4 tips for more mobility in the workplace

The majority of companies these days are looking to make the most of the their employees' mobile device use, supporting mobility initiatives that promise to bring greater collaboration and productivity to the workforce. However, business leaders can't just give their workers the OK to use their smartphones and tablets at work and call it a day. There are several strategies and considerations decision-makers must make to ensure that their mobility plans will in fact bolster their staff members' abilities in and out of the office.

First and foremost: Leverage the cloud
One of the first steps that must be taken for streamlined workplace mobility is the use of online cloud services. Many organizations utilize the cloud in today's business environment to provide Web-based access to their company's mission-critical materials. This way, no matter where their employees are operating from, they can still connect with the important documents and applications they need for their jobs via their mobile device.

"If files and software don't go with you, you're a compromised mobile worker that gets less done," wrote TMCnet contributor Mae Kowalke. "You need your work tools, and the cloud give them to you no matter where you are located."

Digitize communications networks
Kowalke also suggested upgrading the enterprise's communications network so that all channels are digital. This includes a voice-over-IP line, a cloud-based email system and messaging platform. These resources are important to making sure employees can connect with one another no matter if they are in the office or on the go. The channels should also be accessible from staffers' mobile devices.

Ensure security: User credentials, encryption, device wiping
When companies enable their workers to utilize their own mobile devices, decision-makers must also prepare for inevitable security incidents. Mobile endpoints have become increasingly attractive to cybercriminals, especially as they are more often used by corporate workers to access sensitive business information. For this reason, administrators must prepare accordingly and work to prevent these threats.

Protection measures like user credentials and encryption can mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to safeguarded materials. In addition, Business Computer World contributor Alex Smith suggested leveraging a remote device wiping program in the event the employees' mobile devices are lost or stolen. Such a solution enables supervisors to erase any sensitive data on the device, ensuring that even if it is never returned, the company's information isn't at risk of being stolen or compromised.

Bolster mobility with specialized enterprise applications
One of the best ways to support and arm remote workers is with custom enterprise applications designed specifically for the business. While there are a range of apps on the market, many consumer-level programs don't have the capabilities or security measures needed in a corporate environment. For this reason, more companies are undertaking internal development projects to provide better resources for their staff members.

With any development initiative, however, the team must consider the devices being utilized by employees. Chances are good that staffers don't all have the same operating system, so the organization will need a component suite that will allow the app to function across all of these endpoints.

This is where HTML5 form becomes so valuable to enterprise app development projects. The coding language has the ability to operate on any device, be it Android, Apple, Windows or beyond. This way, the company can save time and expenditures by creating a single set of code for their mobile app, instead of having to establish new code for each operating system. This will ensure that all workers can use the app, and development projects are completed in a timely fashion.