Web-connected mobile devices with rich user interfaces are creating an opportunity for business to capitalise on business intelligence (BI), according to MicroStrategy.
Nick Forde, who heads up the company's mobile strategy, said during the ITWeb BI Summit, mobile BI is being driven by the emergence of tablet PC devices.
“Today, business no longer needs an enormous IT team or training to use these devices.” Forde said BI on mobile devices is better than BI on traditional platforms such as desktop PCs.
“Mobile devices and operating systems are changing and evolving at a rapid pace. Mobility is now a mature market and can improve the way a business runs.”
He explained mobile workersspend most of their time out of the office. Businesses users increasingly demand information when and where they need it and in real-time.
Forde said tablets provide an intuitive way to navigate business information. He added that the future of these devices lies in integration of sensors such as radio frequency identification, Bluetooth, bar code readers and GPS.
“Having the right device in order to access information is critical to achieving business goals,” noted Forde.
He pointed out how tablet PCs and smartphones are being used for socialising business information. “Traditionally it was a PowerPoint meeting; however we don't see that taking place anymore.
“There will be no more 'I'll get back to you' meetings. Mobile BI is going to drive a whole new set of applications that socialise content. Building BI applications and interacting with people will become something we've never seen before,” Forde said.
According to the IDC in an eMarketer report titled 'The future of smart mobile devices', the time spent with mobile devices was up by 28.2% globally in 2010 and is rising faster than any other medium.
The research firm claims there will be up to 1.2 billion mobile workers by 2013, and mobile BI will be a key area of investment in coming months and years.
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