Application Development for

Enterprise

Gurpreet SinghTechnical Product Manager

mPortal Inc.

Index What are “Enterprise Mobile Applications”? Why are we talking about “Enterprise Mobile Applications”? Types of Enterprise Mobile Apps Enterprise Handheld Platforms How to mobilize Enterprise Apps Case Studies and solution Concerns and Issues Where’s the potential? Light at the end of the tunnel…

What are Mobile Enterprise Apps?

The mobile application, which imbibes complex business logic, expected to be high on performance, fortified from attack vectors, is expected to handle large volumes of data and concurrent users and scalable on need basis, easily maintainable and extendable and able to orchestrate with the overall enterprise application landscape of the organization is typically designated as an enterprise application.

The software applications, which are the DNA of organizations and imbibe the business functionalities of the enterprises to catalyze their growth, are termed as enterprise applications …………….

Too complex…

What are Mobile Enterprise Apps?

Simplified Any application which helps me access and process my

workplace data from anywhere, anytime (usually from my mobile phone)

Not only access, but interaction with information at right time, in right context

Advantages: … people more productive … processes more intelligent … customers more satisfied

User Modes in the Mobile Enterprise

Courtesy :Avaya

How do we work today?

ComputerWorld survey in early 2008

Why are we talking about Enterprise Apps on Mobile?

iPass survey finds smart phones preferred to laptops as enterprise mobility platform – 63%

CareerBuilder survey finds 54% of workers check smart phones while driving

Egnyte found that 88 percent of small businesses believe mobile management is critical to their success

Google Makes Biz Apps Marketplace Official , third-party apps and developers get opportunity to sell their software to customers of Google Apps– Mar 10,2010

Android to be number two enterprise mobility platform by 2013

Why are we talking about Enterprise Apps on Mobile?

Gartner has identified eight mobile technologies that will evolve significantly through 2010 Bluetooth 3.0 Mobile User Interfaces Location Sensing Mobile Web and widgets

Mobile Enterprise Advertising …..

Data usage on mobiles is increasing like never before. Thanks to NFC, 3G, HSDPA, Web 2.0, Advanced Mobile Browsers

Types of Enterprise Apps

Business apps Supply Chain Management apps Unified Communication apps

(messaging, voice, instant messaging, presence, IP calls)

Mobile E-mail & calendaring apps

Vertical Applications

Industry Mobile Enterprise Apps

Manufacturing (supply chain) CRM, SAP, Oracle, Astea

Warehousing Datex, SmartTurn

Transportation Sybase iAnywhere, CRM, Datex

Logistics Sybase iAnywhere

Direct Sales/Store Inventory Bel Tek, IntegraSys

Horizontal Applications

Industry Mobile Enterprise Apps

Communication MS Office mobile, Google Apps, RIM blackberry connect, IBM Websphere, Sybase

ERP SAP Mobile Asset, WM Data,

CRM Pivotal, NetSuite, Maximiser CRM

Sales Force Automation NetSuite, Sybase iAnywhere,Salesfoce.com

Supply Change Management Tuppas, Motorola Asset Management solution

Mobile Enterprise Enablers and Drivers

RIM Enterprise phones – most admired platform

Nokia Mobile software – Wireless Email, Workforce management, mobile voice Phones for business

Microsoft advanced messaging and collaboration capabilities advanced calendar control, HTML e-mail, SharePoint access, and

genuine Microsoft Office Mobile MS Office

Mobile Enterprise Enablers and Drivers

SAP SAP NetWeaver Mobile

Mobile Java client Mobile .NET client Mobile browser client

Salesforce.com Salesforce Mobile is integrated with email and calendar.

Open Handset Alliance(OHA) and Android Mash- up Applications (Web + Native)

IBM

Enterprise Handheld PlatformsAre you a mobile developer targeting the enterprise?

Enterprise Handheld Platforms

• Some interesting facts

– Symbian is the most sold platform, but far down in enterprise usage by IT departments

– RIM-Blackberry is the one supported as enterprise phone by majority

– IDC report: Android to be number two enterprise mobility platform by 2013 -> But will enterprises use it?

How to mobilize enterprise apps?

• Remote Access/Remote Desktop– Virtual Network Computing– Device independent solution– Problem is how to map big screen onto small one.– Example, SoonR

• Local applications– How much data can be cached securely.– How an enterprise app will work if n/w not available (Caching)– Example, Google Apps client

• Web services via browser– This can be a good approach– Main issue would be browser incompatibility b/w devices and of course n/w

issues– HTML 5 may solve this (when implemented on mobile browsers)– Example, Google Apps mobile site

Case Studies

Extending a CRM Application on to Mobile Devices Pharma company empowering sales team to record all details via Mobile

CRM App

Mobile App supporting Supply Change Management Devices capable of RFID/ NFC can be used for creating a robust

SCM mobile App

Apps for travel agents for a travel and logistics company A simple feature like SMS can be used, to create a useful mobile

app

Accounts Money Managers, etc

Solution

Courtesy: Architecture Journal : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/architecture/bb985493.aspx

3 tier approach:•Enterprise Application•Mobile middleware•Mobile client application

Big Question?

Web-based “thin client” which relies on advanced browser features

OR “thick client” – Native Mobile Application

Big Question?

Usability of a native application versus the scalability of a web-based application Young tech savvy crowd likes browser based jazzy apps, What about

core demographic that uses Enterprise Apps

Fragmentation, proprietary nature and lack of community control are huge challenges for native mobile platform HTML5, widget platforms may help making and native-web app

Answer: “Depends”

What does enterprise expect?

Solution, not an application Mobile Application

Scalable Portable Dynamic Remote management

Backend (This by large is normally available)

Middle ware Support (AMC)

Concerns & Issues

• Security– Data?

• Where it resides?• How it is managed?

– Connectivity?

• Deployment– Apps for enterprise is not only about single Application download– How to provision multiple devices?– Upgrade issues

A complete end to end solution is required from application to backend server to administrative interface for app/device management.

Concerns & Issues

• Too complex and hard• Many interface and connectivity variables to manage

• Converged client still needs a back-end or middleware counterpart to help coordinate an enterprise’s data, logic, and security needs

• Given all the variables and high degree of required customization, few ISVs have emerged to try and make a living at producing mass-market mobile applications

• Diversity in how mobile devices work from geographic and regulatory market to market

Concerns & Issues

• No sex appeal, cool factor• Lacks appeal if compared to consumer apps like

• App Stores• Twitter• Facebook• Games• Maps• Other fancy Consumer Apps

• Given a choice, ppl’ll develop cool apps, rather than boring enterprise apps.

• Companies prefer doing it in house

Where’s the potential?

Saturation for horizontal mobile data applications, most of the growth potential remains for vertical market applications

What’s already there mobile email/messaging/contact/IP call solutions

Further growth specialized business applications/ tailor-made

Light at the end of the tunnel

High risk, high gain strategy Can’t be copied or bettered – Deep functionality

or IP Difficult to scale cross platform by competitors Tend to focus on one platform or even on one

phone Sell as Service, not an App

Do you believe?

Thank You

Gurpreet SinghTechnical Product Manager (mPortal)

gurpreet.s@mportal.com+919845822053

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