On 25 December, all across the world, people will awake to find a range of gifts in their stockings and under their trees left by Saint Nick.

But what do CIOs want to wake up to on Christmas morning? CBR rounds up some of the top mobile gifts for your CIO loved one.

 

1. A top of the range smartphone for every employee

With the growth of the corporate-owned, personally enabled (COPE) model as part of an enterprise mobility strategy, the choice of the device has never been a more important choice for the CIO.

With the iPhone 6S, launched in September, and the Samsung S6 models, launched in April, both angling for a bite from the business market, the competition is fierce, but Apple tends to be the default for enterprises.

 

2. Bigger tablets

Microsoft and Apple have both launched larger-than-life tablets in recent months, the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 4, specifically targeting digital workers.

Again, with the growth of the COPE model, the choice to supply workers with these devices may rest with the CIO. Depending on the line of business, larger tablets can allow them to undertake more taxing industrial and design tasks.

 

3. A wi-fi travel bundle

While we wait for governments and operators to sort out international roaming, with the European Commission slating some developments in this sphere for 2017, providing a reliable global wi-fi solution to employees is becoming another viable option to shelling out for the international rates.

Companies such as iPass are now offering solutions where enterprises can purchase connectivity through a set of global wi-fi hot spots, allowing their employees to instantly log onto local wi-fi when travelling abroad.

 

4. Business apps

Employees are increasingly looking for more efficient ways to get their work done, especially solutions that will empower them to work remotely. This often means a mobile app.

There are many models for delivering enterprise apps, including enlisting third-party developers or using an app development platform. The key is that CIOs will want to have both the backing and the resources needed to deliver on their employees’ demands and stop them from going for unsanctioned consumer offerings.

 

5. A resilient, secure and intelligent network

With the huge growth in end-points brought on by the entry of mobile devices into the corporate workplace, new demands are being placed on the network. This is both in terms of bandwidth, due to increased pull on data resources, and security, since they do not know what their employees are doing with the devices.

CIOs need a network that is able to keep up with demand and ensure minimal down-time, perhaps through analytics-driven allocation of network resources where they are needed most.

 

6. Mobile device management software

The mobile device management software market is a fairly vibrant one. BlackBerry recently bought rival Good Technology and is integrating the software of the two companies to create one overall solution.

A product that keeps devices secure and protects corporate data is key to ensuring that the enterprise doesn’t suffer a cyber-breach.

 

7. A good 4G deal

As the emergency services move to running their mobile communications across 4G through EE’s network, it is clear that 4G networks are a powerful way of carrying communications within organisations.

Buying 4G wholesale for employees will ensure that they can work remotely as efficiently and quickly as they do when at the office.

 

8. A user-friendly unified communications product

Key to remote working is the ability to communicate in the same way across a range of platforms without having to switch between software products.

As unified communications become the norm, products like Microsoft Skype for Business and others will be needed to keep the workforce connected and collaborating.

 

9. Smartwatches

Ensuring that the workforce is always contactable has become easier with the advent of the smartwatch. An employee equipped with a smartwatch can easily juggle tasks by screening notifications that come to their wrist to see whether action is required.

Since employees no longer have to have their smartphone on them, this will make it easier for managers to assign tasks to employees when on the move or outside of office hours.

 

10. A mobile-ready file-sharing solution

The arrival of the mobile device in the workplace has meant that employees need access to documents, not just from their desk but anywhere they happen to take their mobile device.

A well-chosen business friendly cloud solution, accessible through a basic internet connection, will ensure that employees have all the remote access they need.