Wireless Enterprise Applications

Understanding the Opportunities on BlackBerry

Tyler Lessard

Research In Motion

Agenda

Wireless in the Enterprise

BlackBerry Overview

BlackBerry Handhelds

BlackBerry Enterprise Server

BlackBerry Beyond Email

Extending Enterprise Applications to Wireless Handhelds

Key Considerations and Options

Development Tools and 3rd Party Solutions

Mobilizing the Enterprise

Sales Force, Field Service and Executives

Corporate IT and Operations

Industry Professionals

Wireless Technologies Most Relevant to Enterprises

Wide Area Wireless Networks and Handhelds

GPRS, CDMA, iDEN, Mobitex

EDGE, UMTS, EV-DO

Wireless Local Area Networks (Wi-Fi)

802.11b, 802.11g

Laptops, Handhelds

From Wireless to Mobility…

Not about technology or wireless access anymore

Now about Mobility and Real-Time Applications

Productivity & Immediacy

Context-Sensitive Information

Real-Time Workflow and Collaboration

Business Value and Competitive Advantage

Wireless & Mobility in the Enterprise

Wireless & Mobility in the Enterprise

Enterprises have been investing in wireless technology & mobile solutions as a way of boosting productivity, improving efficiency & increasing access to knowledge

Typical deployments:

Start with familiar pervasive applications across groups (such as email)

Extend to vertical applications within specific groups to solve specific business problems

Vertical Wireless Applications:

Take more time to discover & deploy

Tend to Yield higher quantifiable ROI

Leading wireless email & PIM solution for mobile professionals

BlackBerry is a complete solution, composed of multiple components and services:

Wireless Handhelds

Simplified Wireless Connectivity to the Enterprise

Always-On “Push” Technology & Network-Independence

Security & Management

BlackBerry Wireless Solution
Overview

BlackBerry Wireless Solution
Overview

GPRS

Enterprise Network

Application

& Web Servers

Email Server

CDMA

IDEN

BlackBerry Enterprise Server

Connectivity Security Management Opportunity & ROI

HTTP(S)

WiFi

BlackBerry Wireless Solution
Handhelds

Wireless Email

Rich, full-featured email client

Support for “PUSH”

Attachment Viewing

Personal Information Management (PIM)

Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Memo Pad

Cellular Phone

GSM / iDEN / CDMA / VoIP phone

Extensible to New Applications

BlackBerry Browser (HTML / WML)

Open Java development platform

Solutions from 3rd Party ISVs

BlackBerry Enterprise Server - Key Features:

Secure connectivity for BlackBerry handhelds

Like a permanent, bi-directional VPN

Corporate Email & PIM Integration

Full wireless sync of email & PIM data

Handheld & User Management

Handheld auditing & reporting, IT Policies & IT Commands

Mobile Data Service (MDS)

Secure proxy for HTTP connections from other applications (Browser, Java apps)

Provides reliable PUSH interface for server-side applications

Application Provisioning

Wirelessly deploy new applications via BlackBerry Server console

BlackBerry Wireless Solution
BlackBerry Enterprise Server

BlackBerry Wireless Solution enables new wireless applications to be developed and deployed without the need to:

Purchase or manage new wireless connections or new pricing plans

Worry about security beyond the firewall

Worry about remote connectivity & support for multiple networks (including roaming!)

Worry about how to deploy to thousands of users

Easily extend existing enterprise applications & processes wirelessly

Low cost to develop & ease of deployment

Choice of application models

BlackBerry Alliance Partners: 3rd Party Solutions

BlackBerry Browser

Custom Java/J2ME development tools

Leverage PUSH for wireless updates & alerts

BlackBerry Wireless Solution
BlackBerry Beyond Email

Extending Enterprise Applications
Options for Deployment

3rd Party Applications

3rd Party Middleware and Services

In-House Custom Applications

Remote Network and Systems Management

Forms, Data Collection, Location-Based Services

CRM / SFA

Business Continuity

Industry solutions

ERP, CRM, Field Service, Help Desk

Workflow, SCM

Legacy applications, Databases, etc.

BlackBerry Browser

Custom Java/J2ME Application Development

Browser / Server Applications

Use the BlackBerry Browser to securely access internal web sites via BlackBerry Enterprise Server MDS

Use existing web pages or design new pages for BlackBerry

Leverage PUSH in custom server-side apps

Custom Client / Server Applications

Develop custom application for the handheld with customized interface & client-side logic

Communicate with existing or new server-side applications on intranet (or Internet)

Leverage PUSH in custom server-side apps

Custom Application Deployment Options for BlackBerry

Simplified Wireless Connectivity to Intranet: Like a permanent VPN!

