Mobility Will Keep the Ball Rolling

Be it work, shopping, or ordering food, anytime-anywhere is the go-to formula. In the past few years, the shift towards mobility has been massive. Almost every enterprise has embarked on a digital transformation journey, and businesses have grown with the help of mobility. From smartphones to laptops and tablets, devices have become increasingly portable, thereby making mobility indispensable.

What makes mobility imperative?

The business world never sleeps. Be it the customers or the employees, portable devices have proved to be game-changers. By allowing employees to log in to work from anywhere and at any time, organizations can increase productivity without incurring any extra costs. In a world where 9-to-5 jobs are a thing of the past, mobility devices fit in perfectly. Imagine having to go to the office every time you need to put out an update for a new project that your organization has bagged. It's cumbersome, at best.

Same applies to customer satisfaction. If a customer or buyer is dissatisfied with something he or she has bought, making them wait for the next morning just to be able to lodge their grievance is bound to be the last nail in the coffin. There's no denying that customers are a crucial part of the business ecosystem, and ignoring their needs is no more an option. From allowing them choice in terms of what they want to buy, to quick customer care when the product does not live up to their expectation, each aspect needs to be taken care of. As most online shopping sites are proof, a mobility-friendly platform for all of this can help businesses grow exponentially.

By allowing external stakeholders to participate in their business ecosystem, businesses have moved beyond the traditional value chains. This has been possible due to mobility, thereby making it an aspect organization cannot afford to ignore.

Mobility's had everyone's attention. Will it be any different in future?

Enterprise mobility has fast emerged into a function that is essential to the growth of an organization. In terms of both workforce mobilization and customer engagement, it has turned into a top priority for most organizations. The demand for mobile-first platforms has also risen among both employees as well as businesses. On that note, let's take a look at what's expected to be the talk of the town in the enterprise mobility arena in 2018.

Smart Apps: Every business can do with a platform that allows them to roll out business processes on a user-friendly mobile platform, and that's where Smart Apps come in. The applications are compatible with cross platforms and can be hosted on in-premise infrastructure or cloud.

These apps make use of imaging technologies to capture documents and transmit them over available network bandwidth. If you're looking to get to market in a cost-efficient way, Smart Apps are your one-stop solution. These apps also enable business users to perform several activities on the fly, such as, capturing data, attaching documents, and real-time validation of customers.

Cloud Computing: Cloud-based technologies have made their mark in almost every sector, and its convergence with enterprise mobility is adding new dimensions to the way businesses operate. Easy availability, affordability, and reliability make cloud computing a go-to option for enterprises.

It enables business leaders and on-site executives, with anytime-anywhere access to business data for quick decision making and better customer servicing without compromising on security. The security aspect remains a roadblock when it comes to cloud computing. However, future cloud computing technologies would in all probability be equipped with regulatory controls.

Bring-Your-Own-Device trend: The BYOD trend has been integrated into the corporate culture since long. It has increased productivity as well as efficiency, making it a lot more than just a trend. This trend will be incorporated into the corporate culture a lot more actively. It will turn into a workplace norm, and a lot more companies will be seen shifting to it.

Enterprise mobility has been a major focus of IT investments. Thanks to heightened customer expectations and dynamically changing the corporate environment, the difference between the physical and the digital world is fast-diminishing. For any organization looking to remain relevant, enterprise mobility thereby remains of prime importance.

By Virender Jeet, Senior Vice President (Sales & Marketing / Products) Newgen Software