2012: The year of the enterprise tablet

Tablet computers have crept their way into the workplace throughout the past two years, whether the devices are provisioned by the IT department or brought from home by employees. But 2012 figures to be "the year of the enterprise tablet," according to research compiled by advertising firm Vertic.

In a blog post on the company's website, Vertic says companies will see more tablet computers in the hands of employees this year than ever before -- with the trend only increasing moving forward. By 2016, the company reports, enterprise tablet shipments will top 96.3 million units, up from 13.6 million in 2011.

This year alone, according to the report, enterprise tablet shipments will increase 50 percent, as both corporate-owned and bring-your-own-device programs increase.

"No matter which policy prevails in the enterprise, this major shift is shaping infrastructure decisions as well as digital strategies," Vertic's blog says.

Since their release in 2010, tablet computers have proven to be a boon for remote workers and enterprise mobility. They allow employees to access the enterprise network, its data and robust apps no matter where they are located. As a result, many companies have experienced gains in both productivity and efficiency.