The four capital mistakes of open source| by opensource.com| CC-BY-2.
Are we now living in an entirely “post-PC” world? Users today are leaving the laptop in its sleeve in favor of a smartphone or tablet. Whether it’s on the train home from the office, in business meetings, or at home on the couch between Mad Men episodes – tablets are becoming the hardware of choice.
The same goes for enterprise users; the efficiency gains that arise from transformational enterprise mobility are ripe for the taking. The idea of having anywhere/anytime access creates an entirely new paradigm of productivity. However, many businesses want to jump on the mobile bandwagon headfirst without asking the right questions. Enterprise mobile enthusiasts beware! The mobile frontier leaves plenty of room for error. If you’re planning on shopping for your enterprise mobility solution soon, avoid these five common mistakes when going mobile.
1) You have no clear set goals or are approaching transformation in a piecemeal fashion. This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many companies will go into the market looking for a mobility solution without knowing what they plan to use it for. Knowing what you want to get out of your enterprise mobility solution will not only help you narrow the market, but also help you find the solution that best meets all of your needs. Enterprise mobility has the power to be a transformative force in your business. Approach strategy development and execution in that way. Don’t look at it piecemeal or small scale. Think big. Go big. Elevate your core business functions.
2) Purchasing a solution that only works on one platform. This is a very common and very costly mistake. BYOD and hybrid environments are becoming commonplace. Companies an not longer mandate that employees all use [insert device name. Mobile devices, like the true nature of technology, are constantly changing. Who knows what devices are going to be the best/most popular three years from now. Who knows what devices will make the most sense for your company and your users. You don’t want your mobility solution to become outdated before it’s even fully rolled out. Investing in a solution that allows for platform flexibility ensures your investment is a long-term one.
3) Security testing is not included in the contract. As cloud computing and enterprise application services have risen in use, so has the need for tighter security measures. The mistake here is not testing the measures often enough. Make sure that you have quarterly/annual security checks performed by a third party as part of your service contract. Make sure your partner adheres to enterprise-grade security parameters.
4) You’re using outdated content and content management methods. Mobile devices are one of the most efficient content distribution and delivery tools. In order to get the most out of these new tools, you need to have a mobile-first approach to content management and leverage updated content that maximizes both the potential of the device they’re on, as well as the tool itself. Chances are that your existing CMS won’t cut it. The mobile version or add-on will not be enough to efficiently manage your content, users and permissions. Partner with a enterprise mobility provider that has their own CMS, specifically optimized for mobile content and one that has the ability to tie into your existing systems. You’ll be surprised at what functionality you’re missing out on. Enhance, don’t replace.
5) You don’t continue to evolve your strategy and drive adoption of your app. You have to think of this purchase like buying a new car. A car will require scheduled maintenance to ensure it’s in working order, and so will your app. Having monthly meetings to discuss what is needed, what’s working well, and what isn’t is a must for mobile upkeep. This simple self-assessment of your app infrastructure will help ensure that you continue to get the most out of your mobile enterprise investment.
What is the bigger mistake you’ve seen companies make when going mobile?
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