Until relatively recently, specialised business and industry software required specialised hardware to run with the security, reliability, and efficiency that businesses require. Advances in hardware and operating systems have changed all that in recent years, and now the most cost-effective – and useful – way for many businesses to solve their tech solutions is with mobile technology. From computing power to connectivity, mobile technology now provides a better platform for enterprise software than many bespoke hardware solutions can offer.
IoT drives enterprise innovation
One of the key drivers of mobile enterprise software has been the rise of the Internet of Things. The IoT was for several years a concept that both predicted great new functionality in everyday objects, and at the same time terrifying security concerns amongst industry and users alike. The issues with security (and the technology’s more frivolous uses – Wifi-connected toaster anyone?) made headlines, and so the term has become less common – but the technology it uses is still going strong.
The level of interconnectivity it provides is useful for far more than simply finding out when you’re running low on milk; by providing wireless connectivity between disparate devices, system control, and monitoring has become far easier, and requires far less hardware than previously required. Both of these factors are significant for enterprise usage: being able to remotely monitor and control systems, or run diagnostics without physically interacting with equipment, makes many of the tasks which would traditionally need specialised equipment much easier.
Built for mobile
Because these sorts of networks run on the same technology as mobile devices, it means that standard devices are already perfectly suited to providing the sort of access needed. This can hugely bring down costs, both in initial purchases and in maintenance and upgrade, as off-the-shelf hardware tends to be available at much lower prices. The processing power and built-in hardware available with most mobile devices also tend to be more than suitable for all but the most complicated software needs – think built-in GPS, cameras, and even spatial sensors.
Software advances have also been significant for enterprise users. Applications which may previously have needed significant computing power – high-end encryption, for example – are now readily available due to mobile-friendly technologies like blockchain. AI and big data crunching are also now well integrated with mobile technology, often from the operating systems up. Ultimately, with a base platform with the power and precision to run many specialised programs, the decision to stick to mobile computing is barely a decision at all.
Possibilities of 5G
Looking to the future, significant changes in the way that mobile networks operate will only increase their viability as enterprise solutions. One of the most significant changes being rolled out is the switch to 5G networking. While 5G networks have suffered some hiccups due to regional politics and related concerns, it is undoubtedly on its way and promises to change what’s possible with a mobile device drastically. While it may seem that simply increasing the speed of the network is a small change, the size of the increase will make many things possible that previously seemed a fantasy. Real-time data transfer of many gigabytes means that remote processing may well overtake on-device solutions, and also bring the possibility of remote-access at levels previously thought impossible. These are developments that will change the way enterprise application development services will approach many solutions, and make mobile technology more powerful than ever.
