Mobile Devices / Mobile BI Offers Wealth of Opportunities for Channel

Mobile BI Offers Wealth of Opportunities for Channel

By Michael Vizard | Posted 2014-12-26

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Mobile BI on the Rise

For the first time, mobile BI is the second highest priority (3.2 average mean), beating out calendaring at 3.1. Email continues to hold the top slot at an average mean of 3.4.
Mobile BI Deployment Plans

Just under 40% plan to deploy mobile across more than 20% of their organization in next 12 months. That number will rise to well over 50% in the next 24 months.
Mobile BI Preparedness

More than 70% said they are either completely or somewhat prepared. Only 8% are completely unprepared.
Mobile BI Priorities

Multi-touch interfaces, location awareness, context awareness and camera integration are top priorities. Smart watches and Google Glass are at the bottom of the list.
Mobile BI Usage Patterns

Close to 20% said that 41% or more of BI usage will be mobile only by 2016. The rest will continue to use both PCs and mobile devices.
Mobile Platform Usage

Apple and Google continue to dominate the top four slots, but the Microsoft Surface tablet is now is fifth place, with 30%.
Mobile Platform Planning

Microsoft is gaining in momentum. In term of plans for adoption in the next 12 to 24 months (44%), Microsoft Surface tablet is seeing the biggest gains.
Mobile BI App Location

More than 60% of North American respondents provide server access only. The rest are using a mix of mobile device and server platforms.
Custom Mobile Development

Apple and Google Android again dominate in terms of projects that are under way or planned, but Microsoft is again gaining momentum, with the fifth (Surface) and sixth (Windows Phone) slots.
Mobile Application Sources

Most buy from a consumer-grade app store today, but in next 36 months 21% plan to use a third-party enterprise app store, and 29% said they will build their own.
Native vs. Web Applications

Users prefer native apps on Apple and Google devices, but Web apps are preferred on all other platforms.
Backend Systems in Use

The majority (58%) are relying on internal systems and applications. Only 22% are using a private cloud and 24% are using public clouds.
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In terms of applications running on mobile devices, business intelligence (BI) has always held the most promise for solution providers in the channel. Perhaps most significant to the channel is the fact that most mobile BI applications continue to be tightly connected to internal servers, creating a variety of integration opportunities. New research looks at trends in mobile BI deployment plans and user priorities. According to a survey of 275 executives conducted by the market research firm Dresner Advisory Services, BI has nudged out calendaring for the first time as the second most important mobile application following email. The survey also finds that, in terms of mobile computing platforms, Microsoft is starting to gain mind share even though Apple continues to dominate the category. The study also indicates that interest in enterprise-grade app stores is definitely on the rise. Channel Insider examines key takeaways from the study.

Mike Vizard has been covering IT issues in the enterprise for 25 years as an editor and columnist for publications such as InfoWorld, eWeek, Baseline, CRN, ComputerWorld and Digital Review.