Apple’s ease of use cited as the number one reason for selecting Mac and iOS over Android
Organisations are increasingly offering employees technology device choice, and when given the choice people choose Mac and iPhone for work. This is a key finding from a global survey of executives, managers, and IT professionals on choice programmes in the workplace from JAMF Software, a provider of Apple device management.
Defined as giving employees the freedom to choose among brands of computer hardware and mobile devices for work, employee choice programmes have gained prominence in the modern business landscape.
Over half (61%) of survey respondents say their company has implemented a choice programme, which can include employer-owned devices, bring your own device (BYOD), or both. Altogether, 80% said these programmes they should become a standard in business.
When given the choice, employees said they prefer Apple. Survey respondents attribute Apple’s ease of use as the number one reason for selecting Mac (75%) and iOS (79%) as their work device of choice. More and more employees choose Apple devices for work because Apple is what they prefer in their everyday lives, a finding consistent with JAMF Software’s 2015 Apple Trends Survey, reported in December last year.
Today’s findings also reveal a generation gap in computer choice. Employees between the ages of 18 and 54 overwhelmingly choose Mac, while those 55 and over are more comfortable using PCs. However, when given a mobile device choice, nearly 80% of all age groups select iOS compared to just 18% who choose Android.
The survey also showed that: 61% of respondents say their company has a choice programme; 79% choose iOS as their mobile device operating system of choice, with “ease of use” cited as the top reason (41%); 75% choose Mac over PC, with “ease of use” cited as the top reason for this choice (43%); 72% claim that the ability to select their device of choice makes them more productive in the workplace; 73% say that choice programmes are important to the well being of an organisation ; and 70% of those who currently lack user choice say their organisation should give them the right to choose the device that best empowers them to do their job.
“Employees today not only want but expect the ability to choose the devices they are most comfortable with for work,” said Dean Hager, CEO, JAMF Software. “Because Apple builds technology that puts people first, people prefer Apple. When employers combine the freedom of choice with Apple, employees are happier and are empowered to be more productive, offering a huge business advantage.”
