The Role of Taxonomy and Ontology in Semantic Layers - Heather Hedden.pdf
Ifs Mobility Survey Results
1. IFS ERP Mobility Survey Overview and Projections on Remote Access to Enterprise Data
2. Background In mid-2011, a study was conducted among manufacturing executives and professionalsof middle market to large manufacturersto better understand their interest in and demand for mobile device access to enterprise applications. This study illuminates: how enterprise software is currently accessed via mobile devices what types of mobile applications and interfaces respondents are most interested in how mobile interfaces may change the way we work. This study was conducted by IFS North America and Mint Jutras , an independent research-based consulting firm that specializes in analyzing the business impact of enterprise applications
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4. Where and how people access (or would like to access) enterprise software from a mobile device
12. Device Preference Survey respondents were screened to ensure that all currently use some type of mobile device as well as enterprise software. Blackberry devices dominate today.
13. Blackberry Dominates Now… More than half of respondents (53%) indicated that the Blackberry was the mobile device currently used (followed by iPhone at 29% and Android at 20%) But not for long… “What mobile device(s) will you likely acquire for work when it is time to replace your current unit?” iPhone will take the lead (42%), followed by Blackberry (37%) Android gains (26%) but won’t lead
15. Does Age Matter?Devices Currently Used One might expect the Blackberry would be used more heavily by older respondents and Androids and iPhones more by younger respondents True, but even among the 18-34 year age category, Blackberry is still dominant This may be due to the fact that Blackberry is still the preferred company-issued smartphone Where the choice of device is left to the individual… the Blackberry is less focused on consumer applicationsand more focused strictly on business use
16. Blending Business and Personal Time The more likely respondents were to work outside of business hours, the more likely they were to use a Blackberry instead of an iPhone or Android Think of it this way… Does your device bring business to your personal life (often with a Blackberry)? Or… Do you bring your personal life into the office via an Android or iPhone?
17. What about the new tablets? iPads dominate over other tablets, but with still a relatively small percentage carrying them for business use While the iPad appears to be poised for significant percentage growth, its small initial share among this sample means that even its projected 114% gain still means it lags smartphones in terms of actual use
18. Accessibility of Application from a Mobile Device Applications were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 is excellent and 1 indicates little access or none Only 27% are currently performing functions in an enterprise application from their mobile device
19. Limited Mobile Access to Enterprise Applications This small percentage (27%) is likely influenced by the limited mobile connectivity of the enterprise applications themselves Connectivity requires a modern underlying technology not available on legacy applications and older versions of software While a negligible few rate their level of accessibility as excellent, a third to almost one half (varying by application) have little or no access Respondents accessing CRM via a mobile device are more likely to have access, but no more likely to rate it as excellent
20. Relative Priority of Mobile Functions0 (would not use) 1 (would be useful) 2 (must have) Survey respondents were asked to prioritize various tasks that could be performed with enterprise applications using a mobile device. A handful of tasks were rated more highly than others. One thing that these tasks have in common is that they all deliver real time data and facilitate time-sensitive processes and all allow the user to actively participate in business processes using the mobile device.
21. Relative Priority of Mobile Functions0 (would not use) 1 (would be useful) 2 (must have) Again, the more personal time spent (outside business hours), the more importance was placed on being able to perform these tasks. Tasks which were lower in priority were those less critical to actually conducting business transactions. While it might be a time saver to approve time off or other personnel requests remotely, there is no direct negative impact in delaying those activities.
22. Places people are most likely to work from outside the office Where people work outside the office has a bearing on the priority of mobile access. Those working at home, in hotels or on customer sites may have access to a reliable internet connection in these locations, as well as a suitable place to work on a laptop. But in public places like restaurants, taxi cabs and airplanes, the lack of a stable wireless connection and the lack of a suitable work surface make mobile access more critical.
23. Priority of Mobile User Interface The vast majority of respondents indicated that during software selection, the mobile interface for an enterprise application was as important as other features. Overall, 82% said the mobile interface was either the most important feature or as important as other features.
