The concept of telework and mobility in the federal workplace will go far beyond having just laptops as agencies plan for the future, said General Services Administration CIO Casey Coleman at a panel discussion on mobility at the Executive Leadership Conference in Williamsburg, Va.

“For us, the business case for mobility is not about just the [return on investment] on the IT investments; it’s really about the ROI on the initiative of the business of the whole agency,” Coleman said. Her remarks were captured in a story reported by Federal Computer News.

Coleman highlighted how mobility is going to be a key in helping her department reduce its real estate footprint. However, having a more mobile workforce will help from a bigger perspective as well, she pointed out.

Her remarks were captured in a story reported by Federal Computer News.

Panel moderator Tom Temin, co-host of The Federal Drive on Federal News Radio, asked Coleman what would happen is someone, for example, left behind an iPad in the hoteling space: “Is it finders keepers, losers weepers?” he asked.

“It’s ‘If you lose it, we’ll wipe it!'” Coleman deadpanned, drawing a laugh from the audience.

For more coverage of the Executive Leadership Conference, see ELC here.