54% of Pakistanis believe that mobile devices and technology have greatly improved their careers and skills. Specifically, women are reporting that mobile devices have helped them improve their quality of life.
The study explores how respondents in Asia are using their mobile phones to adapt to changing realities as new work cultures emerge post-pandemic. It’s the second instalment of the Digital Lives Decoded series, which was launched in conjunction with Telenor Asia’s 25th anniversary.
This report surveyed over 8,000 mobile internet users in eight different countries. The countries were Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We apologize if you do not recognize some of the names here.
What happened in the past three years in the workplace? Technology is making our lives easier with shortcuts and apps that can be used on mobile devices. If a meeting is cancelled, you don’t have to call or email anyone because you’re all connected on Slack or WhatsApp. This has really helped increase flexibility for business, professionals, and your own personal life.
“The research is clear that mobile connectivity enables productivity, progress, flexibility, and opportunity,” said Jørgen Rostrup. “But there are still gaps. There’s a great deal of disparity between large companies and SMEs and between industries. We know that while CEOs want to be technology savvy and engaged, they don’t always feel confident in their employees and future leaders.”
Rostrup says people are worried they won’t be able to keep up with current technology.
The survey found that the lack of trust has prevented people from fully realizing their potential in the digital workplace. The rise in online working time highlights this problem, and our survey findings can help identify the right tools to improve digital work lives. He concluded with an example of how an insurance company took steps to provide trustworthy platforms and solutions that helped employees get secure access to such platforms.
In his keynote speech, Telenor Pakistan’s chief executive officer Irfan Wahab Khan spoke about the importance of understanding the changing world of work. “Companies around the world are adapting to new and effective ways of work,” he said. “In addition, mobile technology has unlocked new revenue streams and empowered individuals in new ways; and the Pakistani workforce is ready to understand and utilize the opportunities surrounding mobile connectivity.”
Gen Z (born between 1997-2012) is most likely to recognize the importance of digital tools, devices, and connectivity in significantly improving performance and quality. Eighty percent of respondents found their performance and productivity had increased due to these new technologies.
Nine out of ten survey respondents believe that their careers and skills have been enhanced by mobile technologies. Respondents in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Malaysia believe they’ve benefited the most from a mobile device-an unsurprising outcome given the desire many in Asia have for education via learning on the go.
In Pakistan, 63% of people think mobile devices significantly improve career and skills development. Mobile is now seen as a way of generating income, especially now that nearly half of the people in the survey think mobile devices have provided work and income opportunities that were unavailable before the pandemic. In Pakistan 38% of respondents believe mobile devices have created new opportunities, according to the study.
The survey shows that mobile technology can have a positive impact on your quality of life. Nearly half of the respondents felt that using their mobile devices for work significantly improved their quality of life. In Pakistan, 46% of the respondents believe mobile technology has improved their quality of life. The number among Pakistani women is even higher, at 44%. In Pakistan, 33% of men think that their quality of life has improved because they use computers or cell phones for work.
According to respondents across the board, the most worrisome things about working remotely were privacy and security. City dwellers were more likely to be concerned about these issues than those living in villages or rural areas. In Pakistan, 53% of respondents said privacy and internet security were their main concerns when working remotely. Trust, and related issues of privacy and internet security, are other obstacles organizations should consider when working remotely, according to the study.