Most of your workforce objects to being forced to install work apps on their phones

Almost three-quarters of employees are forced to install work-based apps onto their personal phones so they can do their jobs.

In a report conducted by CCS Insight, the company questioned 672 employees across the US and Western Europe in a bid to discover how they use digital technologies at work, and how technology will change their working role. Of this report, the biggest bugbear of workplace technology was poor connectivity in the workplace. This was juxtaposed by the increasing number of employees that were using always-on, connected apps while at work.

Interestingly, the report revealed that WhatsApp is now the most widely used mobile app amongst businesses, beating out Microsoft Office 365 to the accolade.

Despite this, 74% of employees admitted that they resent the idea of using work applications on personal devices. This was mostly down to fears that their employers can track them, but two-thirds did say they trust their employers with their privacy.

It’s not too surprising given the rise of bring your own device (BYOD) schemes in many businesses over the last few years. Unfortunately, the flip side is that while employees can pick the devices they work with, it’s frustrating to have their employers rely so heavily upon these devices instead of providing their own – especially when it’s a near non-negotiable service, such as VoIP calling instead of dedicated work phones.

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Other concerns expressed in the survey include a fear that artificial intelligence will result in notable job losses over time. Despite this, many appreciate the potential for digital assistants in the workplace, with half saying they expect the likes of Google Assistant to help them in their job.

Microsoft may want to keep an eye out on competitors in the business tools space as, while the majority of respondents trust Microsoft over other tech giants, Google is fast catching up.