‘Snowmageddon’ Highlights Importance of Mobile Adoption

The Northeast got clobbered this week with what many weather forecasters and meteorologists called “Snowmageddon.” While some areas such as New York City were mostly spared from the storm, Long Island to Boston got massive snowfall accompanied by near hurricane-force winds.

States of emergency were declared, curfews were put in place and major roadways were shut down. New York even suspended all MTA services. However, that doesn’t mean business had to come to a screeching halt. And in many cases it didn’t, but in far too many others it did.

While most enterprise companies already have adopted a mobile technology strategy and have remote working policies in place, small and midsize business still aren’t as prepared. As a result, many offices were closed and employees were not productive because they didn’t have access to the company information they need to work from their mobile device or a remote location.

The ability to respond to emails in a timely fashion, access files on a shared drive and still be reachable is now a customer expectation, not a luxury.

Those small and medium-size businesses that have not yet equipped their employees with the ability to access company information they need remotely via their mobile devices just got a major wake-up call. There are no more excuses and solution providers need to be at the forefront pushing this message to all of their customers.

While small and midsize businesses have been targeted as fast to adopt mobile technology solutions—highlighted by the amount of mobile applications specifically developed for their unique needs—research shows many still haven’t made the investment. Security, mobile device integration and clinging to the old way of doing business, which dictates employees need to be in the office, are the main issues holding them back.

Solution providers need to work with their small-business customers to come up with a 360-degree solution that encompasses mobile device security, network integration and access. It also should include a remote employee strategy that addresses not only the emerging needs of today’s workforce but also takes advantage of latest developing mobile technologies to ensure business carries on—even in the midst of Snowmegeddon.