In Business Mobility Is “The Future”
Nobody can deny that Android and iOS-based consumer devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are rapidly achieving “big league” status as necessary tools in the realms of mobility for business computing activities, conventional computing activities and, to some extent, scientific endeavors.
Originally, Apple created the iOS mobile operating system for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Later, the system was revised to become the backbone of other Apple products, including the iPad. At the end of last quarter of 2012 (2012 -09-12), Apple’s “The App Store” contained more than 700,000 iOS applications that have been downloaded more than 30 billion times. In the fall of 2012 the iOS mobile system was involved in 65% of mobile web data consumption. As of the summer of 2012, there were 410 million iOS-based consumer devices activated.
The iOS user interface is based on the concept of direct manipulation, using multi-touch gestures available within the mobile device. Interface control elements include of sliders, switches, and buttons. Interaction with the OS includes gestures such as swipe, tap, pinch, and reverse pinch. The service lets users browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Apple’s “iOS SDK” application which allows lets developers make applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch and test them in an iPhone simulator.
The exponential growth of Android devices has catapulted iOS SDK to first place in the international market. It is not an exaggeration to say that hundreds of thousands of new Android phones and tablets are activated every day.
Even though these mobile products are portrayed as “consumer devices”, they have become increasingly more important to business entities with (a) employees who are not office bound and/or (b) third party contractors. It is reported that virtually all of the Fortune 500 companies are currently assessing or have already distributed iPhones and 86 percent have deployed, or are testing, iPad devices.
Ease of portability and facilities aimed at both consumers and enterprises combine to make Android an attractive choice of mobile device for both individuals and organizations, but organizations must ensure that measures are in place to ensure the security and privacy of enterprise information.
As you might expect, Madison Avenue types have realized that mobile devices provide outlets for marketing messages and good, old fashioned ads ““ just as they realized decades ago that home computers could do the same. However, in this case, the ads must be tailored for the small screen.
So, perhaps more small to mid-size businesses should consider discussing marketing via Android type devices with their marketing/advertising agencies.
Trusted SAP Partner, Cornerstone Consulting, Provides Mobile Solutions to Help Businesses Easily Engage With More Customers
To quickly and easily engage more customers, enterprise owners are providing end users access to their line of business applications, such as those from SAP. As business leaders see a rapid return on investment (ROI) from equipping their people with Apple iPads and iPhones as well as other mobile devices from vendors such as Microsoft and RIM, competitive company Presidents and Owners continue to invest in cutting-edge software and device technology solutions.
Already users of the SAP® Business One application, which is the SAP application for small and midsize businesses, can have access to their enterprise solutions via mobile device. SAP offers the mobile application for SAP Business One as a free download from the Apple App Store for professional users of SAP Business One.
Access to workflow approvals, customer data, and inventory information, as well as rich graphical reporting from the SAP Crystal Reports® family of offerings, are all features of the new mobile application. When small and midsize organizations combine this access with the use of mobile business intelligence (BI) tools from the SAP BusinessObjectsâ„¢ portfolio, they can really begin to profit from these devices.
For more information about increasing customer engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty with mobility with SAP Business One and its mobile application, please call Cornerstone Consulting at 813-321-1300.
