Mobile Evolution Opens Doors to New Definition of "Workplace"
Work is becoming less defined as a geographic destination and more about what you DO. Advances in mobile-accessible technology, from smartphones to business intelligence software, may enable a more productive workforce by pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished on-the-go.
Fri, January 09, 2009
CIO — This year, for the first time ever, more people in the world will have a mobile phone than a land line. Mobile devices outnumber personal computers by three to one, credit cards by two to one and TVs by two to one (although not at my house!). IBM's Institute for Business Value predicted the number of mobile Internet users will grow 191 percent from 2006 to 2011, to reach a billion.
Against this backdrop, work is becoming less and less defined as a place that you go, and is more defined by what you do. There has been a rapid shift in workplace dynamics recently, with knowledge workers outside the traditional office boundaries much more frequently. Given the increase in the number of remote workers and the growing trend for individuals to work on- the-go, there is a resulting need to be connected and to interact with business-critical information wherever you are— whether it's visiting customers, tele-working, or accessing information in the manufacturing plant about customer orders or product performance.
Things get complicated without the ability to interact with people and information at the same level as when you're physically in the office: How do you access the most up to date performance information that is relevant to your job while on the road or in the air? More importantly, how do you capitalize on the important information contained in these reports and continue to make decisions that move the business forward?
Mobile workers driving on-the-go access to business-critical information
Fueling this growth is the industry shift towards remote working and the ability for users to do a lot more on mobile devices than ever before. Cellular phones and PDAs now provide alternative, powerful means to process business information vs. a PC or laptop. The sheer variety of Web-based applications in existence and the fact that you can now use a Web browser on a mobile device with a familiar Web interface to work with personal and business information are all part of this changing landscape of mobile accessibility—a landscape which impacts both consumers and businesses.
Usability demands beyond location also impact the rapid shift to ubiquitous mobile accessibility. Traditionally, most advanced software and information access has required specialized training, which was neither time- nor cost-effective for organizations. Technological advancements in mobile applications permit more user-friendly access, offering functions such as those similar to Web browsing. Coupled with the growing size of the mobile workforce and advanced device capabilities, what we are now seeing is a "consumerization of IT." This is a term coined by industry analyst firm Gartner, explaining how people access and interact with technology and information outside of the workplace.
