Today what we know as enterprise mobility has come to this state through an array of twists and turns. In the beginning, it was more about integrating mobile devices and tools to allow connectivity and to enhance accessibility. Then as mobile devices gradually became a force in workplace environments, the focus of enterprises shifted to make use of basic transactional apps that can cut down operational time and enhance ease of operations. Then came the third phase when mobility began to be the integrated element of enterprise IT changing the business processes in more ways than one.
Now, every organization knows the importance of a mobile strategy and leveraging the advantages of mobility into the business process. In 2016, we can predict some important mobility trends to gain more stronghold across business organizations. Let us have a look at them.
1. MAM and mobile experience will take over MDM
Until now Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM) is considered to be the same as Mobile Device Management (MDM) by the majority of IT professionals across business workplaces. But more than device management the focus is increasingly being on Mobile Application Management (MAM). In an era of widespread device adoption leading to the BYOD principle being embraced in many workplaces, device management no longer seems to have any major importance. As mobile devices are becoming commonplace in the workplace framework and for IT strategy, now focus will go deeper into mobility fields like app management, app content management, and user identity management. Besides these, mobile analytics and user engagement will have more emphasis.
User experience will hold the key to diverse mobile IT maneuvers. Offering consistent experience across devices will gain more focus and this, in turn, will help decrease the emphasis on devices.
Machine learning and automation to perform an array of mobile tasks in different contexts will play significant role to boost user experience.
Solving problems through mobile collaboration in real time will gain momentum.
2. Proliferation of ‘Mobile First’ approach
The mobile first approach across enterprises will continue to remain stronger and gain stronghold in IT strategy. A recent study by 451 Research in October last year revealed that a whopping 40% of businesses give more priority to mobile apps while planning for business apps in coming two years. Many companies who earlier adopted mobility for their field service and sales teams are now considering mobile apps for driving core business process. That is undoubtedly a big shift in enterprise mobility and in the years to come it will continue to gain momentum.
The mobile-first approach will lead companies to focus on diverse focus areas like whether developing native or cross-platform apps, opting for a third-party platform to design apps for all devices and OS, developing web app or simple apps to transform paper works into mobile format, etc. The mobile development by any enterprise by and large will depend on the following areas.
Workplace tasks to be performed on mobile.
The features of the device workforce need to use.
How the new apps can add value in business process in terms of productivity and speed.
Frequency of updating the native apps for the business.
How the workforce and workplace environment is matured for mobile adoption.
How through the mobile app the business process can evolve and create value.
3. ‘Everything as a Service’ will take over
Until now products are sold rather than the knowhow and expertise required for building them. But thanks to IoT and increasing integration of mobile apps with businesses and every sphere of life, in the time to come besides selling cars car manufacturers can sell apps to make your car a digital powerhouse allowing many ‘on-the-move’ features for car drivers and commuters. Yes, products in the months to come will increasingly shape into service. The concept and practical adoption of ‘Everything as a Service’ principle will help transforming complex supply chains into powerful apps. T
While in mobility a whole range of devices are already controlled by Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) systems, it is not far away when we can see similar single point control interface take control of entire transport system or say manufacturing facility.
With the increasing focus on IoT and multiple device management through UEM systems, mobile devices will play the central role in connecting devices, machines and apps.
4. Division between customer & business is blurring with enterprise apps
Until a few months before, customers by most enterprises used to be regarded as a heterogeneous entity that should be put under the analytics and research to gain insights. This separation is about to become a thing of the past with the rise of user-generated digital content. Yes, thanks to evolving role of engaging app features, design thinking and interactive elements customers are taking participatory roles across many apps and becoming a force in decisions concerning the design and development of apps. In 2016, this will continue and help customers play more participatory role than ever.
A whopping 57% of IT workers are seen sharing business information with customers and outsiders on a regular basis.
Sales in the time to come will bank more on relationship than on transaction, bargain and convincing mechanisms.
Customer engagement and participation will be the single most important factor in driving sales and mobile apps will play central role in keeping them engaged.
Businesses will invest more on communicating and collaborating with customers through digital maneuvers like mobile apps instead of traditional sales channels.
5. More focus on threat management
Obviously, more number of devices and apps translate into enhanced threat to data security for any organization. As reliance on mobility is increasing, assessment of the vulnerabilities and evolving range of threats will continue to remain a big concern for enterprise IT. While consolation of devices and mobile apps under a single unified enterprise platform will gain momentum to take control of diverse threat sources, for the years to come malware, viruses and intrusions will continue to make enterprises engage shielding from threats.
The IT departments will try to control risk factors and vulnerabilities by regularly reviewing data, device and network security.
Enterprise IT departments to take full proof measure against these evolving stealthy threats will depend more on third party enterprise grade mobile security solutions.
6. Cloud will grow in importance
For many businesses adopting mobile apps, cloud is now considered to be the ideal storage and accessibility solution to reduce dependence on local IT infrastructure. Enterprise IT will gradually move to Cloud and coupled up with the enterprise mobility suites, it will redefine productivity standard and collaboration.
Cloud service providers will give more focus to support enterprise mobility with more value driven services like data analytics.
Cloud offerings in the time to come will replace the so-called workplace infrastructure for enterprise mobility.
Let’s wrap up
Enterprise mobility is rapidly changing and consolidation of platforms, more focus on customization and the increasing importance of cloud are going to be major factors for enterprise mobility suites in the coming months. Enterprise mobility suites are enjoying increasing focus from IT departments and with the evolving innovation-driven mobile landscape hardly there can be any possibility of slowdown in this trend.
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