Mobile technology is everywhere. Not only has mobile tech transformed consumer behavior, it has fully infiltrated the enterprise. The possibilities of mobile tech in the business world are endless. From the point of sale, to rugged warehouse scanning, app developers and enterprise hardware providers have just begun to realize the true potential of mobile technological convergence (one device doing everything). Despite the diversity in the mobile market, there is one true player in the enterprise...Apple. Business Insider notes that iOS has recently held a dominating 68.5% enterprise market share (percentage of active devices). Unlike other OS platforms, iOS has distinct advantages that are yet to be matched by competitors through their unique design model.
Other mobile devices are certainly catching up, but iOS still reigns supreme in the enterprise arena. iOS dominance stems from the simplicity it brings to the end user. According to the Wall Street Journal, devices using software like Android have faced enterprise resistance in the past because of the complexity within the manufacturing and development process. A large collection of manufacturers produce hardware for Android and other OS systems making it difficult to create a consistent user experience. Complexity is difficult to manage for departments controlling app operations and workflows. Since Apple makes their own hardware and software, they provide a simplified implementation experience for IT departments and workers around the world.
Another reason for the iOS lead is security. Enterprise data is invaluable and iOS treats it accordingly. Alternative OS devices still come with a substantial security risks like malware attacks and invasions (InfoWorld). iOS security also provides unique control to the “gatekeepers” of the enterprise….the IT department. According to Business Insider, since iOS 7, “the guys running behind the scenes can wield a ton of power without ruining the user experience for co workers.“ Management can easily control permission settings among other configurations without workers consciously experiencing limitations. Users in the warehouse and workers in the office can be using the same app but having unique experiences regarding their line of work.
Lastly, iOS has become a standard for enterprise app development. According to TechCrunch, “98% of fortune 500 companies have an iOS app.” A big reason for that statistic is iOS 9. iOS 9 was developed with the enterprise in mind, bringing customers the ability for highly contextualized app development (techcrunch). Enhancements to features like Siri, improved battery life, and “open source” programming languages allows apps to be created around the customer’s unique needs and use cases. Developers can design highly customized apps that increase the productivity of their back end workers while also offering an app to streamline the front end of their supply chain. Although somewhat dated, a prime example of custom app development for the enterprise can be seen in this video by Zebra Technologies.
So now that it’s clear why iOS controls the mobile enterprise market, it is a matter of finding the right iOS integrator. iOS Integrators like Symbology Enterprises, specialize in building iOS apps that are constructed around MFi (made for iOS) hardware. Barcode scanning, RFID, Printing, and more are all possible with iOS. With enterprise hardware like the Honeywell Captuvo, iOS devices become enterprise ready when programmed with custom enterprise software. For example, the Captuvo can take an iOS device like an iPad and transform it into a rugged enterprise tool, permitting scanning directly into our own Apple AscentERP app! Whether it's the point of sale, barcode scanning, or full back-end management, iOS enables customized hardware/software experiences for unique business needs. For more info on iOS in the enterprise, view the cited articles below, or see how AscentERP embraces iOS HERE!
Articles of Reference:
1.http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/10/the-future-of-enterprise-app-development-is-swift/ 2.http://www.infoworld.com/article/29027 3.54/android/android-4-barriers-to-enterprise-adoption.html 4.http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/02/25/google-trying-harder-to-push-android-phones-at-work/
5.http://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-is-dominating-enterprise-2014-2
