Among the key success criteria for mobile business intelligence (BI) applications is the ability to satisfy the information requirements of specific users, while delivering reliable and consistent insights.
So says InsightDriven Enterprise director Stephan Nothnagel, who will discuss custom coding versus mobile platform development at the upcoming ITWeb Business Intelligence 2014 Summit, in Johannesburg later this month.
Custom coding mobile applications delivers greater flexibility in the potential specialised features and functions that may be required, and more control and capability of integration into current back-end and operational systems, says Nothnagel. Using an application development platform gives companies the ability to leverage pre-developed functionality and features and combine these in a unique manner, and reduces the risk and effort of maintenance and ongoing improvements, he adds.
Nothnagel will unpack the merits of each approach in detail during his presentation, using case studies, as well as explore the associated risks.
"A successful mobile BI solution has the ability to present the necessary insights in different formats, and at different levels of aggregation as needed by relevant decision-makers. At the same time, the reliability and consistency of the information must be maintained. Giving such insights on the devices most used and accessed by users has a greater impact on adoption and effective use, which ultimately drives the business value obtained. "Therefore, companies should be clear about the purpose of and audience for each solution," he adds.
Commenting on growth in the BI space, Nothnagel says: "There is definitely a growing demand by South African companies, similar to global markets where BI consistently rates in the top priorities of CIO spend. What I see happening is the growing pressure on businesses from macro-economic factors and an increasingly competitive environment."
Nothnagel will join other local and international BI subject matter experts at the ITWeb Business Intelligence 2014 Summit, from 25 to 27 March, in Johannesburg. Click here to access the programme for the event and to register.
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