Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technologies – Enterprise Mobility?

Despite a tough global economy, IT research and advisory firm Gartner recently predicted that worldwide enterprise IT spending is projected to increase from $2.6 trillion this year to $2.7 trillion in 2012. While a 3.9 % annual increase might not be a headline grabbing statistic, the strategic technologies they believe will maintain and increase enterprise IT spending in the next three years, caught my attention.

The Gartner top ten IT trends are recognized by the IT industry as a strong indicator of those technologies that will have a significant impact on enterprise infrastructure in the coming year. For example, cloud computing took the number one spot in 2010 and it has subsequently dominated the corporate agenda and media headlines over the past 12 months.

Enterprise mobility is clearly a key strategic move that many organizations are currently undertaking. However, one of the biggest challenges we have encountered while dealing with our customers is understanding where to start – from development, deployment to long term monitoring and adaptation.

There is no one-size-fits all solution and no singular technology that enables enterprise mobility. Instead, multiple systems combined with a shift in how IT departments, floor employees and C-level execs “control” access to the content and systems within the organization is necessary.

Gartner has clearly recognized this trend, breaking down some of the core technologies that will play a key role within mobility within organizations over the next year:

Media tablets and beyond (1). According to Deloitte, more than 25% of all tablet computers will be purchased by enterprises this year – an incredible figure when you realize that the iPad, the first tablet to gain widespread attention, was launched just over one year ago. Tablets, as a result, will be one of the several new environments that IT departments will have to be prepared to support.

Mobile-centric applications and interfaces (2). Siri is just one way that user-interfaces are evolving on the mobile handset. Touch and gesture will continue to transform the way we interact with, consume and create content.

Application stores and marketplace (4). As companies look to take advantage of the mobile opportunity, ranging from cost savings to improvements in productivity, IT departments are struggling to ensure only approved apps find their way onto company-owned devices. The rise of the enterprise app store will allow IT departments to manage and control certain applications getting on to handsets.

Cloud computing (10). The growth, support and adoption of the HTML5 standard will be a driving force behind the growth of cloud computing on the mobile platform. The development of hybrid and pure HTML5 applications will leverage this infrastructure and drive this strategic technology forward.