2/3rds of people use more than one device every day

We know it’s a multi-device world and we know it’s driven by a “mobile-first” attitude, but the reality for those organisations still not delivering digital content using a responsive framework such as WordPress is looking pretty grim.

That major digital brands are blind when it comes to mobile devices defies belief and recent stats, albeit from Facebook and GfK, suggest that 63% of folks use two or more devices every day, and nearly a quarter use three devices.

This is not the end (yet) of the desktop, but a credible digital strategy must account for different devices. Those companies not providing a mobile experience as rich as the desktop need to get their house in order, sack their agency, scrap the digital team and start from scratch. Now.

“Most often, people start on a smartphone, then move to the bigger screen for reasons including the ease of typing on a larger device. Comfort and convenience are the main reasons people switch devices mid-activity, but the urgency of the task, the length of time involved, security and privacy concerns, and the level of detail required are other important considerations”

The rise of smartphones and tablets had caught both organisations and agencies alike out. It is now time to switch and, oh the irony, both neither Facebook or GfK use responsive design – although it good to see the BBC eventually adopting responsive design.

Timing seems to be everything, tablets are not as mobile as we think and a high proportion never leave the lounge and the highest use is seen in conjunction with TV viewing.

“And while switching devices can happen at work, in cafes and everywhere in between, it occurs most often at home in front of the TV, when all devices are within easy reach.”

WordPress is very much in the vanguard of driving the responsive world, and Connected are very much in the vanguard of driving WordPress as a primary web and digital platform. We were also very early adopters (2010) of mobile-first.

By Martin Dower