At Conexlink we have been using a bring your own device (BYOD) policy since we got our start. Some of the first team members still use their original laptops. The tested policy has provided several benefits for the organization, as well as the team members. If you have considered implementing a similar policy, our BYOD policy is a great place to start. If you have any additional questions, email sales@mycloudit.com.
In this article you’ll learn:
- How Our BYOD Policy Works
- Why We Implemented a BYOD Policy
- 3 Benefits for Us Implementing a BYOD Policy
How Our BYOD Policy Works
BYOD policies can vary by company, but, for us, each employee is given a reasonable stipend to purchase the desktop or laptop of their choice. The stipend allows the team members to decide how they want to use it. That said, they can choose to purchase a new device or continue using their own. The stipend provides each employee money for upgrading or repairing their device as they see fit. Every three years, we provide another stipend.
According to Techopedia, “The prevalence of BYOD is growing as people increasingly own their own high-end mobile computing devices and become more attached to a particular type of device or mobile operating system.” A BYOD policy helps mitigate any issues when it comes to the employee needing to learn a new device. They are able to have a much better experience since they can use the device of their choice and feel more comfortable working. This allows new team members to come into the job and be able to get started much faster since there is no delay in getting a device setup.
Whether team members want to use a PC or Mac, by providing remote desktop access each employee can still access all of the same programs regardless of their operating system. This provides a solution to a common issue of requiring all team members to have one system. Team members are also able to work in a more comfortable environment since they use what works best for them.
One caveat is that the policy may not make sense for every department in the company. We have a team of developers who require more powerful computers. Instead of having them purchase their own, computers are purchased for them and are company assets. While a majority of the organization follows the BYOD policy, each organization needs to make decisions based on what makes sense for their organization. Creating a blanket BYOD policy could cause the organization more issues and result in removing the policy.
Why We Implemented a BYOD Policy
We implemented the BYOD policy for several reasons. From a business perspective, we decided to use the policy because it is much easier to manage assets since we are not responsible for the whole device. This allows us to reduce capital expenses (CapEx) and reduce management and labor resources that would be required to handle a large number of devices.
From the employee prescriptive, we decided to use the policy because team members would be in control and able to create the experience they want. Most team members use their device for both work and personal, so they would most likely opt for a better device. This gives them freedom to purchase a higher priced device with the stipend they may not have otherwise purchased. By not defining what they can use, we were able to create a policy that fit the company culture and help team members have a great experience.
3 Benefits of Us Implementing a BYOD Policy
#1: Team members are able to work in a comfortable environment of their choosing, which increases the happiness of team members. Especially for SaaS-based companies, a team member spends a lot of time on the computer. Having a computer the team member is comfortable with and enjoys working on can make a huge difference in happiness and productivity.
#2: We helped enable a mobile workforce. As more people are starting to work from home and remotely, this helps eliminate that gap. Because of this policy, we are able to hire the right team members regardless of location. While the headquarters in Dallas is preferred, this still gives the company a unique advantage to finding talent. Currently, a few team members work remotely in other states. As James Riley, CEO, pointed out, “if you look at the workforce becoming more mobile, more remote, the bring your own device strategy is a great one for companies to have. It can be for 100% of the organization or for certain pockets.” The BYOD policy is giving team members more freedom when it comes to location and devices.
#3: A reduction of capital expenses (CapEx) and streamlining asset management has been helpful for the company. They do not have to worry about someone having different laptops or who gets upgraded when. Everyone is able to make the decision on their own. This also results in happier team members.
A Few Thoughts from Conexlink Team Members
“BYOD has saved me from the headache of having to worry about two computers. Instead, I have one awesome computer I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.”
“I love my cloud hosted Windows Desktop on my MacBook Air. It’s the best of both worlds, Mac OS High Sierra as my personal space and Windows 10 Experience as my corporate workspace. I can easily access corporate files, extend to external monitors, and print just as if everything was running locally.”
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