Whether it's for better or for worse, I'm simultaneously old enough to remember how our culture shifted with the proliferation of smartphones and young enough to be an integral part of that shift.
One day in 2008, my tech-savvy friend brought his first-generation iPhone to high school biology class. The students ooh-ed and ah-ed as he showed off its dazzling features. But within a few months, everyone had a smartphone, and it wasn't such a big deal anymore. Not only that, but smartphones had infiltrated every aspect of life -- from relationships and free time to academia and work -- without many people realizing how massive the change really was.
Although some naysayers may complain about smartphones' effect on our culture, it's difficult not to acknowledge the benefits of a mobile-first approach, especially when it comes to the enterprise. Mobile computing enables employees to work anywhere at any time, enhancing productivity. Also, mobile apps can simplify some burdensome processes that are essential to many jobs.
A relatively new phrase, digital transformation, is becoming popular in the IT industry, and it refers to the use of technology to change relationships between customer and provider, employees and employers. We're in the midst of that digital transformation. Mobile is driving it forward, spreading that change through every aspect of enterprise IT.
Like my experience in 2008, companies may not even notice the profound effect that mobile has on their organizations. And some organizations are stuck in the past, refusing to adopt mobile strategies because of the challenges they might bring. Those companies will be left in the dust, while organizations with a mobile-first approach will thrive as these technologies advance.
In this handbook, you'll learn about digital transformation and its relationship with mobility. Then, you can delve into how a mobile-first approach will drive your organization forward.
