Future of Mobile Global Business - Assignment Example

Due: Future of Mobile Global Business Several studies have been conducted in the recent years aimed at analysing the challenges and trends as pertains to the use of mobile applications and their contribution in business. The only problem is that, a greater number of these studies have failed to address the future of the mobile industry. This study evaluates some of these case studies to provide some valuable insight about the contribution of mobile use, and application in commerce and what the prospects for the future are in the mobile industry. It will critically analyse the potential futures in different perspectives such as the competition, role of stakeholders, political, technical, and social issues, and collaboration of mobile in m-business. To get an accurate insight into the contribution of the mobile industry in business, this study will focus on evaluating mobile systems such as MPS (Mobile Payment System), Mobile Ticketing System, and Mobile Learning Systems (M-Learning). In addition, the paper aims to investigate the drivers of mobile applications, their various applications and some the projections in future business world. Through evaluation and analysis of the past researches it also analyses the the past statistics and compares the present trend in the mobile industry. Apart from analysing the contribution of mobile technology in the business world, this paper will look at how mobile applications such as M-Learning, M-ticketing, and M-Payment systems influence the future development of mobile commerce. It also evaluates the various scenarios of how mobile devices can be used in mobile commerce, their disadvantages, advantages, and the challenges posed in terms of acceptance by people, and the implementation of the technology itself. Key words Mobile mobility; mobile technology; mobile payment system; M-Learning; mobile ticketing system; Short Message Service (SMS); mobile application Introduction One of the most powerful and famous portable technology is mobile technology. It comprises of mobiles phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistances), and laptop computers. Mobile services have the capacity to enable and provide services of spatial and temporal constraints. As opposed to other interpersonal services such as online services, which are delivered on the spot, mobile services allow users access to information and services when on the move without being bound to a one spot. In addition, it offers accessibility, ease of use, and flexibility. For instance, through the Mobile Ticketing Service (M-Ticketing), users are able to make bookings and purchase tickets for games, transport, and theatres (Alfawaer, 2011, p848). The advent of mobile phone technology has allowed consumers access to services and content anywhere, anytime. For instance, through wireless devices, mobile phone technology users are able to carry out sell or buy transactions, pay bills, track stock quotes, access bank accounts, make orders, or receive promotions anytime, anywhere. This has been through electronic commerce (E-commerce), which is carrying out business over the internet. This definition is so general and says nothing about the devices used. Normally, a person can access the internet via a wired LAN (connected to a desktop pc) or through a wireless network (phones, PDAs, Laptops, etc.). When we access e-commerce via wireless networks such as through a mobile phone, we refer to it as mobile commerce (M-Commerce). Through mobile devices such as PDAs and mobile phones, mobile business services have a promising future. Applications functions such as news, ticketing, can be optimized for business functionality (Abdelkarim & Nasereddin, 2004, p52). In the business world, information is considered the most valuable aspect of business than money. Given this importance, accuracy, volume, and the swiftness of available information is equally significant. Modern businesses today bases their future profits on the timeliness of information concerning the development of customers’ desires, needs, and demands. In the near future, mobile systems that collect, distribute, administer, and store information will be mobilized. Trade-oriented, office, and software processes will be transformed from stationary into mobile ones. These transformations and considerations affect the processes structures, organizational process management and backup technologies. Therefore, if the transformation and transition into mobile technology is effected effectively, information needs of the organization will be swiftly met (Mohelska & Tomaskova, 2009, p175). Through web services, business functions can be published and be easily accessed universally. Several benefits such as the simplified development of business applications, interoperation by developers and ease of access of intuitive web interfaces that enable assembly and configuration of end-users own web service. Due to the increasing access to hand-held devices and advances in mobile technology, Web services have become ideal in offering services and information to those using mobile devices and greatly influenced the development of mobile commerce. Through these rapid developments in technology, using Web services in mobile devices allows for the provision of services on the spot, despite the providers’ or service requestor’s location. The invocation and dynamism of services offered by the Web services resonates with the concepts of mobile applications (Pilioura, et al., 