iPads Storm the Boardroom
33% of FTSE100 use the Diligent Boardbooks secure iPad app
31 October, 2012 – You could say that 2012 was the year that the iPad got serious. Originally intended as a fun device for consumers, the iPad has grown up and entered the highest echelons of business, including the boardroom. UK tablet sales to corporate buyers outstripped those to consumers in 2012, climbing from 35% of all purchases in Q2 last year to 64% in the same period this year. And iPad sales accounted for 72% of those tablets, up from 56% a year earlier.
Capital Shopping Centres Group signed as Diligent Boardbooks Ltd.’s 33rd FTSE 100 client, bringing growth in the use of Diligent’s secure board portal and iPad app to 72% amongst FTSE 100 companies since the start of 2012. Independent surveys show that three-quarters of directors favour getting their critical board papers in electronic format instead of receiving board packs as printed papers. Based on our experience, these estimates are proving true.
“Diligent Boardbooks® offers an effective way to securely modernise internal communications due to its concierge-level service, intuitive interface and compatibility with the latest devices” said Charlie Horrell, European Managing Director, Diligent Boardbooks Ltd. “Making the switch to an electronic portal is a natural progression for businesses and one which is altering the way company leaders and boards communicate on their most critical decisions.”
Current FTSE 100 users of the Diligent Boardbooks secure iPad app include companies such as Barclays, Pearson, Standard Life and Kingfisher plc. The transition from traditional board papers to a digital version has a number of positive impacts on those who use and prepare the papers. Board directors appreciate faster delivery, easier access, and annotation, search and voting features, while staff who prepare the documents are able to make last minute changes and improve the quality and timeliness of board materials. There are other corporate benefits, measured in time and cost savings as well as environmental impact. While the transition from paper can be an obvious decision, selection of the right board portal provider to assist in that journey is critical.
At Kingfisher plc, the transition to Boardbooks technology is already paying dividends for directors. David Morris, Assistant Company Secretary said: “The secure platform and simple usability of the Diligent Boardbooks has been an enormous time-saver for the Secretariat and the Kingfisher Board.”
About Diligent Board Member Services, Inc (NZX: DIL) www.boardbooks.com
Over 2,300 boards and 46,000 individual directors, executives and administrators worldwide rely on Diligent Board Member Services, Inc. to speed and simplify how board materials are produced, delivered and reviewed. Providing the world’s most widely used secure board portal, Diligent has pioneered ease of use, stringent security, and superior training and support since 2001. Our wide range of customers in Europe includes 33% of the FTSE100 in the UK. We also serve 242 of the Fortune 1000 in the US. Today we are a public company with cumulative sales of almost $US 45.9 million. Our ranking in the 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 places us among the fastest growing technology companies in America. Our offices are located in London, New York, Montreal, Sydney, Christchurch, Singapore and Hong Kong.
