The Role of the Blackberry in Transforming the Way Businesses Operates - Case Study Example

ABDULLAH H00160998 C19 Eng 307 Business Major Related Report Technology Development Instructor 05/12/2012 Week In recent years, the world has become more and more hyper connected through innovative technological development. This increased hyper connectivity has profoundly redefined interactions between individuals, citizens and governments, and consumers and enterprises; by providing new opportunities for communication and business/ political discourse. Furthermore, developments in communication and information technology such as the internet, mobile technology, and outsourcing have transformed the way businesses are managed by offering new platforms to meet business demands and market expansion. Indeed small or large organizations that have embraced the new age information technology and the internet have gained a competitive edge and distinction, operational superiority, and flexibility to adjust to evolving business environments (Li, 2006). Reflectively, the next crucial phenomenon that is expected to transform the ways in which business operates is the mobile technology. In this view, the Blackberry is identified as a leading mobile technological advancement that is associated with revolutionizing the business environment. In this report, this paper will analyze the role of the Blackberry in transforming the way businesses operates. In addition, the paper will also discuss how the blackberry as a business technology may be applied in the UAE and/or other countries in the world. Mobile Technologies and Operational Excellence in Business Overall, all technology can revolutionize business processes, especially by how it is incorporated into the business process, and the influence it exerts on the business. Technology helps amplify prospective gains by acting to decrease costs, moderate risks and accelerate business growth. In deed over the past decade, technology has taken a dominant role in almost all business processes; it is no longer just support for business, but a source of additional power or influence for an enterprise. Pointedly, the wireless workforce provided by mobile technology creates a new corporate transition between clients and customers especially through innovative communication services that aid firms hasten superior business outcomes. Essentially, mobilized enterprises have access to new prospective clienteles to the firm which in turn result to accelerated business growth. Accordingly, emerging new technologies such as the BlackBerry help create consumer oriented corporate entities empire and add a competitive edge to the businesses through its limitless innovation capacity and hyper connectivity (Reimer, 2012). Significantly, mobile technology has developed in such a way that, accessing the World Wide Web or internet from mobile devices is easy and convenient as it is on a desktop/ computer system. Mobile technology warranties speedy content delivery in any format depending on the mobile device’s capacity. Businesses have been encouraged to take advantage of mobile technology, by shifting their Online Portal/Content depository to Mobile accessible Web Space in order to enrich their business application. Further, through focusing on their employees and their roles instead of applications businesses have access to endless possibilities on mobilizing. For instance, it allows the enterprise to identify the business processes that require enhancement or complete re-engineering through mobility (Vivek, 2009). Some of the key benefits enjoyed by firms through mobile technology include flexibility between employees, faster response to business partners, improved consumer service, prompt access to confidential company resources from anyplace in the world, and flexible communication channels for business decision making. The BlackBerry as a Tool for Business Transformation The BlackBerry is one of the leading examples of a contributive mobile technology device. The more commonly device or smartphone was launched in 2003 as a unique invention by the Canadian technology firm, Research In Motion which is also the core Blackberry service provider. The BlackBerry device was introduced as a device that enabled individuals to access wireless information services using wireless, handheld devices. Arguably, the BlackBerry is the first device to make information truly mobile since its technology allows to individuals to communicate with others from anyplace in the world by offering a powerful platform for global communication (Johnston & Evers, 2005). With a host of features, the BlackBerry is one of the paramount and most inclusive mobility solutions provided for businesses. For instance, the Blackberry Enterprise Solution enables mobile phone users to access and transfer communications and data wirelessly (Anonymous, 2011). Accordingly, some of the benefits associated with this application include flexibility, cost efficient server software, strong security, and business monitoring third party applications, alongside extensive support and services network that is wide spread worldwide. In addition to the Blackberry Enterprise Solution, the BlackBerry