized business
employees rated the “choice of technology, applications and IT
support” at their company as either good or very good. That compared
to 53% of those also surveyed from the largest companies. Medium-sized
businesses are also ahead of the competition in their use of advanced
audio-visual technologies (such as voice-activated and wireless
communication tools), which are offered by an average of 27% of
medium-sized businesses, compared to 16% of smaller and 22% of larger
employers.
-
They are placing a heavy emphasis on the cloud: Around a
quarter (24%) of medium-sized business employees said their company
had invested in cloud storage software over the last 12 months,
compared to 17% of large firms. Medium-sized businesses are also
prioritizing cyber security software: 39% reported investments in this
area in the last year, compared to 31% of large businesses.
-
And are offering a better working environment as a result: In
light of their impressive commitment to new technology medium-sized
business employees are significantly more likely (66%) to rate their
“environment at work” as either good or very good in comparison to
those at the largest companies (57%). Businesses of this size are also
more agile when it comes to offering flexibility for employees to use
personal devices for work – with 72% of medium-sized business
employees allowed to do this, compared to only 53% of those who work
for larger employers.
-
But there is demand for better management of technology investments:
Over three quarters (77%) of medium-sized business employees either
agreed or strongly agreed that “if not managed correctly, the
introduction of new technology could damage employee morale;” while
78% agreed that “my organization’s management and control of the
connected devices that are in use could be improved.”
A risky road ahead
With two thirds of employees at medium-sized businesses (66%) saying
their organization was “at risk of falling behind competitors” by not
implementing new technology, the pressure to keep pace is clear – but so
too are the associated dangers.
Despite being conscious of their organizations’ cybersecurity policies,
nearly three quarters (74%) of medium-sized business employees said they
had taken risks with company data in the past year. In addition, less
than half (48%) said that security was the responsibility of “every
employee” – compared to two thirds of those who work for the largest
employers (66%).
“As the adoption and integration of technology becomes a bigger priority
across the corporate spectrum, medium-sized businesses have a distinct
opportunity,” said Patrick LaPorte, Senior Director, Product Marketing
at Aruba. “Though often forgotten in the digital transformation
conversation – with the focus instead on how large companies are
struggling to adapt or smaller businesses are seizing the ability to
scale – it is medium-sized businesses whose employees show the
willingness and agility to make better use of technology and
understanding of the opportunities it brings. The key is enabling them
to do so. But with that comes a certain degree of security risk.”
“The success of the digital workplace depends on the practical
implementation of technology – and that’s as much about the user
experience as it is the technical infrastructure. For medium-sized
businesses to realize the full value of their investments and eliminate
the risks, their leaders must ensure employees are given the training
needed to be productive and IT the tools to ensure safe use.”
Link to The Hidden Middle study: https://www.arubanetworks.com/en-gb/solutions/midsize-business/
About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading provider of
next-generation networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes
worldwide. The company delivers IT solutions that empower organizations
to serve the latest generation of mobile-savvy users who rely on
cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their work and personal
lives.
To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook,
and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products
visit Airheads Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com/
Kathleen Keith
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
+1-707-529-4507
kathleen.keith@hpe.com
or
Sarah Goodwin
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
+1 650-236-7233
sarah.goodwin@hpe.com