Mobile Enterprise Application Platform: A solution to myriad challenges in enterprise mobility

Enterprise Development
Integration Tools

MEAP

Mobile
Device & Server Web/App
Clients
daPi

Mobile Enterprise Application Platform
(MEAP)
A solution to myriad challenges in enterprise mobility

Introduction
As per Gartner CIO Survey, 2012, 61% of respondents plan to increase their mobility capability during
the next three years and 48% believe they will become leaders in their industries by fully adopting
innovative mobility solutions. Truly, mobile devices and apps are changing the way enterprises interact
with their processes, customers and employees. However, an important element in any mobility adoption
process is the platform that hosts the mobile applications. Enterprises need to select a platform which
provides an optimum mix of features and capabilities to ensure that they are able to mix and match
devices, applications and can integrate it with their processes as per their budget, business goals and
mobile strategy. MEAP or Mobile Enterprise Application Platform is one such solution, which is gaining
considerable traction in recent years, as an effective way to design, deploy and manage enterprise apps.

Mobile Enterprise Application Platform
Device & Server
Management &
ERP Security
PLM
MOM
EAM Middleware,
Enterprise Applications Mobile
SCM Web/App
Integration & Services
PBX Clients
PBX
WebServer
Email
Development Tools Other Devices
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DB

Our cover story, this month, takes a detailed look at MEAP and will help understand why and how it could
be a solution to myriad challenges in mobile adoption for enterprises.

Today, mobile application developers spend roughly…
»» 20 percent of their time on actual application development
»» 80 percent of their time on adapting applications for deployment across multiple
handsets and networks.
Companies must flip that ratio to fully realize the benefits mobile applications can bring.
Source-AT&T

Mobile Enterprise Application Platform (MEAP) : A solution to myriad challenges in enterprise mobility / 2

What is a MEAP?
MEAP is an acronym coined by Gartner in its 2008 Magic Quadrant report. A Mobile Enterprise Application
Platform is an integrated development environment that provides tools and client/server middleware for
building, deploying and managing mobile applications.

MEAPs address the challenges of mobile app development by managing the diversity of devices, platforms,
networks and users. It allows an enterprise to develop an application once and then deploy it to a variety
of mobile devices.
A MEAP brings following capabilities and support for mobile software-

• Complete integrated development environment
• Support for design, develop, test, deploy and manage mobile apps.
• Graphical WYSIWYG development
• Run-time middleware server to handle back-end systems of the enterprises
• Robust security capabilities
• Local and remote data handling capability
• Ability to integrate external devices like credit card readers, scanners, printers etc.

Benefits of MEAP
Faster app development and deployment
MEAPs address the challenges of diversity in devices and platforms thereby eliminating the repetitive and
resource - intensive tasks of building applications for each device type and OS. This enables companies to
spend less time on adapting applications for specific devices.

Multiple feature integration
MEAPs allow easier integration of mobile apps with the unique features and capabilities of mobile devices
and peripherals like credit card readers, printers and barcode scanners.

Management
MEAP interfaces with client middleware server and back-end infrastructure to provide high visibility and
control via web-based console over the environment. This makes it easy for the businesses to centrally
manage devices and apps, install and update mobile software over the air.


Security
MEAP enforces guards against unauthorized access and helps in data security, in the event of loss or theft
of device. It also enables constant monitoring in the mobile environment by generating detailed reports
on user usage, devices and apps. The reports can not only be used for surveillance but also to manage
various issues in the environment.

Off-line Connection
Mobile apps, as smart clients in a MEAP environment, can work independently of a central server
connection, allowing users to continue work off-line.

Robust back-end connectivity
MEAP provides strong connectivity between back-end infrastructure and mobile devices through mobile
middleware thereby ensuring smooth flow of data to specified device.

Support for scalability and new technologies
MEAP provides a highly scalable infrastructure to support dynamic increase in devices, apps and users.
Being an open and flexible architecture, the platform also enables easy integration with emerging
technologies.

What are MEAPs trying to solve?

»» Write app once, run on any device and platform
• Write application in single language and re-compile for native platform
»» Take advantage of device hardware
• Provide abstraction layer to take advantage of the device hardware
»» Integrate with different data sources
• Set of adapters for XML, databases, web services, SAP, Siebel etc.
»» Deployment of applications
• Hosting of application, manage updates and analyze usage
»» Management of devices
• Asset management for devices and restrictions for trusted devices
Source-Neudesic


Comparison with other alternatives

Browser-based Smart Client
MEAP Solutions Point Solutions
Solutions Solutions
Works across multiple Yes No Yes No
devices and platforms
Rich integration with Yes Yes No Yes
device features
Lowers development costs Yes No Yes No

Speeds development and Yes No Yes No
deployment
Supports off-line Yes No No Yes
operations
Optimizes, adapts to user Yes No No No
workflow and needs
Supports dynamic IT Yes No No No
demands
Comprehensive Yes No No No
management and security
source : AT&T


Players in the MEAP market

Challengers Leaders

Syclo
SAP
ability to execute

Antenna

Niche Players Visionaries
Apple
Usablenet
Kony
Microsoft Google Netbiscuits
Adobe
Andanza Technologies IBM Sencha
Jquery Mobile
Spring Wireless salesforce.com
Appcelerator
Data Systems International(DSI) Dojo
Verivo Software
FileMaker

completeness of vision As of April 2012
source:Gartner

When is MEAP a right solution?

