Malaysian workers all for the cloud, WhatsApp most popular IM app

  • Remote working in Malaysia ‘significantly higher’ than global average
  • Most popular IM, in order: WhatsApp, FB Messenger, Skype, WeChat and Viber
Malaysian workers all for the cloud, WhatsApp most popular IM app

A STAGGERING 92% of workers in Malaysia have used at least one tool enabling remote working in the previous month, according to a survey of over 44,000 senior business people across more than 100 countries by global workplace provider Regus.
 
This figure is also significantly higher than the global average of 86%, Regus said in a statement.
 
WhatsApp is currently by far the most popular Instant Messaging (IM) app for smartphones in Malaysia, used by 96% of workers once a month or more frequently.
 
Rounding off the top five most popular messaging applications in Malaysia are Facebook Messenger (68%), Skype (60%), WeChat (46%) and Viber (31%).
 
With a growing number of professionals working outside the main office at least some of the time, use of remote working tools has also radically increased, Regus said.
 
Respondents in Malaysia also highlight that the needs of remote workers are strongly driving the take-up of cloud applications that provide them with cost-effective access to office tools wherever they are (89%).
 
But online tools are also helping to ease some of the other pain traditionally associated with remote working, especially through the proliferation of efficient and secure document sharing services.
 
The research shows that Dropbox is the most commonly used online file-sharing service in Malaysia, used by 69%, followed by Google Drive (61%) and Google Hangouts (33%).
 
Another challenge remote workers face is that of getting overlooked when they are not in the office. IM tools and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), however, are revolutionising the way workers communicate and helping remote workers show they are available, connected and immediately responsive, Regus said.
 
Other key findings reveal the reach and influence of online tools in the work environment:

  • 26% of respondents in Malaysia had used LINE in the previous month;
  • Just 1% of those questioned said they had not used an instant messaging tool in the past month.

Malaysian workers all for the cloud, WhatsApp most popular IM app“With more businesses offering staff the opportunity to work remotely at least occasionally, online tools are helping to overcome some of the hurdles traditionally associated with working from outside of the office,” said Regus Malaysia country manager Vijayakumar Tangarasan (pic).
 
“From feeling out of touch with colleagues, to being unable to access documents on the company server, technology is bridging the gap.
 
“The growth in IM applications and document-sharing services in particular is playing an enormous role in helping more people to work flexibly, by enabling more reliable and secure ways of communicating with colleagues and sharing files, from wherever people may be working.
 
“This means that they can be fully operative even when they are not in the office and in fact, they can save time spent travelling into the office or to and from meetings by working closer to home and so boost productivity,” he added.
 
Luxembourg-headquartered Regus is a global workplace provider, with a network of more than 2,300 business centres in 104 countries. Its customers include companies like Google, Toshiba and GlaxoSmithKline.
 
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