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Rapid increase in mobile ERP investments according to IDC study

A global IDC study sponsored by IFS reveals that a majority of companies will increase their investments in mobile solutions.

Despite the increasing pace of investment in the field of mobility, more than a third of the companies have no strategy for mobile solutions.

The survey, based on IT decision makers in nine countries including Australia, explores how companies are embracing mobile solutions in terms of strategy as well as current and future investments.

One out of every eight dollars in the Australian IT budget (one in 10 globally) is dedicated to mobile ERP solutions, confirming the rapidly increasing importance of mobility in the workplace.

Sixty-eight percent of the surveyed Australian companies (59 percent globally) state that this share will increase more than the rest of the IT budget.

Paradoxically, 36 percent of Australian companies (46 percent globally) still do not have a plan for mobile solutions. This is further complicated by the fact that 14 percent of companies (in Australia and globally) have no plan but are earmarking funds for mobility investments.

According to the survey, the top-three areas of investment globally in the coming three years are roll-out of smartphones (35 percent), roll-out of tablets (30 percent), and implementation of enterprise apps for smartphones and tablets (15 percent).

In Australia, however, the top-three areas of investment are roll-out of tablets (38 percent), mobile device management (17 percent), and with roll-out of smartphones and implementation of enterprise apps for smartphones and tablets tied in third place (15 percent).

"The lack of strategies for mobile solutions is surprisingly high," said Rob Stummer, Managing Director at IFS Australia and New Zealand.

"Mobility must not be seen as merely an IT project, but also as a strategic business development and transformation investment.

"Mobility is a force for competitive differentiation. To avoid costly mistakes, we recommend that companies examine and formulate their business needs in terms of key processes, systems integration, security, and device management. In this way, companies can arrive at a mobility roadmap which can be discussed with their IT vendors."

"It is clear that future focus will be aimed at integrating mobility to create value, especially in customer relations management, business development, and improving employee efficiency," IDC Program Director Jason Andersson said.

"Companies are clearly preparing for a growing mobile workforce and the changes it brings. However, there is a strong need to increase understanding of how to secure mobile devices and tablets."

A global IDC study sponsored by IFS, the global enterprise applications company, reveals that a majority of companies will increase their investments in mobile solutions.

Determining the obstacles to going mobile.

The survey was performed in nine countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, and France) with a total of 455 phone interviews and web survey responses (50 in Australia) in a number of industry verticals.

The survey targeted CIOs or IT Managers who were decision-makers regarding mobile solutions, budgets and strategies.

The respondents indicated what current mobile capabilities they provide to their workforce, but also specific drivers for investing in mobility solutions.

Over half of the responding companies (52 percent globally, 46 percent in Australia) belong to one of five industry verticals: Industrial manufacturing, Process manufacturing, Retail, Construction & Contracting and Service Provider.

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