The firm then expanded its BYOD trial to both sales agents and non-sales executives. Like many other organizations, Midland started its BYOD program with e-mail access because it's the simplest to support, said Fung.

The toughest challenge comes from the various smartphone models, he noted. "iOS devices are much easier [to support] because there are only a few models," said Fung. "But there are many Android devices with different screen resolutions and sizes. We spend much time testing our apps on Android and other devices by vendors including Samsung, HTC, and Nokia."

According to Fung, more than 60% of Midland employees use iPhones while the rest of the workers have Android devices--the two OSs the company supports in its BYOD program. While the company no longer supports Blackberry, it's now testing different in-house built mobile apps on the Windows Mobile platform, he said.

Most of Midland's apps are requested by employees who want to enjoy the same convenience that consumer apps offer, said Fung. "Our IM (instant messaging) application Midland Messenger is an example," he said. "Many of our employees use WhatsApp on their phones and expect the company to come up with a similar app to support their communications."