Mobile

You’ve probably heard of the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it’s set to completely transform the world. Some may view thguestis as an exaggerated take, but there’s little question that companies across the globe are taking an intense interest in it. The central concept of the IoT features tiny sensors and other machines that are all connected to the internet, allowing them to communicate with people as well as each other. Some experts are predicting that by the year 2020, there could be as many as 20 to 30 million items that are part of the Internet of Things.

The world is going mobile. This isn't exactly a big revelation, but by adopting smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, businesses are changing the way they operate, and the changes are only expected to keep coming with the development of wearable technology. Perhaps one of the biggest ways the business landscape is transforming is through the increased use of customer relationship management (CRM) software. Companies have used CRM for years, but it has exploded in popularity only recently, and much of that is thanks to CRM businesses embracing mobile technology.

Moxie Software recently unveiled a new mobile chat solution and their press relations folks have been in full gear briefing tech blogs on the benefits of the new software. That's alright because besides the marketing aspects they're also throwing some interesting information our way. A new study commissioned by the Moxie reveals 62% of survey participants expect live chat to be available on mobile devices, and 82% would use it. There are a lot of interesting stats in the study that impact the role live chat may have in the customer experience and surprisingly the numbers reveal chat may have more influence on sales than social media does.

The way businesses operate has certainly changed with the rise of new technology flooding the workplace. Perhaps one of the most significant developments in the past few years has been the increased use of personal devices in the office. As smartphones and tablets have become more affordable and their capabilities have multiplied, more workers are bringing their own devices to help them with their jobs. According to one recent survey from Webroot, employees at more than 60% of companies use their own devices at work.

With Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs likely here to stay, companies are trying to find ways to reap the most benefits while downplaying the drawbacks. While it’s true that BYOD policies can lead to increased productivity, more employee satisfaction, and greater collaboration among workers, some significant issues have arisen in recent years. At the forefront is the concern over having a BYOD security plan, and since under a BYOD policy employees would be using their own personal devices to access company networks and data, business leaders are finding it an issue they need to address quickly.

When it comes to tools that can help businesses reach out to more and more people, customer relationship management (CRM) systems are some of the most important currently being used. In a nutshell, CRM systems help companies keep track of customer information, with automation and organization of data being crucial elements of the software. As technology has evolved, so have CRM systems. Every year brings about new advances, and businesses have needed to adapt to keep up with all the changes. Predicting what’s to come can help organizations prepare in advance. As companies look to the future, they’ll notice several trends that they can be ready for well ahead of the rest of the pack.

Ian Kilpatrick, chairman Wick Hill Group, specialists in secure IP infrastructure solutions, looks at the risks involved with mobile devices and how to secure them.

Mobile devices with their large data capacities, always on capabilities, and global communications access, can represent both a business applications’ dream and a business risk nightmare.

For those in the security industry, the focus is mainly on deploying “solutions” to provide protection. However, we are now at one of those key points of change which happen perhaps once in a generation, and that demand a new way of looking at things.

Companies have plenty of reasons to make bring your own device (BYOD) policies a part of their businesses. One of the main attractions, and a primary reason for adopting BYOD in the first place, is how using a personal device makes employees more productive both in the workplace and at home. Another consequence of using BYOD is that employees are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. But with these benefits also comes the concern over BYOD cost. BYOD’s most vocal proponents say the policy ends up saving businesses money in the long run, but its critics maintain that bring your own device is ultimately costly.

Who doesn’t like the idea of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for business? Having employees use their own personal devices for work sounds like a great idea. For one thing, they’ll be more productive as they are already familiar with their devices. They’ll also be more satisfied with their work since they won’t have to struggle with learning how to operate a new smartphone or tablet. Plus, companies can save on costs since they won’t need to buy devices for their employees. So what’s the downside? For many business leaders, the chief concern no matter the BYOD policies enacted is that of security.

When it comes to technology in the workplace, businesses have always placed efficiency as a top priority. Because nearly all transactions, record keeping, communication and other functions are conducted on computers, speed and safety are essential. In recent years a trend has developed that many companies are finding helps employees conduct their work in a much more efficient way. This trend is called “Bring Your Own Device” or BOYD. Companies who implement this system allow employees to supply their own mobile devices, laptops and tablets in the workplace.