Over 25% of CIOs Say Their Company Has No Mobile Strategy

With seemingly everyone using mobile devices these days, it might be hard to believe that some businesses don’t have a mobile strategy.  That is the case, though, for more than 25% of companies, according to CIOs based on one survey.  Learn more in the following post.

Roughly one in four companies (28%) surveyed by Robert Half Technology has no mobile technology strategy. These organizations have a little catching up to do: In the same survey, 70% of firms said they have implemented some type of mobile technology strategy, with the majority (56%) reporting they use a blend of applications and mobile-friendly web pages.

CIOs were asked, “Which best describes your company’s mobile technology strategy?”

Use of a blend of apps and mobile-friendly web pages …………… 56%

No mobile strategy currently ………………………………………………..… 28%

Favor creating mobile-friendly web pages over apps …………………. 11%

Favor creating apps over mobile-friendly web pages …………….….…. 3%

Don’t know/no answer…………………………………………………………………. 1%

*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

Among the specific industries represented in the survey, healthcare services had the greatest percentage of respondents (36%) reporting that their organization has no mobile technology strategy. The business services and retail industries had the highest percentages of respondents (65% and 63%, respectively) using a blend of apps and mobile-friendly web pages.

“To maintain competitive advantage, sectors such as business services and retail need to connect with customers anytime, anywhere, so it’s logical to see them leading the charge in implementing mobile strategies,” says John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Compliance issues have made it difficult for the healthcare industry to move as quickly as other sectors, but as consumer demand for mobile health information grows, formal mobile strategies are a necessary next step.”

There’s (Not) an App for That (Yet)

The Robert Half Technology survey also found that while most organizations have a mobile technology strategy, many are not emphasizing the use of mobile apps to connect with customers and clients. 58% of CIOs polled said their company has not developed a mobile application for customers and clients and has no plans to offer one in the next 12 months.

CIOs were asked, “Has your company developed a mobile application for customers and clients, or do you plan to offer one in the next 12 months?”

We don’t have one now and don’t plan to offer one in the next 12 months…… 58%

We don’t have one now but plan to offer one in the next 12 months … …………… 22%

We have one now …………………………………………………………………………..……………….. 18%

Don’t know/no answer ………………………………………………………………………….…………… 2%

“As mobile device use continues to expand, businesses will want to make it easy for customers and clients to connect with them via mobile platforms,” says Reed. “This will likely become a ‘need to have’ versus a ‘nice to have’ in the next few years.”