Businesses and Mobile Agility

A business needs to be fluid and dynamic to succeed in the modern world, which is why many leaders see mobility as the main influence which ensures efficiency and growth. However, the same movers and shakers are also concerned about a lack of direction when it comes to strategising in this area. In short, it is thought that many businesses are simply failing to take full advantage of the mobile technologies which are being adopted.

This fact was emphasised by a recent study published by Symantec, which included an international survey of businesses carried out with the intention of discovering how mobile technology will be implemented this year.

Over 6000 companies across 43 countries were questioned as part of the report and it was found that 71 per cent of respondents have spoken about the possibility of using custom smart-phone applications to aid staff when they are on the move.

In the UK, this number is actually slightly lower, with just 63 per cent of those questioned saying that such an approach had been mooted in recent months.

Interestingly, the actual proportion of UK companies that have already begun using a mobile line-of-business application of some kind is at the 49 per cent mark, which indicates that soon the majority of businesses could be added to this category.

Some 66 per cent businesses are so confident in the capabilities of mobile services that they are planning to develop bespoke app download services dedicated solely to their enterprise.

While the study establishes the idea that more and more companies are jumping on board the mobile bandwagon, experts are concerned that in doing so at such a pace it might be possible for things to be overlooked.

Symantec spokesperson Greg Day explained that while security concerns were relatively minimal because businesses are beginning to appreciate that there is a need for protection on mobile platforms, the real issue comes in the form of minimal long-term strategising across every facet of a firm’s operations.

A lack of cohesion and unity in the roll-out of mobile apps and technology is seen to be a problem, because Mr Day believes that many firms are doing this incrementally on a departmental basis, rather than uniformly across the entire business.

One of the issues here is device compatibility, because anyone who has owned a mobile device in the past will appreciate that there are a number of different manufacturers and software platforms in operation on the market today. This means that apps and services which could be crucial to your business strategy may not operate on a cross-platform basis.

This also relates to the increased consumerisation of mobile technology in the business world. Many employees are using their own smart phones for business purposes as well as for personal reasons, which can not only lead to platform fragmentation and compatibility problems but also security risks.

The alternative is to provide staff with a dedicated smart phone to use in their role, which will allow you to invest in handsets that are definitely going to be compatible with whatever apps you choose to create. However, even in this instance you have to be aware that usage may not fall entirely within the remit of actions related to your enterprise, which makes prior planning and strategising even more important.

With a mobile workforce it is far easier for your firm to be elastic in its response to each new challenge and opportunity. But if success lies in the mobile world, this is also where the unforeseen threats can also be found, which is why movement towards the increased agility and effectiveness of portable platforms should not be rushed.

This article was written by Daisy Group plc one of the UK’s leading providers of business mobile phones and mobile broadband to Uk businesses. As an Vodafone Premier Partner and O2 Centre of Excellence we provide a range of services, tailored to meet any business requirementsoffering the latest business mobile handsets and tariffs at competitive prices. Our business packages are designed to help keep businesses connected whether your a single user, a small- to medium-sized company or a large corporation.

Published in Business, Technology