SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While the majority of full-time employees (74%) use some form of file-sharing system, nearly all full-time employees (98%) still face document collaboration challenges, such as trouble sharing or editing documents and staying up-to-date on company projects. More than nine out of ten employees (94%) also face individual document viewing and editing challenges, such as downloading large files. These results are according to a new study by Soonr, a leading provider of secure file sharing and collaboration services for business.
The findings demonstrate trends in the growing cloud-sharing industry. They also reveal that more than half (53%) of full-time employees have difficulty collaborating on projects with others outside of the company, such as partners and client prospects.
“There are several existing file-sharing solutions for consumers, but few bridge the gap between consumer and enterprise file-sharing needs,” said Ahmet Tuncay, CEO of Soonr. “Our data represents a lack of corporate productivity that is largely preventable through secure enterprise-grade file-sharing capabilities.”
Employees Want Easier Ways to Access and Download Large Files
More than nine out of ten (91%) full-time employees rate being able to share files with customers and coworkers as at least somewhat important to their job, yet nearly half of respondents (46%) report having had trouble sharing such a large file.
These issues persist inside and outside of the physical office. One out of five full-time employees (20%) has had trouble viewing data inside of the office while working on a laptop or desktop computer. The nearly nine out of ten (89%) full-time employees who access files outside of the office are even more likely to face challenges, with about one-third (32%) having had trouble viewing files remotely on a laptop, desktop or mobile device.
Other highlights the study found include:
- 22% have had trouble editing data away from the office on a laptop or desktop
- 24%have had trouble editing data away from the office on a mobile device
- 17%of full-time employees report missing an important deadline due to not being able to access and edit a file on their mobile device (smartphone or tablet)
- 15% of full-time employees have lost a sales prospect due to being unable to collaborate on files
Privacy and Security Concerns Still Weigh Heavy for Employees When Sharing Company Data
Employees are also worried about the security and privacy of their files: 83% of full-time employees report concerns about the security and privacy of their files, and 27% don’t feel comfortable that their files are securely shared via email. These concerns may be valid in some instances, as a fourth of full-time employees (25%) have lost data while attempting to download business files.
“In addition to security and privacy concerns with email and other file-sharing options, nearly a third (31%) of employees aren't comfortable with current cloud-sharing solutions,” added Tuncay. “This leaves room for growth by enterprise-grade file sharing players who can offer features on par with end-user and business expectations.”
About the Soonr Mobility in the Workplace Study
For its 2014 Mobility in the Workplace Study: The Increasing Challenges of Mobility in the Workplace, Soonr surveyed more than 1,000 full-time employees across the United States to gain insight on barriers to productive file-sharing in the enterprise environment. The survey also analyzed current issues facing productivity inside and outside of the main office. Results were broken down based on industry, and preferences for file sharing. As a follow up to its 2013 State of Mobility in the Workplace Study, Soonr wanted to provide business decision makers with valuable information on how employees are accessing and sharing files to create a more productive workplace.
About Soonr
Founded in 2005, Soonr is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California with offices in the UK and Denmark. Our mission is to make organizations more productive and competitive by securely connecting office and mobile workers and their critical information. Our secure file sharing and collaboration services have been in commercial production since early 2007 without a single security breach or a data loss incident. Embraced by users and endorsed by IT, Soonr delivers its service to over 150,000 paying businesses worldwide in 134 countries, through a network of cloud service providers, VARs, MSPs and systems integrators. Go to http://www.soonr.com and start your free trial today.
