DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PART 3: BUILDING A MOBILE FOUNDATION TO DRIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Transcription

1 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PART 3: BUILDING A MOBILE FOUNDATION TO DRIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

2 IN DRIVING TOWARD DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, COMPANIES ENCOUNTER FOUR DISTINCT CHALLENGES: RISING CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Zappos and others with comparable performance are redefining service, speed and ease of use. CONTINUAL CONNECTIVITY The adoption of digital channels has driven demand for choice and connectedness. ORGANIZATIONAL VELOCITY WINS Technology lowers barriers to entry and increases speed; slow responses and lack of agility invite disruption. AN ABUNDANCE OF CONSUMER DATA Competency is essential in turning complex data into business insight.

3 More than ever, mobile matters when dealing with these challenges. We define digital transformation as a means of modernizing the systems that businesses use to create, deliver, and sustain meaningful customer experiences. This modernization ensures that businesses remain attuned to their most digitally savvy customers. But consider this observation: DIGITAL HAS TRANSFORMED THE WAYS IN WHICH CUSTOMERS DISCOVER, EXPLORE, BUY AND ENGAGE. BY 2017, DIGITAL TOUCH POINTS LIKE MOBILE DEVICES WILL INFLUENCE 50% OF U.S. RETAIL SALES, AND 10% OF ALL SALES WILL BE ONLINE. FORRESTER RESEARCH Clearly, embracing modernization means embracing mobile, and a solid foundation in mobile technology will help drive digital transformation. DATA IS EVERYWHERE Altogether, 2.5 quintillion bytes of new data are generated each day. To give that number some scale, imagine each byte of data is the size of a penny. Just 1 quintillion of those pennies would form a cube 5 miles wide on each side. If each byte of data were equivalent to one second of time, just 1 quintillion seconds would be twice as long as the known age of the universe. 2.5 QUINTILLION BYTES OF NEW DATA DAILY 96% OF GEN Y HAVE JOINED A SOCIAL NETWORK 9.6 BILLION CONNECTED DEVICES

4 More amazingly, 90% of the total data in the world today was created within the past two years. Key contributors to this data deluge include: 75 million mobile-loving millennials (Generation Y), 96% of whom are on a social network 9.6 billion connected devices an Internet of Things that transfer data over networks without human assistance In other words, it came from everywhere. This mass of measurable information has a name: Big Data. When the term Big Data dawned, it intimidated businesses. They backed away from it, and many were slow to embrace digital as a result. Now, success relies on managing Big Data, much of which comes from mobile devices. Businesses of all sizes must know that if they possess the proper analytics, application accelerators and development tools to handle Big Data, they can improve: CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCT DELIVERY SERVICE INTEGRATION Insights gleaned from mobile data provide new opportunities. About 75% of mobile shoppers engage with businesses after receiving a location-based prompt or message. To make the most of that engagement, businesses must streamline their operations and deliver relevant content to consumers and employees. LEVERAGE INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATIONS Mobile enables the Internet of Things 18 billion increase in Global machine-to-machine connections at the end of 2022 from 2 billion in 2011 TRANSFORM THE VALUE CHAIN Mobile is primary 91% of mobile users keep their device within reach 100% of the time DELIVER CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE DRIVE REVENUE AND PRODUCTIVITY DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT Insights from mobile data provide new opportunities Mobile is about transacting Mobile must create a contiuous brand experience 75% of mobile shoppers take action after receiving location-based messages 96% year to year increase in mobile Cyber Monday sales between 2012 and % of users use multiple screens as channels come together to create integrated experiences

5 WHAT USERS WANT Delivering relevant content means dealing with audiences on their terms. Consumers have needs, wants, and expectations when it comes to mobile technology. In their minds, the quality of the user experience is directly related to the quality of the product or service. Ensuring quality on both levels requires the delivery of: A rich and high-quality user interface Useful features to integrate into everyday activities Measurable rewards, monetary or otherwise (i.e. gamification) Secured private information Use on any platform The question for most businesses then becomes, How do we do all of that? How do we give users what they want? The answer is spread across six key considerations: Sticking to native interfaces Creating solutions that simplify tasks Providing fresh, up-to-date content Connecting users to businesses through loyalty programs Making solutions cross-platform Utilizing powerful architecture and web services to drive business logic and ensure secure data At the same time, these efforts should add value to businesses by: Utilizing applications to market ideas and drive revenue Building brand loyalty Doing more with fewer people Generating feedback and analytics from a wide base of users

6 A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT Mobile is all about providing service, quality and convenience in ways that benefit a business s customers, employees and bottom line at once. The illustration shows the linkages that stretch from design and strategy all the way through to integration of a mobile platform. Notice that each block in this structure carries considerable weight. Omitting or diminishing any one of them threatens the overall structure and compromises success. The strategy and design services comprise the ideation, storyboarding, research and analysis that go into describing every aspect of a mobile application and illustrate the app s flow and features. The source systems are also known as the back-end enterprise systems, which are integral to the scaling necessary for accommodating fluctuation in the numbers of users. The servers, networks and devices constitute the delivery infrastructure and must be balanced to handle the load of work that goes into development. Near the top, two crucial components are security and analytics. Security, of course, is essential to the protection of business and customer data, but just as important is analytics. Businesses must be able to see and understand how their apps are being used. By measuring feedback from the moment a product is considered all the way through its usage and performance, businesses can learn where they are succeeding or failing with their customers.

