Consumerization Strategies for the CIOThe world is buzzing about tablets. These keyboardless handheld devices are large enough to work on for an extended time, but they're also small and light enough to be portable. As the Apple iPad
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and the Samsung Galaxy
start appearing in more consumer hands, you might be wondering what these tablets mean for the
enterprise -- and how you should respond when users start clamoring for them.
Where do tablets make sense? At this point in time, you will get the best bang for your organization's buck in three areas: video and Web conferencing, sales applications, and data entry.
Video and Web conferencing
Since tablets provide stunning visuals and a rich media experience
in a portable platform, they're ideal for conferencing users. The tiny screens on mobile phones
haven't been a big boon for video
and Web conferencing, but a 9.7-in. full-color iPad display, for example, makes it much easier
to put a face with a name. Combine this display with the ability to share documents and Web
sessions, and you have a compelling solution via a simple wireless connection, rather than a bunch
of cables, video ports, RGB cords and a nonmobile footprint. Tablets let you conference in your
office, in a briefing room, in a coffee shop or almost anywhere else with Wi-Fi.
Sales
Your sales team is already full of mobile veterans. They are always on the road, and they need a
conferencing and presentation tool as well as a device that can assist with simple data entry like
putting proposals and orders into a customer relationship management (CRM)
system. In addition, tablets are attractive to people who spend large swaths of time on planes, and
combining a sales tool with a productivity device is a winning mix for sales and client-service
teams. For even more productivity, consider tablets with the 3G chip -- especially useful for road
warriors.
Data entry
Users who work with inventory and other specialized applications probably already have specific
devices. However, the clerical staffers and workers who deal with back-office data entry, CRM or
accounting systems, blogs, profiles or wikis can take advantage of tablets' portability. Obviously,
tablets aren't great for dictation, detailed spreadsheet work, or letter or other content creation,
but they provide a unique way to manage bits and bytes of information and keep systems updated.
Despite the popularity and potential usefulness of tablets, they're not wholesale desktop replacements. The lack of a physical keyboard prevents many users from getting real work done. Furthermore, current tablets don't run Windows and therefore can't participate in managed network policies such as Group Policy. This makes them difficult to administer and secure.
Regardless, senior staffers in your organization will probably ask you about tablets soon -- if they haven't already. It makes sense for these members of your team to be a "pilot" group so you can have a sense of how tablets will interact with your business' systems and processes.
Over the next year, prepare yourself to answer an onslaught of access and procurement questions from legions of users who see tablets in use in many scenarios in their daily lives. Since the Microsoft tablet seems a long way away, look for tablets that have the best chance of integrating with your existing back-end systems and for tablet operating systems with strong management and security features.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant and speaker residing in Charlotte, N.C.
His books include RADIUS, Hardening Windows and, most recently, Windows Vista: Beyond
the Manual.
This was first published in March 2011
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