The explosive growth of smartphones and tablets has pervaded many institutions. The workplace is no exception. The functions these devices can perform have made them an inalienable part of our lives. However, the paranoia of security forced enterprises worldwide to grapple with ways to regulate them. The increasing trend of social networking and commerce via mobile made them realize a huge opportunity. Talk about opening new vistas to build brands, market products, and network, resulting in positive footfalls to business. This is an incentive for companies to engage these devices in a constructive way to meet their business objectives and comply with corporate policies. This also brings good tidings for mobile app development companies that offer their clients more than just mobile apps.
Need for Enterprise Mobile Strategy
Growing crops in a glasshouse is different from growing them in the open. Similarly, tolerating communication devices in official environments vis-a-vis their use outside is another ball game. Stark nuances like security and rigorous compliance with company policies must be addressed.
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The boom in social media and the web, in general, has opened up many vistas for networking, acquiring a business, building brands, and nurturing them. These initiatives contribute positively to companies’ profitability. Mobile communication devices let employees stay in touch with company information and resources. This is another important reason enterprises must factor in mobility in their businesses.
Companies must, therefore, devise and implement a suitable Enterprise Mobile Strategy. This strategy must spell out provisions for 24×7 support for mobility, management of enterprise apps on mobiles, integration with back-end infrastructure, interoperability, robustness, and function in all mobile platforms. Quite a lot of conditions. The remaining part of this article sheds light on evolving an effective strategy.
Components of Enterprise Mobile Strategy
Mobile app development companies now have more to offer to clients seeking an effective mobile strategy in their premises. The consulting and services provided by mobility firms hover around the tenets described in the following paragraphs.
Aim of the strategy: Companies must build their brand and implement safeguards for managing resources on individual mobile devices. A thorough study of the existing business process, including infrastructure and applications (including mobile applications, if any), is made. Henceforth, the company’s direction regarding harnessing mobility to expand the business, ensure a greater connection with employees, conform to regulations, scalability, and seamless adaption to industry demands are ascertained. All these factors help the mobility service provider formulate an effective strategy.
Design of Applications, Infrastructure, and Deployment: After analysis and setting expectations, the strategy must be designed. The following nuances are critical in designing:
Platforms: The platform is the base on which the entire mobile architecture will rest. This also includes the software part, the OS, interface applications, and hardware. Interconnection between devices, mobile applications, and databases must be evaluated, and the best connection media must be selected. The platform interfaces the back-end systems and individual devices, disseminating the corporate mobile strategy. Tools for development: developing apps and surrounding protocols requires apt development tools that are scalable, robust, and cost-effective. Emphasis must be placed on the reusability of content set on these tools.
App development: apps of all hues required in the organization must be developed and implemented occasionally. All apps may not be needed in one go. Therefore, the vision document must specify the roadmap. These apps must be broad-based to be compatible with most mobile devices. Consequently, the development must take care of the reusability of the app codes. Android app development, iOS app development, Blackberry app development, Windows app dev.elopement Monetize the medium: The organization can also embark on monetizing the setup set up for more avenues like mobile commerce, marketing, messaging, and indulging in social responsibility.
Other Considerations
Type of Apps (native or web): the common debate over the usability of native vs. web apps also extends to strategy. Each has advantages and disadvantages (see article on What’s Trending in Mobile Application Development?). Internet connectivity in individual devices and security protocols is necessary for web apps when accessing the company’s resources. Native apps must be installed on every device, either BYOD or the company’s, and compatible with the OS residing on these devices. This may hike the cost of the enterprise strategy mobility program.
User Interface: The usability of apps, especially in the mobile medium, is of the utmost importance. Proper screen and navigation controls size is paramount to ensuring transactions are achieved quickly, which would have a positive impact on productivity.
Cloud Strategy: With this concept finding traction, mobile strategy can consider putting some, if not all, of the implementations, especially mobile apps, on the cloud for 24/7 access. This could be a cost saver as well.
Conclusion
Mobile devices and communication have brought about a paradigm shift in business. Business transformations happen for various reasons, but none so much as staying relevant and ahead of the competition. It’s only prudent that organizations invest a significant portion of their resources and strategy to develop and implement mobility programs.
