Tablets ready to become pivotal business tools

There are many experts who believe mobile devices have a place in the business world, but only as a complementary tool. A report from IDG Global Solutions found that one in three tablet-owning workers are now using their device to complete business tasks. However, as the functionality of these devices grows, it seems that tablets could be on the verge of becoming primary business tools.

According to the most recent Forrester Research forecast report, 60 percent of North American online consumers will own a tablet in the next five years. On top of that, 18 percent of tablet purchases will be made directly by enterprises in 2017. There is also a prediction that there could be 905 million tablet users on the planet in that time frame.

When it comes to the business world, many experts look toward bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trends as the straw that will stir the drink when it comes to tablet adoption, but Forrester analyst JP Gownder said in the report that companies will continue to implement their own devices as a way to have more control over data and security measures.

"Tablets, we find, will play an increasingly critical role at work. Both company-issued and bring-your-own tablets will become pervasive in workplaces in developing countries or dynamic regions of developing countries," said Gownder.

Implementing these devices successfully is more complicated than plug and play. This is where an IT consulting firm that specializes in an iPad deployment can become a valuable asset.