Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll agree that smart devices are vital in boosting business operations and customer experiences. From edge computing and 5G networks to IoT technology and Generative AI, progress can be seen on many mobility fronts.
It’s no surprise, then, that the mobility as a service market is projected to reach $40.1 billion by 2030.
But what exactly does “enterprise mobility” mean?
Simply put, it refers to the combination of people, processes, and technologies used to manage mobile devices, computing solutions, and other corporate infrastructural needs.
It empowers your organization to offer your employees the flexibility to work remotely. It supports the implementation of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies that allow the use of personal devices, like laptops and smartphones.
Given how the boundaries between working “in the office,” “at home,” and “on the road” have blurred since the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to have a unified mobile policy for your organization rather than simply reacting to every new development or trend in mobile.
Here are six steps you can take.
1. Identify gaps in your business offerings and industry
Start by defining your business needs. What processes can benefit from mobility solutions? Are there any critical gaps in your customer service or internal workflows that demand improvement?
Gather feedback from both customers and employees to gain insight into potential pain points. Research what your competitors are doing and list all areas where you can lead the way.
For example, you might find that your current mobile infrastructure lacks integration with containerization or microservices architectures, which can limit your ability to scale mobile apps quickly.
By analyzing these findings, you’ll be able to define clear goals for your mobility strategy. Keep scalability and future trends in mind so that your solutions can grow alongside your business.
2. Plan for continuous innovation
Here’s the thing: Your mobile strategy must be flexible and adaptable. These are fast-moving times, after all. Continuous Application Delivery involves adopting agile methodologies for your mobile app development.
Regular updates, new features, and performance enhancements are key to keeping your apps relevant. Collect feedback from real-world users to understand what stands out in your offerings and what requires a certain level of improvement or pivot.
Maintaining a robust API infrastructure will help you quickly scale and sustain your data-driven mobile apps. Continuous innovation also means you have to be ready to introduce new services and version upgrades, improving the overall user experience.
Another key aspect of maintaining innovation is ensuring your communication channels are optimized.
For businesses relying heavily on email marketing or client communications, validating their email lists helps maintain engagement and deliverability by ensuring they reach the right audience with accurate data.
3. Manage your data efficiently
Effective enterprise mobility hinges on managing your data and seamlessly updating records. Mobile devices generate a significant amount of data, and it’s essential to know how this data is accessed, stored, and transmitted.
Review your data access procedures and implement strong user authentication measures to secure sensitive information.
If employees are making changes to business data, ensure that real-time updates and synchronization are in place so all team members stay connected and informed.
Another important consideration is protecting data in transit, especially when employees are working on unsecured public networks. Integrate mobile apps with legacy systems to ensure smooth operations and prevent data leaks.
Additionally, cloud storage, AI, and blockchain technologies can provide a more secure and efficient way to manage your data. Make sure your systems include protocols for automatically wiping data if a device is lost or compromised.
But managing your data isn’t just about storage and access; it’s also about the quality of the data you’re using. Regular email cleaning is vital to ensure you’re only engaging with active and accurate email addresses, reducing bounce rates.
4. Define device ownership and BYOD policies
Traditionally, organizations maintained strict ownership over devices used for official purposes. However, with enterprise mobility comes the need for clear policies.
There are usually three model types that work best for your organization: BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), CYOD (Choose Your Own Device), COPE (Company Owned/Personally Enabled), or COBO (Company Owned/Business Only).
Each has its pros and cons, especially when it comes to security and cost. If your organization is BYOD-friendly, the policy laid down must include specific guidelines related to device configurations, onboarding, and usage regulations for all employees.
Assigning accountability for enforcing these rules and ensuring overall compliance is also a good idea.
5. Incorporate security from the start
Protect the sensitive data in your mobility model, regardless of where it resides and how it’s configured. If your employees carry their own devices for work and personal tasks, that puts your entire mobile universe at risk.
You must tightly control who has access to the data. Therefore, design a governance policy that governs remote working terms, establishes an identity management system, secures your API infrastructure, and ensures user authentication.
It should also cover instructions for handling service interruptions and disaster recovery.
6. Focus on user experience
Once you’ve outlined your business needs, you should consider the type of experience you want your end-user to have.
For example, ask yourself:
Should the mobile experience prioritize secure access to internal systems for your employees through VPN or mobile device management (MDM) systems?
Or
Should you opt for single sign-on (SSO) and biometric authentication to enhance security?
A well-designed user experience ensures that mobile apps are easy to use, reliable, and tailored to employee needs, allowing them to work more effectively from any location. This leads to better adoption of mobile tools, fewer errors, and smoother workflows.
In conclusion
Enterprise mobility is transforming how businesses operate and interact with customers. A strong mobility strategy can improve internal processes, enhance customer experiences, and strengthen security—all while reducing costs. Plus, it delivers great results in the long run.
So the time to act is now. Don’t let your competitors get ahead—start building your enterprise mobility strategy today to stay competitive in tomorrow’s digital landscape.