6 Predictions About How We’ll Use Technology In 2014

Each year, we wonder what the upcoming 12 months will bring in terms of trends that can help us do more with our businesses. Over the years, we’ve benefited from technology trends like social media, cloud computing, and software as a service.

So what will 2014 bring, technology-wise?

#1. More Analog Tasks Will Go Digital

If you’re old enough, you know why we say we have to “balance the books” when it comes to accounting. It’s hard to imagine not using accounting software. This year, I predict the average small business owner will start using digital versions of paper and analog tasks like:

• Employee scheduling (that’s what my company does)
• Keeping track of calendars and appointments
• Tracking travel expenses and scanning receipts

#2. We’ll See More Outsourcing and Virtual Teams

More businesses are letting go of the idea that a team can only be functional if all members work in the same physical office. That opens the door to working with freelancers and dev teams in other locations, as well as letting your staff work virtually. This can help you realize major cost savings if you don’t have to worry about the overhead of an office.

#3. We’ll Get a Better Handle on Analytics

So Google took our keyword data and made it harder to figure out how customers were coming to our site. While this necessitates us changing how we view analytics, it also invites new solutions. I suspect we’ll see several new types of analytics companies presenting options for us to analyze a customer’s behavior before and after arriving on our website, without our Google training wheels.

#4. Voice Recognition Will Become Commonplace

If you’ve been a newer-gen iPhone user, Siri’s old hat to you. If you’re an Android phone owner, you were probably delighted last year when Google rolled out its voice recognition program. Expect to see more widespread adoption of voice tools, as well as integration into different platforms.

#5. Tablets Won’t Be as Novel as Business Tools

Even just a year or two ago, it was a shock to see a restaurant using an iPad to take orders. We’re not seeing complete adoption in the restaurant industry just yet, but we are starting to see more industries using tablets in creative ways, such as doctors using them to record notes while with a patient. Tablets are now affordable enough to be “just another office tool.”

#6. Wearable Technology Won’t Get Far…Just Yet

If you’re tired of hearing about Google Glass and not actually seeing mainstream adoption, you’ll probably be happy if the hype dies down a little. And I suspect it will, though fashion designers might (should, anyway) get involved to make the innovation more user-friendly and fashion-forward.
It’s always interesting to ponder what technology holds for us. We live in exciting times, don’t we?

How To Create Viable Mobile Business Intelligence Strategies For Effective Business

Mobile Business Intelligence commonly termed as Mobile BI, refers to the ability that enables the mobile personnel to gain business insights through information analysis. It is a software that extends desktop business intelligence (BI) applications so they can be used on a mobile device. This is done using applications optimized for mobile devices.
There has been a phenomenal growth of Mobile BI in the recent years, with the change being partially encouraged by the globally prevailing trend of transcending to a wireless world – courtesy smartphones that has ushered into a new era of mobile computing, particularly in the field of BI. In fact, mobility now is no longer a luxury but an essential element in today’s world. Recent statistics are indicating an acceleration in the pace of mobile adoption across devices and applications.
As per Accenture CIO Mobility Survey (2013), “While 79 per cent of respondents cited mobility as a revenue-generator, 84 per cent believe mobility would significantly improve customer interactions.” However, with this paradigm shift comes the gradual transition of business intelligence (BI) to mobile business intelligence (mobile BI) or mobile intelligence. In short, Mobile BI is nonetheless an enabler which if designed, implemented, and executed effectively; can help organizations drive growth and productivity.

Mobile BI Strategies

Most businesses are now considering imbibing mobile BI into their organization, so as to maintain, collect, organize and make sense of data. A survey from Forrester has revealed that while 24 per cent of enterprises are already using or are steering mobile BI applications, another 37 per cent of enterprises are considering mobile BI for near-term implementations.
One of the many reasons why Mobile BI is more prevalent in bridging the gap between it and traditional BI content is because rapid growth in areas such as the cloud, in-memory technology, big data, and prognostic analytics are fueling this innovation cycle. And as we talk and discuss, there has been a gradual and fading gap now visible even between smartphone and a tablet devices. As the tablet shrinks both in size and weight to compete with smartphones, companies are looking for ways to harness the power of mobile BI through innovation and without distraction.
In fact, mobile BI can become a key differentiator as most leading Companies are considering harnessing the power of mobile BI to support a workforce that’s becoming increasingly mobile. As IDC reports, “The global mobile workforce will reach 1.3 billion, which represents 37.2 per cent of the total workforce by 2015.”

