Switch from paper systems to IT but keep to the business process script: Mobile technologies have become cheaper to buy and have greater performance, functionality and capacity than ever before. This can encourage over-complicated products to be used for mobile applications. These will have higher direct costs in maintenance, support or training, and higher indirect costs from the unnecessary complexity of the user experience. This is especially noticeable in the automation of simple, traditionally paper-based, processes. Done well, the use of appropriate mobile technology can pay dividends, but beware the pitfalls. ...
06/04/2009 | Light_touch_firm_impression_-_final.pdf | VIEW
A recent event co-hosted by the Mobile Data Association and the Location and Timing Knowledge Transfer Network, looked at new and emerging location based technologies and applications that have the potential to change the way people and professionals plan their journeys and travel. ...
28/07/2009 | QUO the informed traveller.pdf | VIEW
"Mobile application stores - should they be controlled by handset manufacturers?" This question was circulated among members of the Mobile Data Association (MDA) group on linkedin last month, and it was clear from the responses and other recent announcements from across the industry, that this is a key battleground for the many different players in the mobile ecosystem. As well as the handset vendors such as Palm, BlackBerry or Nokia and software platform vendors like Microsoft, these also include mobile operators who have devices tailored or tuned to their specifications and networks, and a number of independent portals who offer applications across all networks and devices. ...
02/07/2009 | QUO mobile app stores.pdf | VIEW
This question was recently asked of members of the Mobile Data Association (MDA) discussion group on linkedin. In the context of the mobile world, messaging typically refers to Short Message Service (SMS) or text messaging and so the question was trying to gauge when SMS will cease to be important. Despite the protestations of those with a strong vested interest - operators who still make a tidy return on text traffic, and the rest of the industry that makes a turn on the movement of 160 characters - ultimately perhaps SMS should disappear. It is too basic, terse, insecure, non-interactive, is mostly limited to mobile handsets and endures a very high cost per character. ...
24/04/2009 | Is messaging immortal.pdf | VIEW
Even when facing challenging economic times, businesses still need to communicate and rely on technology to connect with customers, partners, suppliers and their own employees. Cutting back on communications spending will have a negative effect in a long downturn. It will leave any business that does so with fewer options when conditions improve and at a disadvantage compared to competitors that continue to invest. However, there are 10 steps that can be taken to grow the value and use of communications, while controlling costs. ...
08/08/2008 | Comms efficiency final.pdf | VIEW
Businesses of all sizes adopt technology to make them more productive, cost effective or flexible and help them compete. Over the years the adoption of tools such as mobile phones, wireless laptops, the internet and email have all been driven by such expectations. Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are often at the forefront as these technologies can give them a lead on their larger competitors. What starts as a useful extra tool or ‘competitive edge' soon becomes the accepted norm and a search for improved quality and utility then ensues. ...
26/06/2008 | Loud and Clear1_opt.pdf | VIEW
Voice and data communications are taking up an increasing amount of organisations' budgets as more information is shared between and across more businesses. Person to person contact now includes richer media, more participants and is becoming increasingly mobile. Historically telecoms expense management has focused on the mechanistic processing of bills, payment and costs of individual items. It is too simplistic to make blanket cuts or restrict use and opting for cheap alternatives may lead to a loss of business value. A better approach is needed for managing telecoms expense, so what best practices should companies adopt to meet their total communications needs and avoid unnecessary costs ...
11/04/2008 | Total telecoms expense management_optimised.pdf | VIEW
Businesses rely on widely distributed networks of workers, be they at HQ, in branch offices, mobile in the field or working at some other external location. Whilst the office continues to be seen as the primary place of work, more and more staff are spending at least part of their working week somewhere else. Certain employees have always needed to be on the move; today they are better connected but the availability of connectivity means that other jobs that were previously confined to offices can now also be done from afar, which also means they can be more easily outsourced to third parties. This report looks at the degree to which the 21st century workforce is distributed and the issues organisations have with enabling this. ...
11/03/2008 | Quocirca - The Distributed Business Index - March 2008.pdf | VIEW
Companies are faced with increasing pressures on the communications capabilities they offer their employees. More employees are mobile, working from home or in other remote locations with a growing need to talk and share information with their colleagues. This cuts across fixed and mobile communications, but businesses still want the flexibility of mobile, and the costs, predictability, quality and service models of fixed. The convergence of the technologies involved is creating a collision of service provider business issues and a confusion of alternatives for customers. This report seeks to draw out some of the important questions businesses need to address with their communication services providers ...
02/08/2007 | convergence_report_final.pdf | VIEW
Avoiding user aggravations is key to mobile productivity. Low cost hardware and a plethora of options for connectivity should make it easier for employees to be more productive and take IT access to their point of need. However, outside the perimeter of the business location, additional controls need to be applied to ensure the security and integrity of data on the mobile device and network access. Balancing the need for control with the flexibility given to the user requires care and attention to both mobile strategy and implementation. Mobile users have many challenges facing them as they try to work outside of a managed and familiar working environment. Too many constraints and challenges can distract and divert users from the task in hand, meaning that productivity gains hoped for by deployment of the technology will be lost. ...
19/01/2007 | mobile_pitfalls.pdf | VIEW
