Is BYOD advisable for technical support outsourcing firms?

OABPO Blog Team Published on March 19, 2014

technical-support-outsourcing
Opinions are divided in the debate of whether or not the BYOD (bring your own device) setting is advisable for technical support outsourcing firms. MarketsandMarkets, for one, sees the BYOD trend to reach the $181.39-billion worth by 2017. Gartner also agrees that there’s no stopping the trend from invading workplaces, but its benefits will bring security challenges along.
So, between the benefits and disadvantages, which would weigh more in the call center setup? Before we answer let’s first define a workplace with a BYOD setting as well as its pros and cons.

The BYOD workplace

An office that embraces the BYOD trend lets employees bring their own personal handheld or wearable device to use it for work-related tasks. Since the devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) are allowed to access company information and data connection, employees toting their own gadgets have more freedom over their preferred work area. With a portable device in tow, they can work anywhere with an Internet access.

The upsides

technical-support-outsourcing-

Through the workstation flexibility it brings, BYOD changes the way people think about work. This fosters a positive outlook where productivity is measured by results rather than work hours.

As Dell CIO Adriana Karaboutis put it, “With today’s increasingly tech-savvy workforce and outcome-driven employees, companies have everything to gain from fully embracing the IT consumerization and mobility trend that is redefining the workplace.”

For technical support outsourcing companies, the biggest benefit is perhaps call volume decline. Gartner predicts that by 2016, tech support call centers will see a 25% to 30% drop in inbound requests, as BYOD reinforces multi-channeled customer service where agents fix product issues over channels (apps, email, live chat) that remove the necessity of phone calls.

The downsides

Despite the perceived advantages, IT professionals still see BYOD as a potential invitation to serious security threats. Corporate data stored in a personal device could be jeopardized once the gadget is lost, as 83% of lost or stolen smartphones are used to access company information, according to a study by security solutions company Symantec.

For this risk, IT experts advise against BYOD, saying that it complicates their work. Andrea Bradshaw, senior director at tech service provider CDW, even claimed, “Mobility has edged its way into the workplace, increasing and complicating IT’s workload, and often leading to frustration on all fronts.”

technical-support-outsourcing---
In order to ensure stable network performance and prevent data dangers, IT officers enforce strict BYOD policies and end-user guidelines. Security measures and tools such as long passwords, screen locks, partitioning, geofencing, location tracking, and mobile app blacklists may secure corporate data at expense of the device user’s privacy. Thus, BYOD could restrict employees, as opposed to others’ claim that it provides greater freedom.

The verdict

BYOD indeed has its merits that are proven by various companies that have incorporated the use of personal devices into their corporate culture. However, this may not be beneficial to technical support outsourcing firms. Customer support tasks entail client information storage, and lenient work settings, like BYOD, open tech support to security threats and client confidentiality breach. In addition, call center work requires voice service-conducive facilities and environments to be efficient. Until greater assurance of data protection is achieved, call centers should think twice before allowing agents to work using their own devices.

Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 2 days ago
๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—•๐—ฃ๐—ข ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฆ๐—›๐—œ๐—™๐—ง ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐˜†๐—น๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜†๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐˜€

Multilingual call center Open Access BPO announced the official launch of ๐—ฆ๐—›๐—œ๐—™๐—ง: ๐—”๐—ป ๐—ข๐—”๐—•๐—ฃ๐—ข ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐˜†๐—น๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—บ, an initiative designed to foster sustainable health and well-being among its employees.

The program, whose acronym SHIFT stands for Sustainable Health and Integrated Fitness Transformation, aims to address the challenges of sedentary work lifestyles prevalent in the BPO industry by providing comprehensive support for health improvement.

The OABPO SHIFT Program will offer a holistic approach to employee wellness, encompassing structured physical fitness activities, wellness coaching, and a smart, sustainable nutrition guide.

This program highlights Open Access BPO's dedication to employee well-being, recognizing that healthy team members are key to both professional success and a great quality of life.

Employees are encouraged to check their official Open Access BPO email for detailed information on program enrollment and participation.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OneForHealth #oabpoSHIFT
#IdeaHubOABPO #EmployeeWellness
#WellbeingAtWork
Open Access BPO 6 days ago
Delivering outstanding #CustomerSupport on over #SocialMedia promptly is essential for enhancing #CustomerSatisfaction and improving the overall brand experience.

But how can your brand consistently deliver on this crucial front?

Improve your customer interactions and build stronger connections on social media by reading all about it on our blog: https://buff.ly/sdjJ2A3

โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
Give your brand a CX boost on the social web!
Outsource to a #CustomerService expert today: https://buff.ly/aBetHaO

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerService #CSat
#CustomerExperience #CX
Open Access BPO 16 days ago
The world is getting smaller, and your customers come from all corners of it!
Partnering with a culturally diverse #CallCenter team isn't just the right thing to do, it's a smart business move.

Learn about the key benefits in our blog:
https://buff.ly/360SqHP

----------
Want a high-value #CustomerExperience for your diverse audience?

Let our multicultural teams help your brand break into international markets without worries.

Contact us today: https://buff.ly/59i7YD6

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CX #diversity #inclusion
Open Access BPO 16 days ago
Open Access BPO is kicking off our Pride Week, a dedicated series of events celebrating #PrideMonth. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on #inclusion and #diversity.

Throughout the week, we've planned a series of meaningful activities designed to celebrate the #LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered is crucial for our collective success.

Our dedication to creating a safe and equitable space extends beyond this week, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive future for all.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2025 #UnitedByLove
#OneWithDiversity #PrideMonth2025
Open Access BPO 16 days ago
Open Access BPO is kicking off our Pride Week, a dedicated series of events celebrating #PrideMonth. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on #inclusion and #diversity.

Throughout the week, we've planned a series of meaningful activities designed to celebrate the #LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered is crucial for our collective success.

Our dedication to creating a safe and equitable space extends beyond this week, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive future for all.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2025 #UnitedByLove
#OneWithDiversity #PrideMonth2025
Open Access BPO 17 days ago
Open Access BPO conducted Plant It Forward, a two-part tree-planting initiative, held in Laguna and Davao in May and June 2025.

Volunteers from both activities planted 300 Philippine indigenous trees, which were selected to help maintain the biodiversity in the area.

โ€œThis program is more than just planting trees; itโ€™s about cultivating a culture of social responsibility within our organization and demonstrating our commitment to the communities where we operate,โ€ said Joy Sebastian, Global VP at Open Access BPO.

This is only the start. Open Access BPO vows to continue investing in such environmental projects, affirming its core value of creating positive impact.

Read more about the green initiative here: https://buff.ly/HjTlHZC

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OABPOPlantItForward
#OABPOcares #IdeaHubOABPO