People are becoming more dependent on their mobile devices. Mobile devices allow consumers to manage their bills, shopping, tasks, and business while on the move. Mobiles are a great tool for users who want to be more efficient and get faster results. These small gadgets are now an integral part of our daily lives, providing the tools and apps that make life easier. Desktops are almost extinct with the advent of smartphones and laptops are on their way. Smartphones and PDAs are unquestionable in their power and capabilities.
Many apps and mobile websites offer seamless browsing, provided that you have a strong network connection. Companies have realized the productivity potential of mobile phones and offer apps for employees to help them connect and work from anywhere. Despite their small size and limited capabilities, mobile phones are capable of a lot more than they can handle.
Mobiles are so popular that it is predicted that by 2017, there will be 4.75 billion users. Here are some interesting facts about how mobile technology has impacted the business world.
As many as 95% Americans have a mobile phone.
In the US, smartphone usage has increased from 35% up to 77% in just 5 years (2011-2016).
At least 51% Americans use a tablet computer.
Minimum 22% of people use an e-reader.
Mobile usage is on the rise. It is interesting to see the following:
Smartphones are covered by more than 2,500,000 patents.
Android phones are vulnerable to more than 99 percent of the malware that has been released.
Mobile development is the top IT skill requirement for the future.
Despite the widespread desire to use mobile technology, there seems to still be a gap between the demand for and supply of mobile technology professionals. We aren’t seeing the same rise in the number of IT professionals who are proficient in mobile technology as we see in the demand for mobile apps.
How relevant is mobile technology to businesses?
Did you know that mobile commerce will contribute at least $151 trillion to the economy in 2017? Did you know that mobile apps can generate $116 per customer transaction Mobile payments are expected to generate $90 billion for mobile users. These facts show how important mobiles are to businesses in terms of economic transactions. These are just a few of the many ways that mobiles are rapidly overtaking internet commerce.
Apps
Businesses can access a lot of personal information about their users through mobile apps. This allows businesses to offer personalized user experiences and recommendations based on the mobile user data. This augmented customer experience allows for better customer relations and long-term retention.
Utilities
Many utilities are available for smartphones that can help users keep track and monitor their health. Mobile utilities are so popular that many people no longer use a watch or an address book. Many companies offer pre-loaded smartphones that include utilities to increase productivity and efficiency for employees. Smartphones allow employees to work remotely and communicate more efficiently with one another around the world.
Customer Care
Businesses can now interact with customers directly through mobiles using their customer service apps. This innovative method has allowed many companies to realize their potential for interaction with customers.
Chatbots
Chatbots have revolutionized the way people access information online. Chatbots provide prompt help and information to customers looking for specific information. This is usually done using Artificial Intelligence technology.
IoT
Another factor driving popularity of mobile technologies is the Internet of Things. Mobile devices can be connected to IoT-enabled devices. These devices can be controlled and communicated with using your WiFi-enabled mobile. McKinsey’s 2015 study on IoT found that the advancements in IoT tech will add $200 billion to the U.S. GDP in 2025.
What are the most sought-after skills in mobile technology?
Mobile devices are becoming increasingly important in B2B as well as B2C situations. What skills are required to create these popular apps by experts? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most desirable mobile technology skills.
Mobile Architecture: A Clear Understanding
A mobile app is basically composed of a user interface and business logic. IT professionals can use mobile architecture to decide whether the app should be made rich client or if the data should be stored in the mobi.