| Over years companies have invested heavily in | | | | 3. Reduced Administration: Workers in the field can |
| building up their IT applications to serve the needs of | | | | generate new work orders or assign outstanding |
| their workforce. But still then most of this investment | | | | work orders directly. Work-order processing is |
| has not resulted into wide ranging effects as a | | | | simplified because transactions are electronic and can |
| substantial part of the workforce is still not | | | | be routed automatically through the workflow to the |
| connected directly with these IT applications. For | | | | appropriate backend. |
| example mobile sales force, technicians in plants, | | | | 4. Real Time Information: Information is made |
| executives on move are not able to exploit these | | | | available with real time accuracy and has greater |
| hidden resources. The result is process inefficiencies | | | | management control. This can be used to enable a |
| and breakdown. Mobile applications are extending the | | | | bi-directional control of processes in real time. |
| reach of backend IT applications to the periphery of | | | | 5. Effective Business Decisions: These applications |
| corporate world. | | | | lead to effective business decisions as management |
| Today, world is moving towards mobile applications, | | | | drives the results from real time information in more |
| which allows users to leverage the more accessible | | | | efficient and productive environment. |
| devices to access information in an easy and less | | | | There are of course some disadvantages as follows: |
| time. Mobile devices are truly extending reach of | | | | 1. Mobile Devices Restrictions: Considering mobile |
| corporate network to remote worker, which has | | | | devices smaller screens input interface is more |
| resulted into improved productivity with easy | | | | complicated than PC. Also resolution of mobile screen |
| connectivity for mission critical activities. | | | | is relatively low. The limited battery life also posed a |
| Some of the extended benefits of mobile applications | | | | few challenges for end-users. |
| are:- | | | | 2. Security Concern: Security is a major concern for |
| 1. Mobility: Mobility is the basis for the value of mobile | | | | mobile devices. Wireless transmission, in a way, biases |
| devices. The ability to be used anywhere and any | | | | end-users to perceive mobile applications to be more |
| place has been the main reason to adopt these | | | | vulnerable and unsecured. Thus, more security |
| applications. It is also the main advantage of these | | | | enhancements and options must be provided to |
| applications have over traditional personal computers. | | | | ensure the security of data and business transactions. |
| In a way, it is a 'necessary condition' for mobile | | | | One needs to carefully weigh the advantages of |
| applications. | | | | mobile applications to derive the most beneficial use |
| 2. Convenience and Efficiency: Convenience and | | | | cases in a given operating environment and design |
| efficiency are the advantages of these applications | | | | the solution in such a manner that the disadvantages |
| both for customers and company's employees. They | | | | of mobile devices (as mentioned above) do not |
| are the two primary fundamental objectives that | | | | hinder the effective usage of enable mobile |
| end-users expect mobile applications to provide. | | | | applications. |