INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
Five tips for regional enterprises to become mobile-first
Today , despite having a clear understanding of the benefits of mobile-first , a majority of enterprises still have an ad-hoc approach to mobile app development and are only beginning to consider platform selection to help them formalise their mobile strategy , writes Cathal McGloin , Vice President , Mobile Platforms , Red Hat .
Organisations are adopting cloud-based services to support traditional business processes , but a very small percentage are using the cloud for their mobile initiatives . They still have a long way to go in adopting a mobile app strategy and using app reporting and analytics to measure productivity gains and return on mobility ( ROM ).
Authentication and security of corporate information flowing to and from mobile devices are undoubtedly major concerns , besides the cost and complexity of developing and managing apps and back-end integration of enterprise apps in the cloud .
Life in the fast lane To address the security , governance and back-end integration issues cited by enterprises , Gartner ’ s Richard Marshall , has advised enterprises to take a “ bimodal ” approach to mobile app development with “ core IT ” and “ fast IT ” running concurrently . He acknowledges that governance and security cannot be compromised , but advises that business
IT must be more flexible in order to meet customer demand and rapidly respond to market changes .
To explain the advantage of the bimodal approach , Marshall points to the examples of a retailer rapidly developing and deploying a mobile app to boost sales during holiday periods ; and a rail infrastructure provider that was able to develop and push out a mobile app in a matter of days to enable local flood damage to be reported by trackside engineers . Once these periods of peak demand are over , the app is withdrawn .
5 steps to becoming mobilefirst : After working with numerous enterprises on their mobile app strategies , we have highlighted the common steps that lead to mobile-first .
1 . Select open standards Mobile app projects demand rapid innovation and short , iterative development cycles . To maximise agility , enterprises must avoid vendor lock-in by using mobile application platforms that support open standards . Look for platforms that offer on-going and open support for the common and leading edge coding languages , JavaScript frameworks and developer tool-kits . Providing your Fast IT team with access to lightweight scripting technologies and the ability to re-use existing code helps to speed time to deployment .
2 . Focus on data rather than devices Evaluate your enterprise data capture and back-end system integration requirements . The ability to unleash data efficiently , securely and seamlessly to your employees ’ devices is critical . Mobile Back-end as a Service ( MBaaS ) platforms excel at integrating apps with back-end systems and other third party services , by acting as a cloud-based hub between mobile clients and systems they need to access .
3 . Consult users prior to deployment and work collaboratively Fast IT teams should adopt a strong
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