|
Lexmark’s Productivity Trend Tracker reveals consumer shift towards mobility
While the last 50 years were all about enabling connectivity and communication, the next five will be about ensuring people can achieve these goals wherever they may be. This is the conclusion of a new survey commissioned by Lexmark, and conducted by global pollster Ipsos, comprising 9000 respondents across Europe, and including 500 respondents from the UK.
The UK gets flexible
European trends showed a strong move towards wireless uptake and greater mobility both inside and outside the home – and the UK is no exception. Where the Internet was hailed as the greatest productivity enhancer over the last 50 years by respondents in the UK, the near future is expected to be dominated by technical innovations which deliver greater degrees of flexibility – in particular wireless networks, smartcards and portable devices.
Lexmark’s Productivity Trend Tracker, modelled from these results, shows a number of important shifts in consumer behaviour, both across Europe and locally:
From connectivity to mobility
While the Internet is seen as a major boost to productivity, results show it is viewed increasingly as a utility within the home. 90 per cent of those questioned are hooked up to broadband, and recognise the positive changes it has brought. They are now looking to build on this to deliver greater benefits and achieve more through greater flexibility.
The revolution is already underway
It appears, however, that these predictions are based on trends which are already happening. The UK showed extremely positive trends towards greater mobility:
-
44 per cent of UK respondents already have a wireless network at home, compared to 41 per cent across Europe as a whole
-
81 per cent of these are already experiencing productivity benefits
-
47 per cent of those who don’t yet have a wireless network plan to invest in one in the near future
It appears, therefore, that the connected home is a reality in the UK and will continue to grow between now and 2012.
Consumers set to spend on wireless devices
Consequently, sales of wireless equipment are set to boom in the UK to enable consumers to take advantage of the productivity benefits. The key areas for spending will be:
Lexmark commissioned the survey to celebrate their recent launch of inkjet single function printers and all-in-ones featuring wireless printing options.
“We are seeing a major shift in consumer behaviour and spending,” said Matthew Yarrow, general manager of the Consumer Printer Division at Lexmark UK. “Previously communication was the goal, with households signing up to broadband Internet services to talk, shop and browse online. Now they have seen the possibilities and potential, they want to achieve more so are looking to flexible, portable equipment to achieve this.”
“Consumers in the UK are embracing the ‘access anywhere’ age, and see the home as a focal point of this. Many are used to mobile technology in day-to-day life - including wi-fi in and out of the office and portable devices such as smartphones, MP3 players, digital cameras and Blackberries – and want to extend these benefits into the home. As technology vendors recognise this and ensure their equipment is compatible with the need for greater flexibility, the trend is sure to turn into a boom,” Yarrow concluded.
|
