May 15, 2008

Mobile Internet and the Enterprise - Bringing Applications to Point of Function

When referring to "mobilizing the Enterprise" many would understand this as meaning employing a solution to gain access to an existing Enterprise application from some remote location.  Whether un-tethering a Point of Sale terminal or bringing a ruggedized laptop to an emergency services vehicle mobilizing the Enterprise can mean much more to the mobile Internet ecosystem.

Early success in mobilizing the Enterprise was recognized through the widespread adoption of PDAs with the first Palm and RIM devices - even before wireless connectivity became pervasive.  These devices gave rise to myriad of stand-alone Enterprise applications and some that could even be synchronized with an Enterprise back office system through cradling to a PC.  These new agile applications allowed field workers and mobile professionals to bring the Enterprise to the point of function.  Whether employing simple e-mail or field forms, the early rewards of improved productivity and customer satisfaction were well within reach for those who chose to invest.

With wireless connectivity came the potential for even more powerful point of function applications.  The ability for mobile Enterprise employees to access real-time data drove compelling ROIs as businesses explored the potential to drive productivity increases from an increasingly more mobile workforce.  While often welcomed and embraced by operations and sales organizations there has always been a certain level of wariness from CIOs and IT managers.  This wariness has generally been associated with the cost of wireless connectivity, security and privacy concerns and the management of devices that are almost always outside of the 4 walls of an Enterprise.

The promise of a "better, faster, cheaper" mobile Internet represents the springboard of ROI for those Enterprises who may be considering untethering their employees.  It also represents an opportunity for the mobile Internet ecosystem.  Bringing powerful supply chain or ERP applications to handheld devices requires reliable connectivity, robust security and increasingly more powerful processor capabilities.  For some applications, middleware becomes an important consideration; bridging the technology divide between legacy applications and a web-enabled mobile Internet.  Enabling these applications are powerful tools such as Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework and BizTalk Server and Sun's J2SE.  Opportunities also extend to operators and service providers to create SaaS offerings for mobilized Enterprise applications.

The mobile Internet is sure to provide the potential to evolve today's businesses into tomorrow's mobilized Enterprises.  Whether part of the mobile Internet ecosystem or an Enterprise looking to capitalize on its benefits, now is the time to begin to assess your opportunities!

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Sincerely,
Mobile Internet Trends Editorial Team
editor@mobilenettrends.com
Ph: +1 617-259-2320