BlackBerry Browser
Overview

Web / App Server

BlackBerry Browser

HTTP(S)

3DES Encryption

Push & Pull of Data

Network-independent

BlackBerry Enterprise Server with MDS

Keys To Success:

Optimizing content for small form factor

Leveraging PUSH to proactively distribute content to mobile professionals

HTML/WML

BlackBerry Java Development Environment (JDE) enables developers to build custom client Java (J2ME) applications

3 main versions of Java:

J2SE: Runs on desktops & laptops

J2EE: Runs on servers

J2ME (Java 2, Micro Edition)

Runs on small computing devices

BlackBerry JDE v4.0

Released in Fall 2004, support for J2ME (MIDP) 2.0

Includes BlackBerry-specific Java API extensions

Includes full IDE and simulation tools

BlackBerry Java Development Environment Overview

Java APIs for BlackBerry enable you to develop custom client applications that provide:

Customizable UI

Local Data Storage on the handheld

Event Listening

Secure wireless transport

Communicate with back-end Application or Web Servers via HTTP or TCP sockets

XML parsing

Support for Reliable Push from server-side application

For more advanced applications:

Integration with BlackBerry Email, Phone, PIM, Options & Notification applications

Bluetooth, Location API enhancements, USB/Serial Port

BlackBerry Java Development Environment Overview

Simplified Wireless Connectivity to Intranet: Like a permanent VPN!

Key Advantages Over Browser-Based Applications:

Optimized and customized User Interface

Local Data Storage: Offline support & immediate access to data

Optimized transport: XML-based, support for background threads & Push

Options to Integrate with local BlackBerry applications (Email, PIM, Phone)

Web / App Server

Custom Java Application for BlackBerry

HTTP/TCP

3DES Encryption

Push & Pull of Data

Network-independent

BlackBerry Enterprise Server with MDS

XML, Byte[]

BlackBerry Java Development Environment Overview

Mobilize Your Enterprise with BlackBerry

Mobilize Your Field Service and Sales Force

Sales Force Automation & CRM

Field Service and Job Dispatch

Mobilize Your IT Operations

Remote Network & Systems Management

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Monitoring

Mobilize Your Enterprise Operations

Business Intelligence

Inventory and Supply Chain Management

Continuity of Operations

Mobilize Your Industry Professionals

Legal, Finance and Insurance, Professional Services

Real Estate, Health Care, Property Management

Mobile Sales Force and Field Service Automation

Key Features and Opportunities:

Remote Account Management & Order Entry

Alert-Based Opportunity & Job Management

Real-Time Reporting (Opportunities, Dashboards)

Location-Based Services & Barcode Scanning

Solutions Available to Mobilize Existing Systems:

SAP, Siebel, PeopleSoft/Oracle

Salesforce.com, Saratoga Systems, Onyx, etc.

Remedy, Clarify, Peregrine, HEAT

Other Relevant Solutions:

Remote document management and access

Instant Messaging

Mobilize Your Field Service and Sales Force

Remote Network and Systems Management

Remotely access & manage Windows & Unix servers on corporate intranet

User management, Access to event logs & statistics, SQL Manager

Restart services, Reboot server

Secure Telnet Access, SSH/Terminal Emulation

Access & manage BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Lotus Domino, MS Exchange servers

Reduce down-time & RAS costs; Improve employee satisfaction

Mobilize Your IT Operations

Business Intelligence and Analytics

Real-time reporting to mobile executives

Actionable alerts

ERP and Workflow

Inventory and Supply Chain Management

Approvals and workflow

Continuity of Operations

Push out business continuity plans, documents, emergency contact information, etc.

Group notifications and chat

Location-Based Services and mapping

Mobilize Your Enterprise Operations

Finance and Insurance

Portfolio management, CRM

Legal

Time and Billing, Access to document repositories (Lexis Nexis, Hummingbird, iManage, etc.)

Real Estate

Real-time access to MLS Listings

Health Care

e-Prescribing, Medical reference guides, etc.

Public Safety and Law Enforcement

Access to national police databases and dispatch

Text messaging and alerting

Mobilize Your Industry Professionals

Paths To Success

Key Considerations for Deployment

Leverage existing BlackBerry enterprise deployment

Secure wireless connectivity through MDS

Choose a solution that meets the needs of mobile users and your IT department

Browser vs. Client

3rd Party Solutions vs. Custom Development

Optimized user interface to drive adoption and success

Leverage push for real-time distribution of alerts and time-sensitive information

Paths To Success

Developing the Business Case

Understand existing business problems

Costs associated with inaccurate or inconsistent data from the field, lost opportunities, etc.

