Customised applications a necessity for tablet success

Organisations must employ apps custom built for tablet computers if they are to derive value from such devices, according to a new report from analyst firm Ovum.

To some organisations, the tablet PC is a mere laptop replacement. However, this approach is unlikely to result in significant gains, the firm said.

According to Ovum, this is because “a tablet’s form factor and touch screen make using everyday productivity applications such as spreadsheets and word processors difficult”.

Instead, the firm says, organisations can derive value from tablets by utilising applications built specifically with the tablet in mind.

“Providing a range of customised applications that make use of tablet functionalities for employees in specific job roles is a good way to gain maximum value from tablets,” said Richard Absalom, analyst at Ovum.

“The growing use of in-house app stores indicates that more and more companies are going down this custom development route.”

Some companies decide that there is no added value in provisioning tablets, but still allow employees to bring their own, in order to improve employee engagement. According to Ovum, these BYO devices must still be subject to corporate mobility and security policies.

“Businesses need to ensure that any tablets being used by employees are as secure as possible, so that vital corporate data is protected. Tablet adoption should be considered as part of a wider enterprise mobility policy - if a company decides to adopt consumer-focused smartphones, it should have the tools in place to manage tablets easily too,” said Absalom.