Embarking on an M-journey
Usually, the idea for doing something through mobile originates from a specific process manager who sees the value. In essence, that
is how it should be. A process manager is the best person not only to take a
decision on how that would help his process but also to measure the return on
investment in specific terms.
| The
Mobile Services Market |
| Operator |
No of Circles |
Subscribers* |
Percentage |
| Bharti |
15 |
27,74,558 |
26.5 |
| Hutchison |
7 |
20,24,262 |
19.3 |
| Idea |
5 |
12,04,343 |
11.5 |
| BPL |
4 |
10,79,313 |
10.3 |
| BSNL |
17 |
789,694 |
7.5 |
| Spice |
2 |
635,646 |
6.1 |
| Escotel |
3 |
568,510 |
5.4 |
| Reliance |
7 |
500,607 |
4.8 |
| Others |
8 |
903,497 |
8.6 |
| Total |
68 |
10,48,0430 |
100 |
| *As
on 31 Dec 2002 |
 |
However, if in a progressive enterprise with early adapter
mindset, multiple process managers are thinking on m-enabling their processes to
get some clear value, more often than not, they will end up in a stage where
information generated by one process could be extremely valuable for another
process. To take full benefit of applications if such a situation arises, what
is needed is a format of information that can be accessed by various
applications, and maybe a common database/middleware.
While the functionality of an application is pure discretion
of the concerned process manager, the advantages are optimized if the backend
information systems are standardized.
In a way, it is the same way IT implementation was happening
in the initial days.
With two important differences, of course.
One, the processes are streamlined, thanks to the IT systems
in place. So one does not have to start from scratch. Two, technologically,
integration is more complex. Because, all the mobile middleware and applications
have to be completely integrated with the existing enterprise information
systems, in order to have a seamless information enterprise.
In other words, an m-enablement strategy must envelop the
whole enterprise, even if the rollout is in phases. Wireless application is all
about instant access to critical information and an integrated backend is what
the organizations should move towards.
Mobile should be integrated not with just the existing
business processes; it should also be integrated with enterprises’ existing
information infrastructure. It can be another channel of accessing the
applications. In cases where an enterprise has an existing Web-based
infrastructure for a particular business process, that should be upgraded to
work with mobile. This requires little extra effort, and saves both time and
cost. Companies that have not gone for Web-based processes and are planning to
deploy them now should be mobile-ready.
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