During the past two years, Forrester has seen the number of enterprise mobility inquiries increase nearly 55%, jumping to 550-plus inquiries in 2008. In the past year, we have seen a spike in the number of inquiries focused on mobile network architecture, new types of mobile devices, and deploying vertically focused mobile applications that address the needs of workers in certain industries (e.g., retail, transportation, and healthcare).
For Vendor Strategy Professionals
April 8, 2009
Inquiry Insights: Enterprise Mobility, Q1 2009by Michele Pelinowith Ellen Daley and Madiha Ashour
Executive SummaryEach year, Forrester receives more than 20,000 inquiries on a variety of topics that provide insight into the key issues and challenges facing our clients. During the past two years, the number of enterprise mobility inquiries increased nearly 55%, jumping from 360-plus inquiries in 2007 to 550-plus inquiries in 2008. In the past year, we have seen a spike in the number of inquiries focused on mobile network architecture, new types of mobile devices, and deploying vertically focused mobile applications that address the needs of workers in certain industries (e.g., retail, transportation, and healthcare). The roles of individuals asking these questions include not only IT infrastructure executives but also marketing and business process professionals, as enterprise mobility solutions are often implemented across multiple organizational business units.
Enterprise mobility momentum Jumps in 2008Forrester fields thousands of inquiries each year from clients in a variety of roles, including CIOs, enterprise architects, vendor strategists, and marketing professionals. These inquiries provide insight into the broad range of issues and challenges that clients supporting many different types of emerging technologies and solutions face. Since 2002, Forrester has fielded more than 1,500 inquiries on the topic of enterprise mobility. Forrester defines enterprise mobility as the ability for an enterprise to communicate with suppliers, partners, employees, assets, and customers irrespective of location. Technologies that support enterprise mobility include wireless networks, mobile applications, 1middleware, devices, security, and management.
Forrester tracks increased interest in the enterprise mobility arena through inquiries received from clients. In 2008, we received more than 550 enterprise mobility inquiries - a 55% increase compared with 2007 (see Figure 1). What are these inquiries about? Mobile network infrastructure, mobile devices, and a variety of mobile applications. Why all these mobility inquiries now?
· The promise of mobility to improve productivity in the economic downturn. During difficult economic times, CEOs and business unit leaders tell us they want to enhance the productivity of all workers, and mobility solutions can help achieve this goal. For example, traveling account mangers can quickly respond to a prospect's questions using mobile email to shorten the sales cycle time, and field service technicians can increase the number of installation calls made in a day by gathering real-time scheduling updates and cancellations through mobile scheduling applications.
HeadquartersForrester Research, Inc., 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139 USATel: +1 617.613.6000 . Fax: +1 617.613.5000 . www.forrester.comInquiry Insights: Enterprise Mobility, Q1 2009 2For Vendor Strategy Professionals
· More availability of various wireless networks and enterprise mobility solutions. In 2008, Forrester received an influx of inquiries from firms trying to determine when and how to deploy equipment using the 802.11n standard to extend the reach and throughput of devices. These enterprises are asking which vendors are developing products using the 802.11n standard, as well as the implications of using this new network technology. Companies are also asking for guidance on which mobile device management solutions to use for administering the growing number and variety of mobile devices in their corporations.
· A fragmented - and confusing - mobile device landscape. The number of workers who are on the road, working in remote locations, or working away from their desks is increasing rapidly. These workers use a variety of corporate-sanctioned and personally chosen devices to stay in touch with the office. Corporate IT organizations are tasked with developing overarching mobility strategies to address questions from employees using many devices and mobile applications, as well as with establishing security policies to address concerns over deploying confidential information over these mobile devices.
What do we see in our inquiries?
· Mobile apps top the list. Questions about mobile applications accounted for 23% of all enterprise mobility inquiries in 2008. The majority of these appl... [download for more]
