Chief Mobile Officer: a Job Title Now Timely?
The idea of creating a Chief Mobile Officer (CMO) inside corporations isn't a new one. But as companies scramble these days to establish corporate mobile strategies, having a CMO could be a key to success, according to a new Forrester Research report.
Tue, February 14, 2012
Computerworld — The idea of creating a Chief Mobile Officer (CMO) inside corporations isn't a new one. But as companies scramble these days to establish corporate mobile strategies, having a CMO could be a key to success, according to a new Forrester Research report.
Smartphones and tablets are "the manifestation of a much broader shift to new systems of engagement...[with] customers, partners and employees," Forrester said in the 30-page report. "To remain vital in this business technology reformation, CIOs must step up and work with other executives to establish an office of the chief mobility officer to implement an enterprisewide mobile strategy."
One of the report's authors, Forrester analyst Ted Schadler, said in an interview that one of purposes of the report is to get CIOs and CEOs moving faster to provide mobile services and apps.
"We're trying to create awareness with CEOs and CIOs, even though a lot is already happening at the level of practitioners with partner tablet apps and more," Schadler said. "Mobile is one of those things that bites you from behind if you aren't paying attention."
Forrester interviewed 61 companies and found a range of approaches to expanding mobile services. Some companies are eyeing mobile self-service apps for use by customers; others envision an IT group that's focused on how people engage with smartphones and tablets.
In its findings, Forrester said business spending on mobile projects is expected to grow by 100% by 2015, and spending on mobile apps is predicted to hit $55 billion in 2016.
The explosive value of creating mobile apps for customers was obvious in several interviews Forrester conducted. At USAA, for instance, managers expected to get 22 million mobile connections for an app that can "deposit" a check when a customer takes a picture of it and sends it in. USAA got more than five times the expected response.
At Walgreens, Forrester reported, an estimated 25% of Web-based transactions for refills, store locations and general shopping came from a one-year-old mobile app.
Part of the purpose in creating an Office of the Chief Mobility Officer is coordination, Forrester said. "Without it, firms will waste too much time and money as marketing goes after a mobile loyalty app, sales builds tablet apps, the CFO implements mobile expense approvals, the CTO does his app in support of the new smart product line and the head of Asia resellers builds a mobile dealer app," Forrester said.
Forrester suggested that companies set up a 10-to 30-person task force, which would sit between business groups and IT to coordinate and incubate mobile ideas.