Push Email allows users to access and receive their emails in their original format. This aids in providing effortless communication, especially for firms that have global or diverse branches (Sweeny, 2009). Currently there are 250,000 BlackBerry Enterprise Servers installed globally, thus making BlackBerry the premier a communication tool and a force to reckon with in the corporate world in terms of improved business communication (Research In Motion & McQueen, 2012). Consequently, the BlackBerry as a tool for enhancing mobility in organizations will transform business in four significant ways. Firstly, the BlackBerry will allow firms to adjust their existing network connectivity models and enable them plan for a significant increase in real-time information. Additionally, the device will allow companies to prepare for different interaction models, such as individuals to individuals, individuals to things, and device to device. By offering Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions such as the BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion it will enable enterprises to manage business and employee-owned devices on various platforms and thus decrease the risk of lost or stolen devices. Secondly, the BlackBerry will help reinvent business processes to operate in a mobile world through a variety of applications that deliver sensory information such as Vodafone Sat Nav (Research In Motion & McQueen, 2012). Thirdly, BlackBerry offers portable services that allow users to access content and data services at any location and connect to other devices. For instance, applications such as BlackBerry® Bridge allow users to pair their BlackBerry® smartphone with the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet in order to access documents, browse the web, view emails, messages and images. Likewise, the Citrix Receiver application enables users to connect to a virtual desktop using the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (Research In Motion & McQueen, 2012). Lastly, the Blackberry will offer support for the establishment of multiple personas among individuals. In the past, business characteristics were sealed in a single device, but as mobility evolves, however, applications like BlackBerry® Balance™ will allow firms to distinguish company and personal data. This ability is necessary to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) business setting and increasing privacy for both employee information and the organization information (Tubbs & Gillett, 2011). Furthermore, the BlackBerry is expected to transform the way business conduct their operations through the CIO. The CIO is expected to assume the role of a strategic advisor for firms. Particularly, CIOs are able to make strategic decisions by cutting costs and automating business processes. This service will allow corporations to manage their data volumes and help employees deal with data complexities by enhancing effective collaboration. Furthermore, BlackBerry Super Apps that are notification-driven also assist in data management by delivering the required information to the appropriate user as per demand of the users (Research In Motion & McQueen, 2012). Implications for Businesses in the UAE and the Rest of the World Mobilized businesses operating in the UAE and the rest of the world have a lot of benefits form the BlackBerry. Through this technology device, they will be able to yield more competent high-value work and be able to work collectively in teams anyplace, at any time to reach business- critical decisions or outspread best-practices. Moreover, through this device organizations will be able to create better relationships with clienteles and associates, and successfully manage unpredicted situations as business environments transform. As a mobile solution, the BlackBerry offers Gateway Delivery to the information access the business needs now while progressively being fashioned to develop alongside the enterprise of the future (Research In Motion & McQueen, 2012). References Anonymous. (2011, Jan 20). BlackBerry for Business. Retrieved Dec 04, 2012, from Mobile Enterprise: http://mobileenterprise.edgl.com/top-stories/BlackBerry-for-Business66130 Johnston, C., & Evers, R. (2005). Professional BlackBerry. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Li, Z. (2006). Enterprise Goes Mobile: A Framework and Methodology for Creating a Mobile Enterprise. Ann Arbor, Michigan: ProQuest. Reimer, L. (2012, Sep 14). How Mobile, Social and Cloud Transform Business and IT. Retrieved Dec 04, 2012, from Research in Motion Limited: http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2012/09/lopez-research-mobile-social-cloud/ Research In Motion, & McQueen, R. (2012). The Blackberry. Gurgaon: Hachette India. Sweeny, A. (2009). BlackBerry Planet: The Story of Research in Motion and the Little Device that Took the World by Storm. Hobokken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Tubbs, G., & Gillett, T. (2011). Harvesting the BlackBerry: An Insider's Perspective. Tucson, Arizona: Wheatmark, Inc. Vivek. (2009). Influence of mobile technology in business growth. Retrieved Dec 04, 2012, from Arimaan Global Consulting: www.arimaan.com Read More