Being Mobile in Business

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               Gone are the days of being shackled to desktop computers, as businesses turn to mobile devices in an effort to be more productive and efficient. Any basic search of Yahoo will produce countless articles and blogs pertaining to the future of mobile technology. But in looking deeper into first hand authoritative sites, we find the essential need for untethered commerce has gone to lofty extents.

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                Private devices within the workplace were once highly frowned upon. But now businesses want their employees to be “connected.”  They want to broaden their products and ideas far beyond the company structure.  Mobile devices enable this by keeping task lists for employee, scheduling projects and updating statuses. Accessibility to company information while on the job site has helped to reduce travel and energy costs. Apps give the ability to track expenses, customer relations through social networking, or communication with clients. Additionally, there is the benefit of mass storage within these devices; “Up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of data (equating to approximately 80,000 boxes of paper) can be stored in a device as small as a pen.”(Milligan)

                Yet, every improvement has its drawbacks. Foremost, the substantial cost to large companies in providing their employees with current technology in an ever advancing age; yet another reason why many companies encourage the private devices. Having differing Android and iPhone operating systems can produce great problems for IT managers. There are multiple security and management issues when utilized for a business, from viruses to the theft of company information.  

                A possible option for companies is the development of Cloud Computing. 

Marsh, Jaymes. “How do Businesses Envisage Managing their Mobile Devices?”. Mobile Device Manager. 24 Feb. 2012. http://www.mobiledevicemanager.com/mobile-device-management/managing-mobile-devices/

Milligan, Patricia Mayer Ph.D and Donna Hutcheson.” Business Risks and Security Assessment for Mobile Devices.” Isaca’ Elearning Campus. 2008. Volume 1. http://www.isaca.org/Journal/Past-Issues/2008/Volume-1/Pages/Business-Risks-and-Security-Assessment-for-Mobile-Devices1.aspx

“Mobile Technology for Increased Productivity & Profitability.” Strategic Growth Concepts. 2013. http://www.strategicgrowthconcepts.com/growth/increase-productivity--profitability.html