AS Jamaican employees and employers increasingly seek greater work flexibility, Cable & Wireless (C&W) Business Solutions has intensified its drive to push the concept of a mobile workforce via use of the internet.

Mobile Workforce, as the name suggests, allows employees to access software applications, which are usually accessed only in the workplace, from any location at any time, using any IT device — laptops, tablets or mobile phones — as long as internet capabilities are available.

“These tools can enhance productivity and help today’s employers and employees take advantage of the recent passage of the Employment Flexible Work Arrangements Act of 2014, which will revolutionise and modernise the business and work environment in Jamaica,” said Andre Fazio, director of business development of Flow, at the launch of Mobile Workforce at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel last week Thursday.

The new solution is in “response to a workforce that demands flexibility and mobility, while addressing the security risk concerns (confidentiality, privacy and licensing of software) of the company, Fazio told the Jamaica Observer.

“This suite of products… allows companies to eliminate expenses,” he told Caribbean Business Report, explaining that Mobile Workforce requires low capital expenditure and reduces the total cost of ownership.

Since the product uses cloud technology, it eliminates the need for companies to invest heavily in servers, hardware and software, as the system is managed remotely by a data support centre.