The growing demand for mobile capability requires that your technology tools, sites and software are well-designed using responsive web design; adaptive web design for browser-based mobile apps, and native platform based mobile applications for specific native apps that comply with iOs, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile platforms and other popular native platforms. Today, most businesses also find that they must consider Bring Your Own Device, Bring Your Own Technology, and Bring Your Own Phone issues to ensure that users can leverage personal devices to access every manner of application inside and outside their offices. End users want to access business applications, from a personal device, as well as from office issued devices and equipment. Another crucial factor of enterprise mobility is the need for adequate, comprehensive security to protect proprietary information, provide appropriate access for every user and meet privacy and regulatory guidelines for all applications, software, sites and tools.
Enterprise mobility and access to data will make your employees more productive and ensure appropriate collaboration, accountability and empowerment. It will allow your team to share information, and make decisions no matter where the team members are at any given time. Mobile access to sites and tools will also ensure that your consumers, partners and suppliers can interact with your business and its representatives to make a purchase, collaborate, plan a sales meeting, check on an order, announce an event or new product or release integrated marketing messages across social media and corporate sites.
To achieve enterprise mobility your organization must carefully consider all of the factors involved in this expansive initiative, including requirements for customers, partners, suppliers and employees, the current and future technology landscape within the enterprise and more. Without a comprehensive plan, the enterprise will fail to accomplish its goals. Enterprise mobility considerations must include:
- Review and select applications for appropriate re-design techniques using Responsive Web Design, Adaptive Web Design, Native Mobile Application Design
- Consider your user needs to ensure that employees can use personal devices to access business information, including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) considerations
- Review and prioritize your IT landscape to determine which applications will be included in your enterprise mobility project
- Consider the application segments, modules and/or interfaces you will include in your enterprise mobility project
- Create a thorough list of the target device and platforms you want to include in the enterprise mobility project
- Consider the technical architecture and integration possibilities with legacy systems, best-of-breed, databases, etc.
- Define detailed requirements for information processing speed
- Ensure strict data access, user security and administration needs and resources are met
- Detail user interface re-design requirements for all existing solutions to be included in the enterprise mobility plan
- Determine infrastructure requirements including architecture planning, network, hardware, integration etc.
- Carefully consider support and maintenance considerations, including necessary skills and resources
- Consider internal and/or consultant skills, experience and knowledge to create and sustain enterprise mobility
- Create a project roadmap including dependencies, pilot planning and follow-on processes and steps, based on pilot results to ensure continuous improvement
The above list will give you an idea of some of the critical factors you must consider when you undertake an enterprise mobility project. The need for mobile, accessible, secured applications, sites and services is critical and it is crucial that the planning of technical architecture and the detailed roadmap for the enterprise mobility initiative be thorough and complete. In order to achieve enterprise mobility and expand market reach and business productivity and success, the enterprise must gain a comprehensive understanding of the needs of its employees, customers and stakeholders and approach the project with careful planning.
