Business needs to capitalise on consumer technology in order to survive, says Rory O'Neill of Research In Motion (RIM).
The company's senior director of business, speaking at the first South African BlackBerry Innovation Forum at the Forum in Bryanston, said it is imperative that businesses harness smartphone technology to move with the trends their consumers are latching on to.
Previously, he said, companies used to rely heavily on their IT departments for IT workings and policy, but that needs to change. “Companies need to start managing, controlling, adopting and shaping how consumer technology is used for business.
“It's not about control, but building flexible policies around IT to leverage employees using tech to reach consumers... and help employees make decisions faster,” said O'Neill.
He said companies need to work out a framework in which they embrace consumerism and think about using it in terms of culture, value, choice, security and management.
“Each company has a defined intrinsic culture, and understanding of this is imperative.” He also said businesses must find a balance between total control over their IT and innovation, which can drive a company and add to its value.”
Research from Forrester shows that in EMEA enterprises, return of investment is highest on integrative businesses, as these companies have embraced integration of mobile strategies, applications and user experience.
“Companies need to innovate,” he asserted, “developing the right app for the right function and at the right time.” O'Neill also pointed out that businesses need to harness social media, so as to leave their footprint where consumers have easy access to it.
There should also be policies on security and how data is used by people and how and when it is accessed. Privacy is fundamental and it is “important to give specific policies to different users,” as well as ensure secure client data, while making business workings accessible to employees.
“In the end, it's about delivery,” O'Neill said. “Consumerisation is real and companies need to define their mobile, tablet and social media strategies to deliver.”
Stuff the strong
Michael Jordaan, CEO of FNB followed on from O'Neill saying “Stuff the strong. Only the innovative shall survive.”
The biggest mistake a company can make, he said, is thinking it is the solution to whatever problem there is. “It's about knowing the problem, understanding the problem and asking 'can we solve it?'”
Jordaan asserted that man has always been innovative and now the key is to innovate through disruptive media coming in. He used the example of cellphones, fax machines and e-mail.
“You don't want to go changing your entire business and open up a new one just because of a new disruptive technology which shakes the way business works... you want to work with it and successfully integrate technology into your existing business.”
He said it's about moving with the times and knowing that nobody is smarter than everyone. “Innovation can make the world a better place... CEOs need to be active towards innovation and focus on an empowering culture in the work environment.”
Innovation, Jordaan stated, is about setting people (employees and consumers alike) free and see the results, which mostly ends up in an increase of productivity. Innovation needs to be part of companies' value sets, he reckons.
“Businesses need to recognise and reward innovators, because people are 'suckers' for recognition,” he said, adding that it is not enough to throw money at an issue if the empowering culture is not cultivated.
“It's about taking risks, making mistakes and getting to the 'oh, I like that...let's do it' stage, because adversity is the challenge to do better.” He added that companies need to be understanding and have tolerance for risks and mistakes.
Fun, coffee, alcohol
“Even Darwin was socialising when he came up with his ideas,” Jordaan stated. “Good ideas don't keep office hours... a relaxed environment that is enabling is more conducive to productivity.”
He reckons that in order to survive, businesses have to stick to their business but integrate based on efficiency and cost-cutting. “New technology can kill a business if it chooses not to integrate technology and ask how it can use technology in innovative ways.”
“Being a pioneer means hurdles and it is imperative that businesses, in order to be successful, harness every resource.”
Related story:
Fast-tracking SA's innovation
Share