Mobile / Tablet Application Development - What are my options?
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The document discusses the evolution of mobile computing and its impact on business, highlighting the advantages for both top and bottom lines, such as increased sales and worker productivity. It presents a case study in the financial services industry where financial advisors face challenges in sharing information with clients, suggesting that mobile solutions like tablets can enhance client interactions. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for specialized mobile app development tailored to the unique capabilities and limitations of mobile devices.
Mobile / Tablet Application Development - What are my options?
- 1. Mobile Computing Is it worth the hype? NJTC Mobile Application Development Conference What Are My Options? September 20, 2012 DATA Inc. USA 72 Summit Avenue Find us on… Montvale, NJ 07645 (201) 802-9800 www.datainc.biz www.datainc.biz
- 2. Just the latest buzzword? • Mainframes/dumb terminals (~1950, military, weather) • PCs (~1980, business applications) • LANs (1983, file-sharing) • Client-Server/fat clients (late 1980’s, back to the future) • Internet/Web 1.0 (early 1990’s, email, WWW) • Web 2.0 (2002, blogging, collaboration, social media) • Cloud Computing (late 2000’s, CPU and storage as utility) • Mobile Computing (2007, iPhone announced) www.datainc.biz
- 3. Were they all worth it? • (Too) many paradigm shifts • Expensive to keep shifting – Capital expenses – Training – Loss of focus and momentum • What had we gained? • Where are we now? – These are the best of times (and the worst of times?) www.datainc.biz
- 4. Mobile impact on Top Line • Increase business • Drive sales • Strengthen brand awareness • Improve customer relationships • New revenue opportunities www.datainc.biz
- 5. Mobile impact on Bottom Line • Increase worker productivity • Improve employee communications • Decrease production costs • Increase responsiveness www.datainc.biz
- 6. What are my dev. options? • Native – iOS • iPhone • iPad – Android – Windows Phone – Others... • Pure HTML 5 • Hybrid www.datainc.biz
- 7. Case Study Financial Services Industry Client www.datainc.biz
- 8. The Problem • Financial Advisors did not have a convenient way to share information with their clients at on-site meetings • All research, trades, portfolio management, etc. is performed in-office on very powerful, multi-monitor workstations • When making a client visit, the FA would: – Print and carry reams of paper reports – Remote-control their office workstation from a laptop – Slow, inefficient, clunky • NOT A GOOD WAY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BRAND IMAGE IN FRONT OF A HIGH NET-WORTH CLIENT www.datainc.biz
- 9. Solution (?) • Reproduce the workstation experience on a mobile device • For this application, such a device requires: – LARGE, high-quality display – Lightweight – Instant-on – Long battery life – Network connectivity (Internet, VPN) – Security www.datainc.biz
- 10. Tablet Computer • The perfect fit – iPad – Android-based tablet • Why not just use a laptop? www.datainc.biz
- 11. “Houston, we have a problem” • Not with the hardware, but with the software • A tablet is not a desktop PC – Limited storage – Different/limited input methods – Smaller (yet higher-res) display – Limited network bandwidth and intermittent connectivity www.datainc.biz
- 12. (Re-)Design/Rethink Software • What are the unique features of the tablet? – Camera (still and motion capture) – Audio (microphone, speakers with 3D Dolby processing) – Sensors: GPS, Compass, Accelerometer, Bluetooth, NFC – Touch, multi-touch • What other challenges are present in the tablet operating system software? – Apple iOS is very locked-down – Cannot share data (easily) between apps www.datainc.biz
- 13. Consider the Use Case • Inside the office the FA has access to 1500+ applications – Advanced forecasting, trading, esoteric functionality • Outside the office (during client visit) his needs are highly focused – Display portfolio positions – Display investment return – Perform what-if scenarios – Hand the tablet over to the client! www.datainc.biz
- 14. The Correct Approach • Find developers experienced in mobile computing – Not so easy, better to rely on a trusted partner • Build “apps”, not monolithic applications • Release early and often • Focus on features that users need the most – Apple recommends 3-4 features per release • Be constantly aware of unique features and limitations of tablet platform www.datainc.biz
- 15. The Outcome • First set of three apps was released to group of 40 pilot users • After 2 months of use a survey was compiled – 97% pilot users reported being very- to extremely-satisfied with the app features, usability, reliability, utility – The apps were the singular talk of the town at the annual FA conference www.datainc.biz
- 16. The Outcome Successful execution was deemed to be a critical driver in retention of FA’s during a very challenging business cycle www.datainc.biz
- 17. Dedicated to your success Questions? Download this presentation from our Slideshare account at www.slideshare.net/datainc www.datainc.biz