Ask FERF about ... The Real Cost of Wireless Mobility.

• Author: Sinnett, William M.
• Position: Financial Executives Research Foundation

Do you know what percentage of your employees have company-owned Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)? Do you know what your company is currently paying for wireless services for these devices?

The Real Cost of Enterprise Wireless Mobility, a new research report from Aberdeen Group, examines how enterprises are managing wireless mobility programs and the challenges they face surrounding costs. The report is based on a survey of 135 global organizations.

Aberdeen states that "for many enterprises, wireless costs and management of wireless assets are out of control," based on these survey results:

* 64% of survey respondents do not have an accurate inventory of devices used by employees;

* 44% have no formal program in place to manage wireless mobility; and

* 10% have not identified a group responsible for managing wireless mobility.

On average, enterprises responding to the survey spent $3.7 million for their voice and data wireless services, and $30 million for wireline services on an annual basis. The average monthly charge per user was $116, with $53 (46%) spent on data expenses and $63 (54%) for voice services. Survey respondents ranged from small enterprises with 35 devices, spending $36,000 for voice services, to large enterprises with 11,000 devices, spending $17 million annually.

Challenges

The survey presented a list of potential challenges to managing wireless mobility. Here is a ranking of the top challenges:

64% said: Rapidly escalating voice and data wireless expenses;

57%: High costs for supporting devices;

41% Lack of visibility into wireless device inventory and usage;

40% Data security for workers; and

38% Lack of wireless industry knowledge and expertise.

Responses to Challenges

Rapidly escalating voice and data wireless expenses:

69% Assign clear ownership of wireless budget and device management; and

68% Secure executive support for wireless mobility management.

High costs for supporting devices:

53% Develop and implement a formal, written policy on wireless mobility. Lack of visibility into wireless device inventory and usage:

63% Inventory wireless devices; and

56% Migrate from employee-liable to corporate-liable plan.

Data security for workers:

49% Enforce wireless policy.

Lack of wireless industry knowledge and expertise:

34% Currently use or plan to use a specialist for wireless mobility management; and

34% Currently use or plan to use a supplier that manages both wireless and wireline technology.

Best in Class

...