2003, pp. 28-29). In today’s rapidly and complex changing business atmosphere, looking at how the future industry prospects become an important task for both researchers and practitioners. Studies by Andrews and Godet provide that, practitioners need future insights to be able to create strategies that are sustainable for their enterprises; while researchers need the same insights to aid in identification of research questions. This information is imperative to consumers, who are ever demanding low-cost, faster and high quality products with shorter product life cycles. These features make looking the future of m-business difficult and challenging. This massive amount of uncertainties undermines the basic assumptions about the traditional forecasting methods in terms of the adequacy and accuracy (Camponovo, Debetaz & Pigneu, 2004, pp. 2-3). Literature review Several extensive research works has been carried out to the requirements and use of mobile technologies. These studies majorly focused on applications that were customer-oriented rather than those in business settings. According to Gebauer and Shaw, Salzman and Palen to ascertain the mobile phone usability issues far beyond the handset features carried out qualitative studies. Their results emphasized the importance of applying a viewing technology beyond service agreements, software, and hardware but as a socio-technical system. Gebauer and Shaw note that Cheng and Khalifa studied how the adoption of M-Commerce has been influenced significantly dependent on exposure. Their studies found that consumer decisions to adopt mobile commerce is significantly affected by exposure such as communication, trial of new devices, and observation (Gebauer and Shaw, 2004, pp. 19-41). In the business atmosphere, people’s interest of using mobile technology has tremendously grown. By offering new interaction channels for consumers, and through remote information distribution to the workforce, mobile business can improve business efficiency. It is evident that organizations that are capable of streamlining their business processes by automating them by mobile technologies can enjoy the benefits of lower costs of operation, improved decision-making, productivity, and increases customer satisfaction (Gebauer and Shaw, 2004, pp. 19-41). Many studies conducted unveil the adoption and use of e-commerce in the business world. Other studies note that, a year ago, the elite group in large organizations exclusively used wireless emails and PDAs. Therefore, it was not easily accessible and usable by the lower non-elite groups as it was for elite groups. Technology was selective since it was used by a subset of consumers, individuals and businesses that had the capability to utilize such services. However, the same studies show that there has been a massive adoption of both business and consumers as many mobile devices have such services, which enable businesses transactions to effect desirable changes. Further research indicates that there are 15 million business e-mail users worldwide (representing only 2 % of total business e-mail accounts, and it is expected to grow over 350 million by the year 2010). Mobile email services are easily quantifiable to the return on investment, which have a positive correlation with the costs. In addition, mission-critical applications such as email have direct and measurable a return on Investment (ROI) (McDowell, 2008, pp. 25-37). Other studies predict that, in the future, the hand-held mobile devices connected to telecommunications networks will be a significant way to gain access to the digital data to remain responsive and competitive to the ever-changing consumer needs. However, other studies by Practioners and researchers limits the adoption of the technologies with reasons of security, complexity of mobile technology fuelled by a continuous introduction of products and lack of standardization of space, together have limited the adoption and use of technologies. Others have cited information asymmetry; purchasing and implementation are also pulling the future advancements of mobile technology and affecting adverse the business growth and development (Camponovo, et al., 2004, p4). Most studies also document that mobile devices will continue to be the vehicle in a variety of ways and accessing a number of business as well as personal service capabilities. It can be pointed that these devices will become more perceptive that support a wide variety of services as well as productivity and personal; application tools such as e-mail, calendars, cameras, music players. The studies further provide that, in order to keep in sequence with 2.0 technologies and other user expectations, devices will need a combination of beauty and brains, i.e., support for both usability and flexibility while delivering an uncompromised user experience. This has necessitated the fact that these mobile technologies have to be easy to discover, purchase and use. The designing of current and future mobile interfaces should cater both the current and future needs, while being simple to operate and integrate services. Users want devices that are smart, intuitive, suited to both business and personal use, and look good (Gebauer and Shaw, 2004, pp. 19-41). The next section provides a review case studies that illustrate the tools and methods that have been employed to foresee the future m-business industry. Various scenarios adopted to evaluate the growth and development of the mobile-business. In this research, the case study