The Fall and Rise of BYOD Trends in 2023

Updated · Mar 06, 2023

Imagine that you can bring your own laptop instead of using the company's outdated computer. Wouldn’t it be nice to work on the device you’re used to?

That’s what the latest BYOD trends are actively encouraging!

The meaning behind those four letters stands for “bring your own device” to the workplace.

Both the employer and the employee benefit from implementing BYOD. The former saves on hardware, while the latter becomes more productive and satisfied at work.

At first glance, it looks like a win-win situation for everyone involved. But there are also some hidden risks, which we’ll discuss later on.

Now, let’s take our laptops to work and read this article there.

Hope your employer is OK with that. Mine certainly is.

Impressive BYOD Stats and Facts for 2022 (Editor’s Choice):

  • 75% of US employees used their own phones for work purposes.
  • 85% of the companies introduced BYOD practices due to COVID-19.
  • BYOD increases employees’ productivity by 34%.
  • By 2022, the Bring Your Own Device market might reach $367 billion worth.
  • 35% of employees use their smartphones to store job-related passwords.
  • Only 64% of organizations have established a Bring Your Own Device policy.
  • Nearly 62% of BYOD employees state they don’t receive a device maintenance stipend.
  • 20% of employees noticed a hack on their company-provided device.
  • 67% of people admit they use their own devices at work even if it’s forbidden.

What is BYOD Policy Exactly?

When a company allows employees to bring their own devices to work, it needs to set some rules on how they will be used.

This policy includes using smartphones, tablets, and laptops for work purposes.

1. The story of BYOD started back in 2009.

(Source: Cybered)

In 2009, Intel employees decided to use their tablets and smartphones on the job. Their employer quickly welcomed the idea because it led to increased productivity and lower costs. What a natural start for future BYOD trends!

2. It was predicted that by 2020, 45% of the companies would stop providing personal devices to their employees.

(Source: Statista)

For comparison, in 2013, only 6% of the organizations expected to cease providing personal devices to their staff. In 2016, the share was 38%. Things can drastically change even for less than a decade.

In one of the following BYOD statistics, you'll discover the current number. Keep an eye open so you don’t miss it.

3. 75% of employees in the US used their own mobile devices for work.

(Source: Dial Pad)

This high percentage was measured before COVID-19 hit. During the pandemic, many people started working from home, so the number might be even higher now.

It turns out that employees preferred using their own phone for work, even though they were provided with a company one. Why? Because it’s easier. Simple as that.

4. COVID-19 encouraged 85% of the organizations to implement BYOD among their staff and partners.

(Source: Mordor Intelligence)

If you wonder what percentage of companies use BYOD, 85% is the lucky number. 

During the pandemic, many firms had to allow their employees to work from home and use their own devices. Some surveys noticed higher levels of productivity because of that.

Without a doubt, the whole situation impacted both the employees’ and the organization's culture.

5. Before the pandemic, 95% of businesses already allowed personnel to bring and use their own devices for work.

(Source: Finances Online)

Moreover, 87% of the companies rely on employees to use apps for business purposes from their personal devices. So voluntarily applying BYOD in the workplace is a common practice. Looks like we’re dealing with some unwritten rule here.

Have you ever used your smartphone for work without being asked to do so? If your answer is affirmative, you must be one dedicated employee. Good job!

6. By 2024, mobile workers in the US can reach 93.5 million.

(Source: Statista)

The mobile workers in this stat are the ones provided with a corporate tablet or smartphone for work purposes. But in our case, they can also be part of the BYOD vs. CYOD battle. Well, it’s not an actual battle but more of a company’s decision on which approach is best.

The CYOD (choose your own device) model allows employees to choose their own mobile device, typically from several options. The device is provided by the company and can be used only for work.

7. In 2018, the adoption of BYOD was slowing down while COPE was rising.

(Source: Forbes)

Once again, the company is facing a dilemma—BYOD vs. COPE. The COPE approach stands for corporate-owned, personally enabled devices. It means that employees can use corporate mobile devices not only for work but also for personal needs. It’s an upgrade to CYOD and differs from BYOD in one key point—the company owns the portable device.

But that’s an old story. The new one begins with one major event in 2020. Can you guess which one? COVID-19, of course. Since then, BYOD has been back in the game full force. Yay!

8. 30% of the IT companies will expand their BYOD policies to BYOE by 2023.

(Source: Gartner)

BYOE stands for “bring your own enhancement” and involves using wearable technology at work. To make it more clear, this means physical augmentations of the human to make it more capable, productive, and advanced. Sounds futuristic, but it might become the new reality in a few years.

