IDG recently did a global survey titled iPad for Business Survey 2012 – looking at usage of the iPad by IT and business decision-makers. The survey has some interesting findings and a lot of good news for Apple in terms of the range of ways the iPad is being put to use by business users, and the way it is replacing a laptop for a significant number of these users.
Here are some of the most notable findings:
– Over 90% of respondents use their iPad at work:
Fully 51% of IT decision-makers say they “always” use their iPad at work (and a further 40% say they sometimes use it at work). Out-of-home usage is even more intense, with 79% of IT decision-makers saying that they “always” use their iPads “on the move”.
– More than 10% of these IT and business decision-makers say their iPad has “completely replaced’ a laptop. A further 54% say the iPad has party replaced their laptop.
– As the image at the top of this post shows, these professionals are using their iPad more for work communication and other work-related activities than for personal communication and leisure activities.
The picture that emerges from this survey involves IT and business professionals using their iPads as dual-purpose work/leisure devices, with a relatively strong emphasis on work functionality, and an extremely heavy emphasis on on the move usage.
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Griffin’s latest iPad accessory is their first offering in what they call the Business Solutions Sector. It’s called the MultiDock and it’s a charge and sync station for up to 10 iPads.
The MultiDock is said to boast both a compact footprint (less than a laptop’s) and toughness to ‘withstand the rigors of workplace, classroom, and institutional use’.
Here’s a little more on how this is targeted:
“The MultiDock delivers plug-and-charge convenience in a compact footprint that adapts easily to classrooms, offices, healthcare facilities and other settings,” said Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology. “With Griffin’s Business Solutions, we are excited to provide the most complete power, protection, security, connection and application solutions for enterprise users.”
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Among the most common off-target criticisms leveled at the iPad is the idea that it’s just a toy or purely a device that appeals to consumers; not a serious, business-grade device.
Well, that does not appear to match the view of enterprises and organizations round the world who are rolling out the iPad at large scale. In fact, the list of just public deployments (probably just the tip of the iceberg) already extends to some 458 organizations who are deploying close to 122,000 iPads – according to Eric Lai of UberMobile, who (along with Jim Siegl) maintains the excellent iPad Deployment List.
The list just won’t stop growing. There are now 458 organizations deploying nearly 122,000 iPads (and as I’ve repeatedly noted, this is only a list of public deployments, meaning it is a HU-UGE undercount) … That is 25% growth in the number of organizations in just three months.
There are some mighty impressive names in that list – including SAP, Walt Disney, The Financial Times, GE, and NASA. The list also shows the breadth of iPad’s reach – from major enterprises, to the healthcare industry, to education and government orgnanizations.
As much as some rival tablet makers would like to imply that the iPad is just a hit with ‘personal’ users, it’s just not the case. It’s appeal in the business arena is looking every bit as strong as in the consumer space.
7.3 million sold last quarter – up from 4.something the last quarter. And the really impressive one:
Over 80% of the Fortune 100 are testing or deploying iPad – up from 65% last quarter.
News Via: Apple’s FY 11 First Quarter Results Call.
Noting that chief executives are usually not directly involved in deploying electronics in their company, Gartner this week recommended that CEOs should treat Apple’s iPad as an "exception," or risk being left behind.
We’ve seen more and more signs over recent months of the iPad, and iOS, gaining ground in the corporate and enterprise spaces. This week’s standout example of this growing momentum is some (very) strong advice from the prestigious Gartner Group to CEOs, telling them essentially to get a move on and get iPads into their organizations.
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