Many firms embracing mobile working concept

Move forward from the era of videoconferencing. The trend now, even in traditional businesses such as mining or real estate, is to put a smartphone to better use with a custom-made app and encourage employees to work on the move.

While a recent survey by IT firm Oracle indicates that “workers are happier than ever to work in a mobile and flexible way”, mobile app developers, driven by the smartphone revolution and what is called “mobile working”, are receiving orders for custom-made apps for their employees. And the trend is visible even in mining, real estate and paint companies.

“Not only have new mobile app development companies been set up in the last few months and years, even IT companies have diversified into the area. The mobile application development market is responding to user behaviour,” said H.L. Avismara, whose start-up Rare Mile Technologies, Bangalore, seeks to capitalise on the growing demand for mobile apps.

Adithyanag Nagesh, co-founder, Insieve Technologies, Bangalore, which receives requests for mobile app development, said large companies with workforce running into hundreds or thousands may be giving contracts to leading IT companies, but smaller companies with limited requirements were approaching smaller players and start-ups in the area.

Interestingly, this growth is despite the Oracle survey pointing out that there is lack of enthusiasm among some employers about the “mobile working” revolution. Some are trying to actively block it within their business.

But reluctant companies were being pushed by changing user patters and that is what had driven the huge demand for mobile phone apps, Mr. Avismara said.

One main concern for employers seems to be the possible misuse and cyber theft of their data and intellectual property, according to Cyber security experts.

Apart from malware attack that smartphones are susceptible to, theft of mobile phones and the consequent access of sensitive data by unauthorised persons, is a major risk involved in enterprise mobility, said Mirza Faizan Asad, a member of the Global Cyber Security Response Team.

“A lost or stolen smartphone will potentially compromise both business data located on the phone and corporate data access channels such as VPN connections, where further data loss may occur,” he said.