The conflux of cloud hosted software systems is opening the application access floodgates, previously pent up behind internal IT department implementation or development backlogs.
Users are leaping to bypass their internal IT procurement processes for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) apps and subscribing to pay as you use, pre-installed, cloud hosted, web services.
This leaves IT departments to grapple with network security risks related to external mobile network and internet access while rushing to find new Mobile Device Management (MDM) administration software.
MDM software helps control ‘allowed’ mobile apps, version consistency and manage upgrades across the variety of device options available in the mobile app marketplace.
Unless these new ‘apps’ have collaborative capability or a means to synchronise with office systems, this can lead to further chaos for IT departments with silo’s of disconnected data islands.
All these factors are upending the traditional business systems procurement and implementation models.
Improved communication methods ranging from extended business-social internet groups, business-to-business instant messaging communications, and SMS reminder generators are spawning new ways of running a business.
Younger users are looking to their business apps to allow extended communications inside and outside their organisations, similar to Facebook or LinkedIn, even directly to individual customers.
Organisations need to rapidly develop innovative ways to gain and maintain advantage inside and outside their organisations for competitive advantage and ease of customer contact.
Yet paradoxically, there is also a growing glut of aging users who are no longer able to cope with the rampant change in technology surging about them.
In a recent WasteMINZ conference keynote speaker Steve Tighe warned that people without the 21st century skills or knowledge that enable them to cope or prosper in times of dynamic change are the new illiterates.
Businesses need to recognise the need for continuing internal IT education amongst their staff so that more can take advantage of new technologies.
Some organisations are also frozen by the FUD factor – fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Many organisations freeze in place and are afraid to take that first step forward to adopting emerging technologies.
Whether you dip a toe in or immerse yourself the digital tsunami is coming!
*Copy supplied by Terry Daley, www.wastedge.com