• Define the mobility framework you will use.
• Decide your Company’s stance towards BYOD.
• Ensure before deploying a mobile BI that you have a solid business case for it
• Contemplate highly aggregated data marts for mobile BI apps
• Consider creating more BI apps with very specific business functions instead of trying to force your current BI apps to do things they are not really capable of doing.
• Avoid having dynamic derivation and transformations
• Ensure you hold your mobile BI apps to a high standard
• Ensure that existing traditional BI security roles and privileges are carried over to mobile BI apps

Mobile BI Applications

Using mobile apps for business intelligence, you can have access to information whenever and wherever it’s required. You can use mobile BI apps for Apple, BlackBerry and Android; and interact with reports, analysis, dashboards and more on smart phones, tablets and notebook computers. Moreover, you can use the BI platform to help IT support these mobile apps and provide the same type of experience to everyone like:

• Networking with information in a rich, visual and interactive experience.
• Experiencing insight anywhere through fast and simple access to BI.
• Easy deployment of relevant and reusable business intelligence to any device.

Considerations: Security for Mobile BI

It is important for BI software platforms to extend the authentication options and policy controls to the mobile platforms, so as to ensure high security standards. This calls for the BI software platforms to ensure a secure encrypted keychain for storage of credentials. On the other hand, administrative control of password policies should allow creation of security profiles for each user’ while allowing seamless integration with centralized security directories for decreasing administration and maintenance of users.
Most smartphone manufacturers provide a complete set of security features including full-disk encryption, email encryption, as well as remote management including the ability to delete contents if device is lost or stolen. In short, the attribute of a comprehensive mobile security solution must be to provide device security, transmission security, and authorization, authentication, and network security as well.
Have you created your mobile BI strategy yet?

5 Cloud Computing Myths Busted

According to Wikipedia Cloud computing is an expression used to describe a variety of computing concepts that involve a large number of computers connected through a real-time communication network such as the Internet. So what are the myths?

#1. The Cloud is one entity

People often talk about ‘the Cloud’ as if it is just one entity, service or solution housed in one location. There is a common misconception that when you put your data in the Cloud, it is going to sit in one place alongside the data of everyone else who is using Cloud computing.
The reality is that ‘the Cloud’ has almost become a buzz word used by IT people over the last number years. There are many definitions of Cloud computing but in general terms ‘the Cloud’ is a service or pool of services accessed over the internet. Typically Cloud services are run out of large data centres spread across the world. Which data centre your information is stored in depends on the provider and solution you choose, so be sure to do your homework on this.
There’s no definite figure on how many data centres are in the world but some estimates put it at around 500,000.

#2. Cloud means the end of hardware

Although Cloud services can really make a difference to your hardware footprint, you will always need some sort of device to access your applications and data. While Cloud can do away with many things including the need for numerous on-site servers, businesses will still need PCs, laptops, tablets or smartphones to access data.
Hardware is also required even if you are running your entire business in the Cloud. For example, in our own company, all of our phone systems, wireless access points and firewalls are Cloud-based. While these still require some hardware, the management of these systems is done through the Cloud which makes configuration and monitoring of performance much easier.

#3. Cloud Computing is not secure

There is a lot of hype surrounding this myth, particularly in the wake of spying revelations earlier this year. However, it is important to point out security is at the heart of the vast majority of Cloud solutions; this is why choosing your provider carefully is important.
The reality is that most businesses cannot compete with the level of security that is offered by Cloud providers given that they have teams of security experts working 24/7. The amount of time and money invested into securing both the technology and the physical locations is unparalleled.
If a business is particularly concerned about access to their data, private Cloud or hybrid solutions can provide some extra peace of mind. However, the reality is that once the correct policies are in place (necessary encryptions, two-factor authentications, data protection legislation etc.) the level of security you can get with Cloud solutions is often far superior to what would be practical at a local level.

#4. Cloud is cheaper than traditional IT

Many of the arguments in support of Cloud technologies are based on the notion that Cloud is cheaper than traditional IT. I am asked every day whether Cloud can bring costs down and the real answer to this question is: it depends. The price you will pay for Cloud services will vary according to the type of business you run and the solution you need, the amount of users you have and the security that you need in place.
Similarly, moving to the Cloud also brings about a lot of hidden costs such as migration and integration costs, potential bandwidth upgrades and investment in staff training for new systems. While all of this may add up to more than what you currently spend on IT, it is important to remember the added value that Cloud solutions are bringing to your business. This includes increased flexibility for remote working, greater team collaboration and improved back up and disaster recovery.
Cloud should be looked at as a business enabler rather than a simple replacement for traditional IT. And while it could end up being marginally more or less expensive than your current spend, the ability to pay on a per user per month basis makes it easier for businesses to manage and predict costs in the long run.

#5. Cloud is the answer to everything

Many Cloud advocates would have you believe that the answer to every IT problem is Cloud. This is simply not true. In fact, more often than not, Cloud services are the answer to business process issues rather than IT troubles. There are still a number of industry-specific applications and software out there that may not be 100% compatible with Cloud technologies. As Cloud is not an ‘all or nothing’ solution, you can easily move some elements of your business while keeping others on site for the time being.
My advice would be that if you are curious about Cloud technology and want to explore options for your business, do it one step at a time. Keep it straightforward and begin by moving simple systems like email and disaster recovery to the Cloud.  This will allow you to get familiar with the technology and make informed decisions going forward.