Johannesburg, 09 Nov 2004
The biggest IT question and challenge, how do we manage our mobile workforce and their devices, is a problem solved by local company PDA Consulting.
The biggest challenge corporate IT departments have to date is how to manage both physical devices and content to both personal and business devices. Whether we control or freely allow devices to be entered into our networks, we still need to manage and control these devices and the data that belongs on them.
Sean Glansbeek, director at PDA Consulting, says: "There are many mobile solutions out in the marketplace offering groupware and database integration, but very few deal with the management of devices and the content that belongs on them.
"Mobile devices are typically among the least managed computing assets the corporation has acquired. Traditional desktop systems management tools have proven unable to rise to the challenge of occasionally connected users, low bandwidth, high latency and frequent line drops.
"Corporates tend to overlook these importance factors; these can be broken up into two categories, systems management and file sync. By implementing them, corporates now have a foolproof mobile system."
Systems Management offers a powerful mechanism for remotely maintaining mobile devices including laptop, tablet and desktop PCs; pocket PC handhelds and smartphones; and Palm OS handhelds and smartphones. Software installations and updates can be pushed out to mobile devices remotely.
Systems Management provides a variety of capabilities to help minimise the total cost of ownership of these devices. Software updates, asset collection, backup, and security policy enforcement are examples. Utilising these techniques can help drive down device TCO by as much as 25%.
Companies also spend hundreds and thousands of rand per year per employee getting information to mobile and remote workers, yet still experience significant delays in getting information out. Paper documents, e-mail, intranet downloads and shipping CDs are the methods typically used. Consider the costs and inefficiencies associated with each.
Content Sync automates the process of distributing information throughout an organisation. Owners of specific file and Web site content can generate standard materials and store them in appropriate locations on the network file system. The system will see new and updated materials on the network, and package them for transmission to mobile and remote device users during their next server connection session.
When we talk in-depth with companies about their information distribution costs, we usually find that Content Sync would help save them time and money for quick ROI. Many times the costs are hidden or not fully understood, and it takes some research to uncover how big the problem is. The need for file sync is nearly universal within large corporations with distributed workforces, though not every company has a strong enough handle on mobility to have realised it yet.
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