BYOD Market: Realities and Predictions

We already know that BYOD is on a rising curve, thanks to COVID-19. Its resurrection suggests that businesses are gaining from applying the model. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be holding on for so long. Let’s see if we’re right.

9. The global market size of BYOD is expected to reach almost $367 billion in 2022.

(Source: Globe News Wire)

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the US market share is expected to be over 15% between 2015 to 2022. The Asia Pacific region might grow by 20.8% for the same period. Small businesses’ rate of growth is predicted to reach 19.7%.

Keep in mind these are only predictions. The real numbers for 2022 might be much higher since BYOD trends have been on the go lately.

10. As of March 2021, the total number of worldwide internet users is 4.9 billion.

(Source: Statista)

Almost 737 million live in Europe, while 378 million reside in North America. However, the North American region is ahead of Europe in embracing the BYOD culture. It might be because many large North American companies like IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Blackberry are officially adopting a BYOD policy.

11. US employees save 81 minutes per week thanks to BYOD.

(Source: Mordor Intelligence)

Due to BYOD, workers can tackle tasks almost immediately after receiving them, saving them 37 minutes weekly. US BYOD users are leading so far, with 81 minutes saved. For big retailers with many employees, these numbers add up. The extra minutes gained can result in serving more customers and, thus, having higher sales.

12. Between 2021 to 2026, the BYOD market's CAGR might reach 15%.

(Source: Mordor Intelligence)

This rate is due to the increased use of smartphones and high-speed mobile internet in developed and developing countries. The growing number of startups in these economies is also a factor in spreading the BYOD culture. By allowing employees to use their own devices, the new companies can save on expenses in the initial phase.

BYOD Policy Pros and Cons

Duality is part of our lives and we know that every coin has two sides. So using BYOD also has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of them are obvious; others—not so much. But that’s why WebTribunal is here—to inform you of the pitfalls and, of course, benefits.

13. Using a mobile device for work makes people 34% more productive.

(Source: Samsung Insights)

It also saves them an average of 58 minutes every day. That’s another plus to the BYOD productivity statistics.

Today, it’s no surprise that employees access work-related apps through their smartphones. It’s the era of smart devices, after all. So the business has to stay up to date with employees’ needs and world trends.

(Source: Research and Markets)

Moreover, that makes them more confident and turns them into engaged workers. Among other BYOD benefits, this approach also helps to manage international teams. Thus, organizations can hire talented people from all over the world. Their geographical location isn’t a restriction anymore.

15. 50.3% of employees were given a choice between company-owned or personal devices.

(Source: Beyond Identity)

It means that 49.7% didn’t have that option. It’s a close call, but the scale is more towards having a choice. Thus, more companies are embracing the BYOD policy.

16. It’s forecasted that by 2022 connected wearable devices will become 1.1 billion.

(Source: Statista)

Such wearables might be any connected electronic devices worn on the body, such as smartwatches, hearables, wristbands, etc.

What’s in it for BYOD? Well, workers will receive company updates in real time, so they can react more quickly to received tasks. Hence, this leads to higher productivity.

17. 67% of organizations suffered security breaches due to BYOD.

(Source: Jump Cloud)

Of course, BYOD risks should be taken into consideration. Those security breaches came from remote employees opening business-related apps on their personal devices. The objects of concerns are personally owned smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

That said, 69% of IT leaders approve of BYOD practices despite the security risks.

(Source: Ontech)

Speaking of security concerns… Smartphones are the go-to device for that, it seems.

But let’s add a few more numbers to our BYOD stats. Small businesses have an average of 85 passwords per employee. Wow! That’s a lot. Surprisingly, larger companies have only 25.

19. The advancement of IoT and 5G has a positive effect on BYOD.

(Source: Cass Information Systems)

It’s not a secret that remote working is quite popular in 2022. 5G and internet of things technologies are moving forward as well. Employees can use connected to 5G IoT devices to do their job. This means that the BYOD model also needs an upgrade to be in trend.

20. The average BYOD cost savings per employee each year is $350.

(Source: Insight)

Applying BYOD results in cutting costs for the organization. It’s especially beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses with lower budgets for hardware and its maintenance. And since BYOD leads to higher productivity, it’s a double win.

It’s never too late to hop on the BYOD train. If you’re a company, you should at least consider it.

Wrap Up

So we’ve chased BYOD trends back to their origins.

They’ve been through times of fall in order to rise back up again.

You know how in tough times, we test if a strategy will survive.

This one seems to be resilient enough so far.

Is it here to stay? Only the future will show.

Share:
Nick Galov
Nick Galov

Unaware that life beyond the internet exists, Nick is poking servers and control panels, playing with WordPress add-ons, and helping people get the hosting that suits them.