follows scenario critically in an attempt to foresee the future development with considerations of actors, users and their issues. Case Studies through the Scenario Approach Through this approach, some insights are obtained about the future growth and development. Unlike the forecasting technique, which is based on rationalistic assumption, that there is a single right future and aims at predicting at as accurately as possible, the scenario approach assumes that, there is no single correct answer, since the future is uncertain and unrealistic, as well as the broad range of possible futures. According to Godet; Dyson and Courtney et al, the scenario cater for the uncertainty, complexity and the pace of the developing situations, where it is difficult to predict the future accurately. They further note that the approach take up an imaginative process that considers actors of change and potential drivers that are like to shape the future industry development (Camponovo, et al., 2004, p3) According to Kahn et al, scenarios are descriptions of possible future states as well as sequences of events that will lead to the evolution of one situation into the future state that utilizes both the quantitative and qualitative methodologies of various degrees. For instance, the French school (De Jounevel), which utilizes the structural, formal rules, and routes to examine trends towards the future. On the other Global Business Network approach formulated by Shell in 1970s, it incorporates much more informal, based on key factors, key drivers and alternative visions (3). The mobicom project analysed the future m-commerce, its policy, their social implications, new market dynamics as well as various business models (Aanio et al; Mylonopolous et al). In addition, they adopted the French prospective method (Godet). This identifies key variables and actors’ strategies in order to pinpoint major battlefields whose outcomes will shape the future. The following battlefields were pinpointed: role of the public sector; customer access; dominance in the value chain; intellectual property rights, standards in the industry, privacy, alternative technologies; social needs fulfilment and seamless roaming (Camponovo, et al., 2004, p4). Let us consider two cases where m-business is likely to advance in future. First, the M-Learning system that is considered to be able of offering an alternative mode of learning. Presently, ‘online’ learning, which heavily relies on the access by students to personal computers, is the most used mode of electronic learning. M-Learning is viewed as a new model of flexible. According to Petrova, learning could be blended through the integration of online learning and mobile learning environment. There is a more likely scenario that people and institutions might embrace M-Learning in a large scale and from a business perspective. With the number of mobile users spanning over 3 billion in the world by 2010, mobile communication devices penetration is expected to increase steadily; especially amongst the youth. Most youths between ages 16 and 19 years today possess, or have access to mobile phones. Therefore, the integration of mobile devices into the educational process seems as an easy and straightforward task (Petrova, 2007, pp. 2-5). Although M-Learning is a form of E-Learning, it happens to comply with the basic elements of commercial mobile applications. Its characteristics include specific mobile infrastructure such as time and location-independent connectivity, and personal subscriber access to the network. Mobile applications should also comply with informational requirements such as ease of use and relevance. Almost all mobile applications successfully developed exhibit all the aforementioned characteristics. For instance, a simple multiple-choice mobile exam that offers feedback known as ‘mobile testing’. ‘Mobile Seminar,’ a collaborative application; is a blend of the online and mobile platforms in the initial phases of discussion and is concluded through mobile e-mail. These demonstrates the bright future of mobile business due to their preciseness, conciseness, and of very high quality. M-Learning is different from online learning and can generate, based on its mobility features, its own value. Through it, a communication between learners and teachers is created. M-learning occurs anywhere, anytime, and they can easily be highly personalized to a client whose profile is known (5-13). Another notable example is the m-commerce where a large number of commercial activities conducted online. There are numerous examples given such as M-Payment. This is one of the promising and fast growing subset of M-Commerce, and it is notably receiving global attention. It is concerned with the use of mobile phones in transactions such as making orders, bill payment, and performing banking transactions. In non-technical language, it is a mobile POS (Point-of-sale) achieved through devices such as PDAs or a cellular phone. It enables payment services for any retail transaction independently without the involvement of established banking systems. Mobile operators have the opportunity to offer financial services as a way of expanding their business. In M-Commerce, M-Payment is considered the killer application. This is because, financial institutions and banks traditionally carried out banking transactions over their networks. With M-Payment services, experts have argued that, the involvement of mobile operators in some financial services is still in their niche of