Consumer Mobile Devices in the Enterprise · Mobile Devices For more than a decade, demand for...
Transcript of Consumer Mobile Devices in the Enterprise · Mobile Devices For more than a decade, demand for...
EXPERIENCE SEAMLESS.
WHITE PAPER
Consumer Mobile Devices in the Enterprise
Why smartphones and tablets are launching a
new era for enterprise technologies
STREAMLINING ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY
Spurring Innovation in the Enterprise
1.54BILLIONSmartphones were sold in 2017. The avail-
ability of these powerful devices represents
a seismic technological shift for enterprises.
The architecture of enterprise technology is entering a
new era. Driven by the need for better data collection,
faster innovation cycles, and smarter digital-physical in-
tegration, enterprises are increasingly turning to solu-
tions that are built upon consumer mobile devices, and
for very good reason.
Through a combination of versatility, usability, afford-
ability and supportability, along with a rich developer
ecosystem, modern smartphones and tablets offer the
features and functions that can enable a wide array of
high-value enterprise use cases. More broadly, these
consumer-oriented technologies are unlocking new
opportunities for rapid innovation, bringing digital effi-
ciencies and capabilities into the physical environment.
AILA — HEALTHCARE CASE STUDY
The Limitations of Traditional Enterprise Systems
Enterprise technology stacks have traditionally
featured an array of disparate, specialized
point solutions. These purpose-built tools have
proven to be extremely effective at addressing
specific enterprise needs. However, consumer
demands now require increasingly seamless
experiences across web, mobile and brick-
and-mortar channels. Integrating disparate
hardware and software components with each
other and across channels can be complex.
Furthermore, siloed technology solutions don’t
create an ecosystem that supports the rapid
innovation cycles needed to quickly respond
to ever-changing market demands.employees say their employer doesn’t give them access to the latest technology to do their job efficiently
— The Staples Business Advantage Workplace Index
3 OUT OF 4
The Rise of Consumer Mobile Devices
For more than a decade, demand for ever-smarter,
faster tablets and smartphones has spurred global
technology leaders into action. This consumer mar-
ket opportunity is real: some 1.54 billion smartphones
were sold in 2017 alone. These increasingly powerful,
versatile, feature-rich devices don’t just benefit con-
sumers—they represent a seismic technological shift
for enterprises, too.
By building upon consumer mobile devices, enter-
prises are able to achieve the technological agility re-
quired by this era of rapid transformation.
Here are five reasons why consumer tablets and
smartphones are increasingly being used as the
foundation of next-gen enterprise technologies:
1. VERSATILITYThe ultra-competitive consumer technology market
has led to a veritable arms race in terms of features
included on these modern tablets and handheld de-
vices. Bright, responsive touchscreens, hi-res imaging
capabilities and connectivity that ranges from cellular
to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have all become standard fea-
tures, along with powerful processing capabilities and
internal storage.
This versatility within an app-based environment
means a single device can be used for a multitude of
high-value workflows, enabling enterprises to nimbly
and quickly deploy experiences that are less expensive
and easier to manage than those built on traditional en-
terprise hardware platforms.
2. USABILITYExpecting employees or customers to learn
how to use new hardware is a big ask—especial-
ly if that new device features an unintuitive user
interface or an unfamiliar operating system.
Building experiences around class-leading UIs
from market-tested tablets and smartphones
that people already know how to use stream-
lines adoption, which can lead to a faster return
on investment—and perhaps more importantly,
happier employees and customers.
4. SUPPORTABILITYIf your custom “rugged” device breaks, you’re typically at
the mercy of the manufacturer for services, repairs and re-
placements. With consumer devices, these services are sim-
ple by necessity. The sheer volume of consumer devices out
in the world has created an efficient device maintenance
and replacement infrastructure.
In the consumer market, forward compatibility and extend-
ed product life cycles provides a large window for device
usage. Apple, for example, offers iOS 11 support for 23 mod-
els of iPhones and iPads, and product support for an addi-
tional five years following discontinuation. The stability of
these products in terms of hardware and software devel-
opment, including common APIs across the iOS platform,
further creates a stable environment favored by enterprise
IT managers.
3. AFFORDABILITYConsumer mobile devices not only include rich fea-
ture sets and smooth interfaces, they also deliver
exceptional performance relative to their cost. This
value can help shorten the time before the break-
even point for a faster return on the investment of
new experiences and technology deployments.
5. A RICH DEVELOPERECOSYSTEMAs the new era of digitally-infused experiences and workflows
is still taking shape, enterprises need the agility to quickly
test, optimize and scale their deployments. Consumer mobile
devices are an ideal platform for this, in part because of the
breadth of their developer ecosystems.
Lured by a reliable stream of income, software developers
have been creating mobile applications at a remarkable pace,
with thousands of new apps launched daily. This has led to
an incredibly rich developer ecosystem, with no shortage of
options for building, troubleshooting, or upgrading software
applications to run any number of experiences. This is in stark
contrast to traditional retail technologies, which typically
offer far fewer opportunities for customization or enhance-
ments to the user interface or software feature set.
KEY TAKEAWAYSThe competitive, versatile nature of the consumer
device industry has paved the way for a new gen-
eration of technology solutions that enable rapid
innovation and agile deployment. With rich feature
sets, user-friendly design, and a vibrant developer
ecosystem, consumer tablets and handheld devic-
es are an asset to businesses small and large that
are looking for new ways to engage with consum-
ers and streamline business streamline operations.
Aila Technologies delivers seamless experiences for enterprises, uniting real-world and online operations to empower employees, streamline workflows and delight customers at every touchpoint. Through Aila’s TrueScan software and suite of Interactive Kiosks and Mobile Imagers that beautifully combine proven iOS capabilities with superior integrated scanning, Aila enables front-end applications that create brand new possibilities in-store and beyond. Learn more about how Aila Technologies is making every interaction and transaction we touch more valuable, for every enterprise partner, every day, at www.ailatech.com.
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