Enterprise Mobility Solutions: Let's Get Granular

Enterprise mobility is no longer just an option. As IDC notes, "Mobility has moved from niche and novelty usage in business to a core end-user computing technology for enterprise workforces." It's no surprise, then, that spending is up, with total mobility revenues expected to reach almost $1.6 trillion this year. How can the C-suite effectively onboard and empower enterprise mobility solutions?

Market Trends

First, C-suite members are well served by a look at market trends. For example, Information Age points out that the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to evolve, adding more devices to the corporate network at large — everything from sensors to wireless access points to consumer-facing portals. Mobile analytics is also on the rise as companies look for ways to mine call data, customer social interaction, and corporate response times.

The specialization and increasing sophistication of enterprise mobile management (EMM) tools is also relevant. These solutions are expected to go both up-market and down-market as endpoint and IoT controls become a top priority for organizations.

The bottom line for C-suite members is that enterprise mobility solutions aren't limited to smartphones and tablets: The IoT, analytics, and EMM are all reshaping the market.

Practical Processes

Market trends aside, it's not always easy for executives to visualize the critical link between mobile device usage and corporate strategy. Here are three practical examples:

• Remote Work: According to IT Pro Portal, 61 percent of workers use more than three devices daily for their jobs — and they use them outside of the office. As a result, an effective mobility strategy is essential. Remote workers need a reliable, always-on business presence during work hours and the ability to respond quickly if after-hours emergencies occur.
• Social Media Management: Consumers now demand customer service that is responsive, personal, and transparent. That's where social media comes in. Since social never sleeps, businesses need a way to manage tweets, posts, and other forms of instant communication even when the office is closed. The result is a mobile strategy that includes cloud-based access to CRM tools, social platforms, and corporate networks to empower social responses anywhere, anytime.
• Interoffice Integration: Both mobile and IoT devices demand full network integration, and legacy hardware isn't always compatible with new offerings. The simplest way from A to B is cloud-based unified communications as-a-service (UCaaS), which combines all media channels and endpoints across your company while allowing IT to easily add new devices, sensors, or hardware as required.

Taking Action

Armed with an understanding of current market forces and emerging trends, how do C-suite members empower mobile adoption without breaking the bank? It starts with an understanding that mobile adoption isn't just about better apps and hardware. Enterprise Apps Tech News puts it simply: "The businesses likely to see the most benefit from mobility are not those that get apps for the sake of having apps. Rather, it's the businesses that are truly committed to mobility as part of a transformational business strategy that should be the most successful moving forward."

For executives, that means budget allocation is just the first step. IT departments need enough money and time to roll out BYOD policies and implement solid security practices. However, without C-suite buy-in, the result is an apparent shift to mobile-first strategies without the underlying infrastructure to carry it forward. What does this mean in practical terms? First, it means putting the time into developing a solid and detailed mobile device use policy. What are users permitted to do on their corporate devices? What types of apps can they download? What are the consequences if they don't follow these rules?

This ties into the next critical buy-in: training. It's not enough to simply supply staff with new corporate-owned mobile devices or let them connect personal devices to the network and say, "Have fun!" Companies need to make time for training sessions that show users how to securely access corporate resources, while giving IT teams the space needed to effectively implement both EMM tools and integrate new devices across existing networks. Spending isn't enough here: C-suite members must be all in for enterprise mobility solutions to get off the ground.

The corporate world has gone mobile. For C-suite executives, making the most of this shift means understanding market trends, leveraging practical potential to inform best practices, and taking action to empower enterprise mobility solutions.

Has your organization gone mobile? Contact Vonage Business to take the next steps.