telecommunication. If a substantial number of customers adopt the use of M-Payment service, the mobile operator’s market share can be very important. The benefits that can accrue from the utilization of M-Payment in retail payment, in business operations include technical expertise, access to an established billing system, and customer base. However, in most markets, MPS (Mobile Payment System) is not successful and thus, it is unclear whether M-Payment can be deployed and practiced successfully in the market. One major challenge faced is the competing standard, therefore, standardization of payment schemes, services and protocols (Shin, 2010, 917–940). Another case study scenario that can help illustrate what the future of mobile business looks like; is one service considered as very important in E-Commerce; the E-Ticketing mobile system. The product of this is a paperless e-document mainly used in by travellers in the airline industry. Many examples of online ticketing exist, and is the basis on which customer service can be improved and cost reduced by airlines. The airline industry has exploited and reaped the benefits of E-Ticketing; however, due to varying business atmosphere, implementation in the public transport (bus, metro, railway) is mixed. By embracing E-Ticketing, a carrier can easily be of choice since customers’ lives are made very easy. Stadiums and movie theatres should also embrace mobile technology and try out the E-Ticketing system and be able to ease customers hustle and efforts. For Amman International stadium, Mobile ticketing system ensures increased reservations. This is because, the public can easily make reservations since the System provides them with all the information they require anytime, anywhere. Although the system fulfils all the expected user requirements, additional improvements are essential to make it more user-friendly, and intuitive (Alfawaer, 2011, pp. 848-852). Conclusion The incorporation of mobile devices in business, what is referred to as M-Commerce (Mobile commerce), offers advantages such as a significant reduction of costs, time saving, and ensure efficiency as far as business processes, and customer satisfaction is concerned. The analysis suggests that, the future growth of M-Commerce industry is hugely dependent on how mobile devices and applications are incorporated in business processes such as transactions, customer service, and operations. Through M-Learning, students utilizing M-Learning would be hugely encouraged by its use. Novice students, who are non-English speakers, are expected to be the greatest beneficiaries of this technology; since the learning process and learner’s communication skills are bound to improve. The transaction process is bound to improve in the event that Mobile Payment system or the Mobile Ticketing system is adopted into business processes. Majority of people believe that, through M-Business, business processes will be easier and free from effort as opposed to traditional ways of doing business. However, researchers would need to consider factors networks problems, issues of security, and usability issues so as to improve the acceptance rate of M-Business. Since the use of mobile devices is dependent on personally owned devices that are not dependent on the user’s location, it adds value to learning, transactions, and business experience as a whole. It also promotes the adoption of these applications as M-Commerce applications. Businesses that wish to cut costs, save time, ensure customer satisfaction, and business processes efficiency will be forced to adopt M-Commerce since it is how the world would do business in the future. Works cited Abdelkarim, AA., & Nasereddin, Hebah. “Mobile Commerce”, Journal of Mathematics and Technology, ISSN: 2078-0257, No.4, 2010. Print. Alfawaer1, Zeyad M., Awni, Mohammad, & Al-Zoubi, Saleem. “Mobile E-Ticketing Reservation System for Amman International stadium in Jordan”, International Journal of Academic Research, Vol. 3. No.1, 2011. Print. Camponovo, Giovanni; Debetaz, Sandrine & Pigneur, Yves. “A comparative analysis of published scenarios for M-business”, Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Mobile Business, M-Business, 2004. Print. Gruhn, V., Klawes, R., & Ko?hler, A. “Modelling and Analysis of Mobile Business Processes”, Journal of Enterprise Information Managemen, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 657-676, 2007. Print. Gebauer, Judith & Shaw, Michael J. “Success Factors and Impacts of Mobile Business Applications: Results from a Mobile e-Procurement Study”, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 8, No. 3, Mobile Commerce Applications, pp. 19-41, 2004. Web. McDowell, Mary. “Business mobility: A changing ecosystem”, Information Knowledge Systems Management, Vol. 7. IOS Press, 2008. Print. Mohelska, Hana & Tomaskova, Hana. “The use of mobile applications in the business environment in the Czech Republic”, Applied Economics, Business and Development. 2009. Print. Petrova, K., ‘Mobile learning as a mobile business application’, Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp.1–13, 2007. Print. Pilioura, T., Tsalgatidou, A. & Hadjiefthymiades, S. “Scenarios of using Web Services in M-Commerce”, ACM SIGecom Exchanges, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 28-36, 2003. Print. Shin, Dong-Hee. “Modeling the Interaction of Users and Mobile Payment System: Conceptual Framework”, Intl. Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, Vol. 26, No. 10, pp. 917–940, 2010. Print. Read More