Application platforms have been playing a larger role in businesses as smartphone and tablet use rises, and many organizations are finding that integrating data and processes across different applications is creating significant value. The potential of effective application platforms that include process tools has been fueling innovation in how businesses use mobile devices. According to a recent IT Pro Portal report, the fourth generation of mobile services is on the horizon and Mobile 4.0 aims to take process advances even further within smartphone apps and services.
Process-focused advances can help users make the most of mobile tools.The evolution of enterprise mobility services
The news source explained that the early days of mobile device use in the enterprise were marked by extremely basic capabilities like email functionality and calendars. Mobile 2.0 came quickly, however, as the potential offered by apps became clear. Apps that worked with the mobile Web to give users extremely basic functions were the mark of the Mobile 2.0 era, but major innovation was on the horizon for Mobile 3.0.
We are currently in the Mobile 3.0 era, where mobile application platforms are integrated with process and data tools to allow employees to complete key business processes across all of their devices, the report said. Mobile 4.0 will be an evolution of this process, as it will be all about extending these process management capabilities to contractors, temporary employees and other workers who fall outside of the traditional corporate umbrella. The news source explained that more businesses are increasing their dependence on non-traditional workers and future enterprise mobility developments will need to support this trend.
"Mobile 4.0 aims to take process advances to another level."
Using BPM to create value from mobility
Taking advantage of mobile capabilities hinges on helping business users leverage the technology to get the job done as efficiently as possible. A recent Computing report emphasized that there are many businesses with work to do in this area. After talking with a variety of technology leaders in a casual way, the news source reported that plenty of organizations are still struggling to use smartphones and tablets to make a real positive difference in how people work.
BPM tools are increasingly being built out as application development platforms because this functionality lets business users leverage code-free app creation capabilities to customize solutions based on their process needs. When applied to mobility strategies, this freedom for customization empowers workers to align processes, data and application functionality across all of their devices so they can work as efficiently as possible without restrictions.
