Even in a down economy, companies still fiercely compete for the most qualified candidates. These top-notch job-seekers are fortunate to have options, and they also have high expectations of their future employer. While salary and benefits remain important, other factors have gained importance recently: working atmosphere, flexibility and, now more than ever, the tech equipment they’ll be using. 

Companies shouldn’t only be worried about prospective employees, either. A recent global survey found that 32 percent of U.S. workers said they're considering leaving their jobs, up from 23 percent who said the same in 2005. The main reasons? A lack of a people-oriented corporate culture and high levels of stress and pressure to perform. These findings give us reason to believe that companies could be much more successful if they focused more on their employees. 

It’s no surprise, then, that many companies now attempt to offer new and existing employees a more attractive place to work – one that meets their demands and expectations. “Bring your own device” (BYOD) is one result of this new way of thinking. Employees increasingly want to use their own laptops, tablets or phones at work, even when employers offer – or mandate – a different solution. The human resources director, for example, who likes his iPad so much he wants to use it for his everyday work, or the sales rep who also wants to use his favorite iPhone at work, instead of the corporate-supplied Blackberry. Many companies grant these requests to enhance their attractiveness as an employer. 

But what exactly does this mean for everyday work? How does BYOD impact a company’s IT management? Previously, administrators only had to manage a few additional mobile devices such as laptops and notebooks; now they have to face a whole “zoo” of mobile hard and software platforms. Among these are often smartphones and tablets originally designed for personal use. They now have to be integrated into the corporate IT, they have to be managed and supported, and private data has to be kept strictly separate from corporate data. IT managers not promoting BYOD will probably shake their heads in disbelief, but this will be business as usual for every IT department sooner rather than later. As we’ve seen, users don’t want to be without their favorite devices in the workplace.   

Now is the time for companies to modernize their thinking and their technology culture – and include BYOD. But they don’t have to go it alone – there are IT service management solutions that offer a broad range of features for automating and managing different devices. Mobile Device Management (MDM) enables them to seamlessly integrate all different types of smartphones. The best job candidates have the proverbial pick of the litter when it comes to job opportunities; don’t let one slip by because your IT infrastructure limits their device freedom. 

Coming later this week: Five tips for successfully integrating BYOD into your IT service management 

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