Analyst firm Gartner proposed The Rule of Three, whereby enterprises are encouraged to
consider MEAP as a solution when they need to support:
»» Three or more mobile applications
»» Three or more mobile operating systems (OS)
»» To integrate three or more back-end data sources
Source-Gartner


1. Multi-platform deployment
Is your business planning to deploy mobile capabilities on two or more operating systems? If yes, then
a MEAP will be the right solution to your needs. A MEAP will provide you with the ways to leverage a
single development capability to build mobile apps across a wide variety of mobile platforms like iPhone,
Android, BlackBerry, etc.

2. Multiple applications in the environment
Does your enterprise’s mobile strategy include 3 or more apps? If so, then adding a MEAP to the mobile
environment is a necessary step for sustained monitoring and management.

3. Connecting to multiple back-end systems
Your sales team wanted mobile access to CRM. Now your inventory team requires real-time data on
mobile. The requests simply don’t end! The minute you feel the need for integration and connectivity
from multiple back-end systems, it’s better to have a MEAP in place. A MEAP will not only ensure smooth
data flow across the mobile environment but will also enable certain tools and solutions for its security.

Issues with MEAPs
On-premise installation
MEAPs are an on-premise software and therefore would require in-house expertise for development,
maintenance and trouble-shooting in the long run. This means costs in training personnel or recruiting
MEAP experts.

Expensive
There are significant expenses towards license, hardware and maintenance of a MEAP making it difficult
for enterprises with limited financial resources to adopt it into their ecosystem.

Adaptability
Each organization has its own set of requirements and therefore a standard solution like MEAP needs
to have customization capabilities to align with the mobile strategy of the enterprise. Meeting the
customization requirements of an enterprise and extending all its benefits is a challenge for the MEAPs.


Recommendations on choosing a MEAP solution
Selecting the right MEAP solution is of critical importance to enterprises as it can not only impact the entire
mobile strategy but also business efficiency and the finances. Here are a few major points of consideration
while picking the right MEAP solution-

Productivity
Is the MEAP solution answering your mobility requirements? Is it helpful in reducing app development
efforts of your organization? The MEAP solution you pick must satisfy most of your needs and mix well
with the objective behind adapting mobility in your enterprise.

Support
The MEAP you choose must also provide end-to-end solutions in app development efforts. Some solutions
don’t provide complete support through the full mobile app lifecycle and may require further developer
interventions in native coding, debugging and other manual tweaking.

Flexibility
Ask your vendor whether the said MEAP solution only supports mobile apps or can also support desktop
or web apps? Some MEAPs are restricted to supporting mobile apps only and have no capabilities for
supporting other types of applications. This means you have to build apps for other environments on your
own.

Integration
Does the MEAP enable complete and easy integration with back-end systems? Smooth integration
to enterprise systems, databases and processes will help you save time, efforts and make your mobile
environment efficient.

Emerging technologies
With technology continuously evolving, it is of utmost importance that your MEAP solution must also
support emerging technologies such as HTML5 to make your mobile environment sync with changing
times.

In addition to above, the expertise and experience of the vendor should also be considered while buying
the MEAP solution.


Conclusion
Use of mobility devices and applications in enterprises is growing at a brisk pace. While mobile adoption
is bringing considerable benefits for organizations but is also posing challenges in terms of efficient
management of devices and applications, platform fragmentation, data security , higher costs etc., which
calls for innovative and functional solutions that can reduce app development efforts, lower costs and
bring efficiency in the systems. MEAP can be a solution that can help an enterprise in answering the
myriad challenges and can help it adopt mobility in a secure, organized and efficient way.


About [x]cube LABS
[x]cube LABS is one of the leading mobile apps
development and consulting firm, headquartered
in Dallas, U.S and with offices in New York and Reach [x]cube LABS
Hyderabad, India. With expertise across all the connect@xcubeLABS.com
major mobile platforms, [x]cube has delivered
over 500 apps till date and has an enviable client
list comprising of some of the biggest brands like
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GE, Intel, Texas Instruments, Hasbro, Mattel and
24 Hour Fitness. [x]cube’s understanding of the
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mobile space and technology, complimented by
its rich experience across all the major industry
verticals and the capability to deliver end-to-
end solutions, make [x]cube the perfect mobile
consultant of choice.

To integrate your enterprise people, processes and products with customized, avant-garde mobility
solutions or to explore mobility opportunities in your enterprise with our experts, please feel free to
contact us at connect@xcubeLABS.com.

We encourage you to continue exploring our website ( www.xcubeLABS.com ) to find out more about
our services.

[x]cube is the premier mobile solution partner for companies and individuals creating the next generation of digital applications.
[x]cube develops custom solutions for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Mobile platforms.
[x]cube is a division of PurpleTalk, Inc.

www.xcubeLABS.com | 1-800-805-5783 | connect@xcubeLABS.com

Mobile Enterprise Application Platform: A solution to myriad challenges in enterprise mobility

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