More than a quarter of chief information officers across every industry nationwide have yet to sign on with any type of mobile strategy, according to a new survey released today. 

 

After reaching out to some 2,300 CIOs across different industries, IT staffing company Robert Half Technology officials found some 28 percent of them currently have no mobile strategy, with healthcare CIOs reporting the lowest mobile adoption rates. 

 

[See also: Decision time: CIOs are unsure about mobile device policies. But smartphones' popularity will force the issue .]

 

Healthcare services had the greatest percentage of respondents -- 36 percent -- reporting that their organization had no mobile technology strategy. The business services and retail industries had the highest percentages of respondents -- 65 percent and 63 percent, respectively -- using a blend of apps and mobile-friendly web pages. 

 

Across all industry, 56 percent of CIOs use a blend of apps and mobile-friendly Web pages. 

 

"To maintain competitive advantage, sectors such as business services and retail need to connect with customers anytime, anywhere, so it's logical to see them leading the charge in implementing mobile strategies," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology, in a March 25 press statement. "Compliance issues have made it difficult for the healthcare industry to move as quickly as other sectors, but as consumer demand for mobile health information grows, formal mobile strategies are a necessary next step."

 

[See also: EHRs top priority for CIOs.]

 

The Robert Half Technology survey also found that while most organizations have a mobile technology strategy, many are not emphasizing the use of mobile apps to connect with customers and clients. Some 58 percent of CIOs polled said their company has not developed a mobile application for customers and clients and has no plans to offer one in the next year.