7 THE MOBILE APPLICATION LIFE CYCLE Smart, precise development improves deployment frequency, speeds adoption, broadens market reach, lowers failure rates and shortens time between product releases. In short, it effectively addresses every station in the mobile application life cycle. THOSE STATIONS ARE DEFINED AS: Instrument A suite of tools that analyze an application s performance (a.k.a, Instrumentation) Integrate Creating a production-like environment that mimics an application s final configuration (a.k.a., integration) Test A period of performance review, some of which can be automated Scan and certify Identifying source code vulnerability, preferably early in the development cycle Deploy Deployment to either Apple s itunes App Store or Google Play or Microsoft s Windows Store, taking into consideration the time required for review by either Apple or Google or Microsoft. Manage Creating a quick response as case issues arise Obtain insight Monitoring user trends Design and develop Reviewing user feedback and best practices and applying that data to the app s next iteration

8 MOBILE CONNECTIVITY A well-thought-out application program interface (API) provides all the elements necessary for an app s development and makes it easier for programmers to do their jobs. APIs consist of routines, protocols and tools the building blocks necessary for constructing software and it matters how the blocks are assembled. The image here notes both partner and enterprise APIs. Partner APIs, such as those provided by Google and Microsoft, can add flexibility and robustness that enterprise APIs lack. Lightweight APIs, meanwhile, have fewer dependencies and can be configured more easily, allowing more agility in programming and governance of service oriented architecture (SOA). MICROSERVICES VS. SOA CONSISTENT AND INTUITIVE API DESIGN PUBLISHED, REUSABLE APIS LEVERAGE SOA INVESTMENTS LIGHTWEIGHT API GOVERNANCE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY PORTAL PROTOCOL MEDIATION WEB SERVICES TO REST/JSON SECURITY HANDSHAKES API MONITORING API TRAFFIC THROTTLING

9 THREE CLIENT SOLUTIONS When considering a mobile app, businesses have three solutions from which to choose: MOBILE WEB SOLUTION For those who seek rapid development and deployment and a high-quality mobile experience. This solution supports a mobile presence without the need for an application and could be as easy as adding responsiveness to an existing website. WHAT IT OFFERS Shortest path to a mobile presence Support for multiple platforms Seamless integration with existing web services and features KEY TECHNOLOGIES HTML / JavaScript / CSS jquery / jquery Mobile Bootstrap NATIVE SOLUTION For those who need to develop and deploy high-quality mobile apps for specific platforms. These seamlessly connect rich mobile applications to enterprise data and services. WHAT IT OFFERS A pixel-perfect user interface Complete access to device sensors and data Tools for automated builds and deployments Faster debugging through built-in tools Easy connectivity to existing data and services for mobile usage KEY TECHNOLOGIES Xcode Android Studio Visual Studio HYBRID SOLUTION For those who seek quick development and deployment of high-quality apps across multiple platforms. Employs technology elements from the other solutions. WHAT IT OFFERS One code base Support for multiple platforms Tools for automated builds and deployments Easy connectivity to existing data and services for mobile usage KEY TECHNOLOGIES IBM MobileFirst Apache Cordova Xamarin

10 BEST PRACTICES We have entered an age when our technology must be mobile, agile, and rapidly responsive. Businesses that understand this and embrace digital transformation will take the lead in their marketplaces. But clean, responsive, client-centric mobile environments are not made overnight; they require careful consideration for effective deployment. The building blocks must be assembled with care. To do that, and to ensure success, establish a set of best practices: Create a mobile strategy not just around apps but also with the web in mind Set up a continuous integration / testing process for velocity Architect correctly from the beginning Set up an enterprise API structure Invest in analytics Remember that mobile is important to more than just the customer

11 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS When thinking about digital transformation, also consider: DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES AND AUDIENCE Partners will have a vested interest in what is being done. So will field service technicians. Transformation is not only about customers, but also the people who deliver services to them. EASY, FREQUENT COLLABORATION BETWEEN EMPLOYEES Employees drive cost reductions and process changes and are the people who know what data is available and understand what questions to ask of the data, understand how to interpret it, and understand how it can be used to push change from within. THE PROPER STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION CAN ENSURE THE RELEVANCE OF ANY BUSINESS ENGAGED IN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND SEND IT DOWN A PATH TOWARD PROSPERITY.

12 LET PERFICIENT HELP YOU ON YOUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY: Download Guides and Additional Digital Transformation Resources at:

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