Mobility Today and Tomorrow: It’s Time to Dial In

Featured article by Rich Esposito, General Manager, IBM Mobility Services

Mobile today is changing how people interact as well as how work gets done. The questions that remain are, what will drive the factors that fuel mobile’s next evolution and for those who still haven’t taken the leap, what should they consider as they decide to go mobile?

According to a recent study, more than 50 percent of mobile phone users in major markets worldwide are now smartphone adopters and more than 79 percent use their device to purchase goods and services. In fact, it is expected that U.S. mobile retail revenues via smartphone will reach US$31 billion by 2017.  Consumer adoption has become widespread, but not to be overshadowed is the mobilization of today’s corporation.

Almost every employee today has a mobile phone tucked into their pocket and many own more than one portable device. Enterprise adoption of tablets, a category that barely existed four years ago, continues to see strong growth both from consumers and businesses.

Additionally, an IBM C-Suite Study suggests that individuals are using both mobile phones and tablets to accomplish a wide range of work activities that were previously restricted to desktops—accessing e-mail (62 percent via phone, 38 percent via tablet), collaborating and managing projects (25 percent via phone, 34 percent via e-mail) and conducting video conferences (30 percent by phone, 33 percent via tablet).  The ability to perform these tasks and others from non-traditional office settings is reinventing how companies can execute a range of activities – from sales and customer service to logistics and maintenance.  So how are workforces capitalizing on this mobile evolution?

Phones and tablets are central to this evolution but they are only part of a much larger vision. Take wearable devices as an example. Experts agree that the market for wearable devices alone is about to explode and this presents a huge opportunity. Why?  The sensors built into wearable devices such as wristwatches and glasses and embedded in everything from cars to medical devices and thermostats will provide new sources of “big data.” By plugging into this information, businesses can deliver more consumer-targeted products and services as well as new possible sources of revenue.

It’s clear that companies are looking for their mobility initiatives to improve customer experience, drive employee productivity and deliver on new and innovative value propositions in the marketplace. What’s also clear is that with great opportunity comes great risk, which has many businesses hesitant. The fact is that the greatest risk of all is idleness. Ask yourself, would you want to engage with a company that has not taken your mobile needs and preferences into account?

To be competitive in this competitive landscape, organizations must move and embrace a mobile strategy that addresses the basics. To minimize your risks, consider the following:

• * Where within the organization can mobile technologies offer the greatest benefits
• * How can organizations enable their IT functions to develop mobile solutions more efficiently and effectively
• * What segments of the workforce need to be “mobilized” in order to achieve the greatest return on investment
• * How can mobile be prioritized and integrated with other digital investments within the organization
• * How can mobile capabilities be used to develop new and innovative business models that help differentiate the organization from its competitors.

Much as the Internet required a rethinking of the nature of business 15 years ago, organizations must consider how this new mobile inflection point will change their future direction.  Given the power of mobile capabilities, the planned increase in corporate investment in the mobile arena and the opportunities for changing the competitive playing field, organizations need to have both external and internal strategies in place. Both must leverage common capabilities and platforms while being able to tie into those that are farther off the radar.  There is little doubt that consumer adoption of mobile products and services will continue to grow exponentially. Organizations need to dial-in or be left behind.

Richard Esposito is the IBM General Manager, GTS Mobility Services.   In his current position, he leads IBM Global Technology Services’ Mobility business line to help clients drive improved performance and capture value through mobile enterprise solutions.  He has worldwide responsibility for client satisfaction, financial growth, strategy, sales, delivery, mobile innovation labs, offering development, and operations.