Top execs don't understand wireless

One of the reasons for wireless technology not making more of an impact in businesses could be because 51 per cent of executives in a recent study said that they don't understand its benefits and uses.

Deloitte Consulting's online survey of more than 650 executives across Europe, the US and Australasia revealed that, while senior executives have limited understanding of what wireless can do for their businesses, employees have a good knowledge and welcome the benefits.

Three quarters of those employees thought that wireless technology could help their company increase revenues and productivity and, looking ahead, 79 per cent felt that their role could be improved by the technology.

But 20 per cent of those surveyed blamed the immaturity of wireless technology and said that companies are not confident of the technology being developed sufficiently for business.

Thirty per cent felt that wireless technology only had a minor impact on their organisations.

The majority of business executives surveyed, 93 per cent, only use wireless technology for voice calls. When asked why, 24 per cent maintained that their employer does not provide or support wireless technology beyond a wireless phone for voice calls.

Martin Dunsby, Deloitte Consulting's global wireless initiative leader, explained that business users are catching on to the benefits of wireless technology faster than their leaders in the boardroom.

"Wireless technologies available now can bring major benefits to organisations," he said. "There is no need to wait for third-generation. The few forward thinking organisations that are already using available wireless technologies are achieving a quick return on investment."

Over the next four years, 51 per cent of respondents said they expect to be using wireless PDAs, and another 49 per cent expect to be using wireless local area networks.

Forty-four per cent expect to be using wireless data for email and information exchange.