The majority of business conversations about enterprise mobility begin with an overview that highlights the growth of mobile technology. Such discussions typically include a presentation of current trends and projections that paint an overall picture of a world increasingly influenced by mobile-driven experiences. For example, according to Cisco’s Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, the number of mobile-connected devices is expected to exceed the world’s population by 2014.
However, when it comes to mobility, I find a more compelling argument arise with our personal lives versus it’s role in business. Consider these two questions: What is the number of mobile devices you and your family own? What is the role that these devices play in your life? Most likely, the answer to the first question is that you- or your family- will potentially own more mobile devices than laptops or PCs and, in some cases, more than one mobile device per person. Furthermore, the second question may be answered with another question—one that you might often find yourself asking: How did we survive before mobile devices?
The Need for Mobility in Business
The acceptance and growth of mobile technology mimics the relative expansion of other technologies that have become an integral part of our personal and business lives. Take websites for example. Not long ago, merely having a business website was a differentiator because it set you apart from the competition, even though websites at that time featured static pages that offered limited information. Can you think of a successful business today without a website? Now, the bar is set much higher; not only do we expect businesses to have websites but we demand that those websites are engaging, interactive, social, and, most important, accessible on our mobile devices.
The need for mobility in business is fueled by a number of factors. For example, as more employees work remotely, the demand for mobile devices and cloud services to perform business tasks has increased. Important business transactions are no longer taking place during what is considered traditional business hours and, in some cases, we may serve customers who are distributed across multiple time zones.
Older technologies are being replaced with newer extensions to incorporate latest advancements. Virtual telephone lines linked to mobile devices are eliminating desk phones and offer users the option to receive readable voice mail. Virtual fax lines can not only receive incoming transmissions 24/7 but also route them to our mobile devices as digital copies that may include customer summaries and key metrics. Plus, how about email? How many times a day do you check email on your mobile device?
The Goal of Mobility in Business
Mobility in business is a game changer because if it is designed and implemented effectively, it can be a huge driver for growth and profitability. Hence, we need to consider mobility as a key component of the new business-growth model.
Mobility helps us execute without boundaries: any time, any place, anywhere
The goal is not to invest blindly in mobility but to find opportunities that can contribute directly to our strategic business goals. We must consider all slices of the mobility equation: mobile workers, mobile devices, and the mobility of corporate assets, including a key component: data.
Bottom Line: Mobile technology alone doesn’t guarantee better results; it is only the agent for driving results.
How do you see mobility changing your business?
Kaan Turnali is Global Senior Director, Business Intelligence (BI) at SAP. He is responsible for the development, oversight, and execution of strategy for the BI platform across SAP’s Global Customer Operations (GCO) Reporting & Analytics Platform. In addition, he manages special mobile BI projects for the Office of the CEO and the GCO senior management team. Prior to joining SAP in 2006, Kaan worked as a senior BI consultant specializing in strategy, design, and development of enterprise BI solutions for SMB and Fortune 500 companies. His background and experience in the integration of business and technology span over two decades. He is an adjunct professor, teaching BI in the doctor of business administration program at Wilmington University.
Connect with me on Twitter (@kaanturnali) and LinkedIn.
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Company Website: www.sap.com
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