Choose-your-own device trend sweeps PH

Lenovo Philippines GM Michael Ngan

EVEN though data security is on top of people’s minds these days, computer technology company Lenovo expects more consumers will embrace two-in-one devices in the Philippines as part of the growing “choose your own device” (CYOD) trend.

“CYOD is the springboard of BYOD (bring your own device),” says Michael Ngan, country general manager of Lenovo Philippines.

With CYOD, employees get to choose from Lenovo’s extensive line the device they prefer for work.

Flexibility and mobility come into play in this growing trend, Ngan says, pointing to mature markets where CYOD is prevalent.

Corporate devices can sometimes morph into employees’ personal devices, blurring the line for data security, he says.

This is just one of the reasons why companies give their employees the option to choose their own device.

When employees use their own purchased device, corporate data may be compromised.

Those will be the factors chief information officers (CIO) need to consider when CYOD finally takes off in the country, Ngan says.

Lenovo sees that “the CYOD trend will continue to accelerate in 2015 as businesses turn to manufacturers with proven track records in enterprise environments for increased security and reliability, as well as ease of deployment. The CYOD trend allows users to effectively manage the deployment of multiple device options with the right configurations, simplifying mobility management and consumerization.”

For years, Lenovo has been looking at—and preparing for—possibilities, and it is now ready to take on the CYOD era.

Ngan also says that two-in-one devices will soon be the device of choice for companies and employees.

“People realized that most mobile device they use are only for consumption,” Ngan says. “They need devices that can make them productive to break loose from the limitations of consumption-only devices.”

Two-in-one devices have some of the features that personal computers (PC) provide and the flexibility of mobile devices to be carried around.

“Always in the forefront of innovation and technology, I think we’re one of the very few vendors who have a wide range of product portfolio—from desktops to laptops, tablets to smartphones—and we even have devices that are really meant for commercial use,” Ngan explains.

The tech firm reported that 65 percent of its revenue came from PCs, 24 percent from mobile, and 9 percent from enterprise. A year ago, PCs made up 81 percent of its earnings.

“The volume for the two-in-one is not there yet while the traditional clamshell laptops market has sort of stabilized,” Ngan admits.

He says 2013 may see a steep decline in PC sales and a significant rise in tablet sales.

According to Ngan, PC sales have “plateaued.”

However, while it may not be growing, the market is still there, and Lenovo sees the opportunity for the company to position its own two-in-one devices.

The market is now realizing the mobility benefits of a tablet and the productivity of a PC.

Lenovo’s answer to this growing trend is its smart-connected devices, such as the Tiny-in-One, ThinkPad 8, and ThinkPad Helix.

The company aims “to further attack the robust local commercial market and equip organizations with savvy yet performance-driven devices in a CYOD-driven work environment.”

The tech firm is applying its “Protect and Attack” strategy in this new trend. Its key growth engines include enterprise and mobile.

Lenovo is now the No. 3 global smartphone player, following its acquisition of Motorola. It also acquired IBM’s System x (server) business.

Lenovo says that these acquisitions position the firm as a “strong global contender” in the CYOD-driven enterprise market, offering customers complete end-to-end solutions, including storage, server, networking, and related software and services.

The acquisition immediately vaults Lenovo from the No. 6 to the No. 3 position in x86 server hardware, software, and services, providing it the momentum that will enable the company to attain its stated goal of reaching $5 billion in revenue by October 2015.