Productivity: Time wasted traveling to/from the office or searching for data

Competitiveness: Having access to the right information at the right time

Determine potential savings from deploying a complete wireless solution

Increased productivity and revenue, workflow efficiencies

Asset displacement (laptops, PDAs, cell phones, etc.)

Understand deployment costs and TCO

Reduced costs if deploying over existing BlackBerry investment

Consider integration work and trade-offs

Resources

General Resources – BlackBerry

www.blackberry.com

3rd Party Solutions for BlackBerry

www.blackberry.com/ThirdParty

Enterprise Solutions Guide

BlackBerry Java Development Environment and Simulators

www.blackberry.com/developers

Used for application development or testing BlackBerry Browser

Wireless Enterprise Applications

Questions?

Tyler Lessard

Research In Motion

Agenda

Enterprises have been investing in wireless technology and mobile solutions as a way of boosting productivity, improving efficiency and increasing access to knowledge.

Often email is the first deployment around wireless. Email is pervasive in most companies. Organizations see the value in terms of being able to respond faster, and increase efficiency and knowledge.

But what we see, once a company gets email up-and-running, is a move into other corporate applications that are higher in value. Specific vertical applications, such as field service and sales force applications, take a little more time to strategize around. But they ultimately yield higher, quantifiable results.

Agenda

If you’ve been using BlackBerry for awhile, you’ve seen this architecture before.

The networks BlackBerry works with are shown on the left. In the middle, is your firewall, and the BlackBerry Enterprise Server behind it. In the latest versions of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, we’ve provided HTTP(S) connection, or what we call Mobile Data Service (MDS), to give you better access to your mobile applications.

It’s important to note, MDS leverages all the same architectural advantages of BlackBerry – the same infrastructure as for email and PIM data communications. Applications data is as secure, push-capable, etc.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

BlackBerry is designed to make extending enterprise applications wirelessly to mobile employees a reality. The value proposition with BlackBerry is as follows.

You don’t have to purchase or manage new wireless connections – once you install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connectivity happens. It doesn’t matter what kind of data you’re trying to communicate between the server and the a BlackBerry handheld… It only matters that the solution works.

You don’t have to worry about security beyond the firewall – no need for Virtual Private Networks or Remote Access Services. BlackBerry has Triple DES end-to-end encryption, for ALL data that it passes through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Again, no differentiation between the security of email and enterprise applications data traffic.

You don’t have to worry about remote connectivity and supporting multiple networks because BlackBerry does that. Building on the previous points:

not only do you not have to worry about setting up any new wireless connections or services, you need not worry about which BlackBerry handheld is used by whom within the organization.

All the complexity of managing connection between the handhelds, wireless networks, and your BlackBerry Enterprise Server is handheld is abstracted out by the architecture of the solution.

Every BlackBerry is treated the same by the server. No special network connections to set-up or manage. No worries when a user is roaming.

We make it easy to deploy applications through MDS and our Java environment.

Ease of deployment and development keeps TCO down by enabling re0use of existing enterprise applications, no need to rebuild!

Support programs exist for enterprise developers extending applications internally – ensuring the work will be completed quickly, and well.

BlackBerry Alliance partners can “short-circuit” the applications development and deployment process by providing solutions for extending common commercially-available applications to BlackBerry – or by providing augmentations to the development toolkits developed by RIM.

These are the things RIM found made it easier for enterprises to think about deploying wireless applications.

What should you consider before moving forward with a field service solution?

First, leverage your existing investments. Use your BlackBerry deployment and the MDS feature of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to effectively push information out to field service technicians.

Second, consider what’s available to you through internal development efforts and from a third party standpoint. You need to look at whether the in-house current system is supported, because you want to reuse those systems, not replace them. You want to see if you can leverage push for its real-time communication aspects. And you want to make sure that you’re designing it so the field personnel have a user experience they’re going to want to use.

Or you can use Browser access as a simple starting point, or as an augmentation to some other system.

Selling wireless field service to decision-makers is part of this process.

You’ll need to clearly understand

The problem that you’re trying to solve: is it customer service, SLA compliance, reducing overhead costs?

Understand the hidden costs and determine what kind of savings you might get out of the system. There are costs of deployment, development and support costs, etc.

Look at what are the soft benefits as well – customer service, employee morale, productivity.

Finance End User Skeleton

Ed Klajman

2002-09-20T14:38:03