Enterprise computing needs to go fully mobile along with this wave, said HansaWorld South Africa's sales manager, Taryn Cromie.
Cromie noted that IDC's latest Smart Connected Device Tracker report, says that worldwide shipments of smart connected devices grew by 29.1% year over year in 2012, crossing 1 billion units shipped with a value of USD576.9 billion. The market expansion was largely driven by 78.4% year-over-year growth in tablet shipments, which surpassed 128 million in 2012. There are no signs of a slowdown. IDC predicts that the worldwide smart connected device space will continue to surge, with shipments surpassing 2.2 billion units and revenues reaching USD814.3 billion in 2017.
"The tablet has clearly become the preferred mobile productivity device, thanks to its larger screen size, ease of use and portability," she said. "The fact that users are able to benefit from their choice of operating systems and apps simply adds impetus to tablet uptake. Inevitably, this means the tablet is now becoming entrenched as a tool for enterprise computing."
"Enterprise mobility has been a buzzword for some time, and thanks to the advent of the tablet, it is now possible," said Cromie. "However, while the device may be capable of delivering full-function enterprise mobility, true enterprise mobility cannot be realised unless the mobile enterprise apps in use deliver the same functionality that a mobile worker can enjoy in the office, wherever he may be. Cached reports are simply not enough."
To take the mobile enterprise to the next level, ERP suites must not only be available to mobile and tablet users, they also need to be fully functional on all major mobile devices, delivering all the relevant information and capabilities that they do on a desktop PC, no matter what device or operating system is in use, said Cromie. To remain relevant to the mobile worker, these reports and information need to be updated in real time and customised or user-configured as needed. In addition, the ERP suites should run native on those systems, enabling all of the systems to be used on every platform without modification of the user interface and/or the screens, and eliminating the need for an additional stack to be run on any servers in the background.
"Any device, any time is the new standard. That means tablets, smartphones, whatever your users would like to help them do their jobs more effectively. Mobility is an important factor underpinning a globalised business world. With the availability of ERP software on mobile devices, productivity increases," she said.
"HansaWorld believes in the future of enterprise mobility, and has invested heavily in rolling out our enterprise software for all major tablet platforms, including iPad, Windows 8 and Android," said Cromie. "We are still the only ERP vendor offering our full-suite ERP software on mobile devices. By doing so, we have enabled the mobile worker to be productive outside of the boundaries of the office and normal working hours. This is the way of the future, and the way all enterprise applications need to be delivered."
