Entering the access anywhere age

Consumer shift towards mobility revealed by Lexmark’s Productivity Trend Tracker  

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.

Europe gets flexible 

European trends showed a strong move towards wireless uptake and greater mobility both inside and outside the home. Where the Internet was hailed as the greatest productivity enhancer over the last 50 years, 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: 

• Home entertainment equipment [20 per cent]

• Laptops [14 per cent]

• Printers [11 per cent]

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