24. Lifestyle and Productivity Impacts Mobility Today the lines between work and private life are blurred, even in a traditional brick and mortar industry Mobile access to enterprise software can facilitate this blended lifestyle, but what impact will it have on the way people work, how often they work and where they work? Will this drive new productivity for people who spend time in transit or in other locations where a hand-held, mobile device is the only viable tool? Will it cause work to increasingly encroach on personal time?
25. Time Spent Working Remotely During Business Hours Most respondents spend at least four hours per week working remotely. Often this translates into one day a week spent working outside the office, either through travel or in search of quiet time away from the office. Most homes are now connected and reducing the cost of commuting is desirable.
26. Frequency of Requiring Access “On the Move” An even larger percentage of respondents indicate they require a connection to enterprise software “on the move” at least once per week. In these situations, sitting down, logging in and working on a laptop is impractical.
27. Working on Personal Time Meanwhile, the majority of respondents report working on personal time either every day or several times a week. Work-life balance advocates may wonder about the degree to which always-on connectivity to the enterprise system may cause individuals to work more on personal time and how much this may disrupt private lives.
28. Would remote access cause you to work more outside normal business hours? Yet only 15% indicate remote access to enterprise data would be MORE disruptive. Easy access through a mobile device, any time, any where, allows a decision maker to connect and act immediately without the disruption of finding an Internet connection and “firing up.”
29. Conclusion Mobile access to enterprise software appears to be a tremendous opportunity to increase productivity given that additional work can be completed while in transit, both inside and outside of work hours While mobility is far from a universal feature today of enterprise applications, as software users recognize the value, software providers must necessarily respond with features and functions The ability to connect and respond immediately improves productivity and far outweighs the cost of the intrusion of a mobile device
30. Methodology This research was conducted collaboratively with Mint Jutras and IFS North America, the Americas subsidiary of a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM) and other enterprise solutions The study was executed in June of 2011 and was administered over the Internet among subscribers of Manufacturing Business Technology (MBT). Respondents were pre-qualified for using both enterprise software and a mobile device. Individuals were further qualified for being employed in companies estimating 2010 revenues at $100 million or more. In total, 281 corporate, operations, and IT executives and managers in manufacturing companies participated in this study
31. About the Respondents and Their Facilities Respondents to the study were largely senior IT and manufacturing operations personnel. A broad range of industries were represented and included aerospace/ defense, food and beverage, medical devices, computer systems and peripherals, chemicals, wood and paper, metals, etc.
32. About IFS IFS is a public company (OMX STO: IFS) founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications™, a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology. IFS focuses on agile businesses where any of four core processes are strategic: Service & asset management, manufacturing, supply chain and projects. The company has 2,000 customers and is present in more than 50 countries with 2,700 employees in total.
33. IFS Mobility Survey Contact Information: Charles Rathmann, Analyst IFS North America 262.317.7419 chuck.rathmann@ifsworld.com
Notes de l'éditeur
The more likely they were to work outside of business hours, the more likely they were to use a Blackberry – likely that the only thing the BB is used for is business and devices are less likely to be used for personal use. But the use of BB is declining in favor of Droids and iPhones.Whereas corporate standards used to favor a single device, it is more likely now that enterprises allow more freedom of choice and therefore must support a variety of devices (no data on that).
Not sure we want to use this
Only 27% currently perform functions in ent apps from their smartphones, partly because of little to no accessibility of the apps from these devices.
Generally the priority increases the more often people are spending personal time, except for when activity is on a monthly basis, probably indicating critical decisions and month/end close activities and final sales push (hockey stick at month end)
Generally the priority increases the more often people are spending personal time, except for when activity is on a monthly basis, probably indicating critical decisions and month/end close activities and final sales push (hockey stick at month end)
Just an interesting aside
Becoming just one more selection criteria to consider – see comments about user interface and ease of use
One day a week is getting to be common – home is more connected and reduces cost of commute