Return on Investment (ROI)

How to make sure wireless nets provide good service

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:01:38 -0500

Every where you turn someone's deploying a wireless network--from the city and municipal arena to the small business down the block. But once up and running, the main assessment tool is usually user feedback--complaints about dead zones, dropped calls and poor transmission levels. But an enterprising new company is setting out to provide better assessment and review of quality of service with wireless networks. Uptown Service, a Colorado testing firm, uses a notebook with GPS and homegrown software to assess every 100 foot of service area. The cost, says the vendor is minimal compared to the heavy duty investments being made with wireless networking. Testing usually takes a few days depending on the network's size, and it includes reviewing everything from file and packet loss to coverage, data throughput and delays. Given that analysts expect wireless network spending will exceed $235 million this year and hit $460 million by 2007, good quality of service is an important aspect in making sure enterprises get a good return-on-investment. Article

How to achieve mobility in 10 easy steps

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:01:38 -0400

The first step in creating and rolling out, mobile applications for your wireless workforce is to realize that it has nothing in common with desktop application development. So toss out that mindset. Tech leaders must decide what they want, and what their users need, in order to have a working mobile environment. At the same time, you must work to ensure that your users, as well as your partners and clients, know that mobility platforms and applications usually require hefty changes to management requirements. Then its time to form a mobile assessment team to identify who needs the mobile applications, and what the expected return-on-investment of the effort will be come completion. The final eight steps include policy work, choosing the right application host and the all-important pilot before formal deployment. By taking a 10-step approach to mobile application development, you can create a stable and strong foundation for wireless users in your enterprise. Article

How to evaluate Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 vs. competitors

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Despite some new reports about security issues with smart phones, big enterprises, such as the U.S. Census Bureau and Bloomberg News, are gobbling up smart phones based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 technology. Experts say it reflects a watershed moment in the evolution of smart phone technology and may be a sign that the devices are finally gaining ground within the public sector and commercial business arena. The question for most IT leaders, though, is how to determine whether smart phones are needed, the return-on-investment in terms of mobility productivity and what technology they need to hook into current systems.

Lately, Microsoft has been plugging in stability upgrades and support for running complex applications on the devices in ways that differ from competitors in the marketplace. For example, some smart phone makers force users to be connected to access and run applications, but Windows Mobile doesn't require such connectivity. Microsoft is also working hard to bring down the costs of smart phones--no small news given the costs mobility is bringing into play these days. Article

How to get a wireless network up in minutes

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:01:38 -0500

Though the design and planning work will take some time--likely a few weeks if you want to make sure it gets done right--the actual setup time for a wireless network in the enterprise should be less than 15 minutes once you've got the tech and plan in front of your team. As this guide of best practices indicates, the first step is determining what the wireless communications need is. Do employees need the capability to make cell phones in wired line offices, or is mobility outside of the actual office location a prime need? What will be your wireless needs next year and three and five years down the road?

The answers to all those questions tie directly into building the wireless foundation and getting the best return on investment. Once you've got the need and strategy mapped out, then you have to determine the issues with physical locations so that you can deliver what your users need. Then, and maybe most importantly, it's time to lay out the best security approach.

For more on getting a wireless network up and running:
- read this article at Networking Pipeline

How to gain ROI on mobile deployments

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:01:38 -0500

It's one thing to jump on the wireless mobility bandwagon, dole out devices, set up the network and let everyone go anywhere and still have access to data. But all the work costs money and many times mobile return-on-investment is hard to calculate. New York pharmaceutical firm BioScrip pushed out a $30,000 remote access effort and is already reaping benefits three-fold in return. That's because its newly revamped network identification system allows for better, more secure access for partners. Just like with the first effort, the company's second mobile technology push required an in-depth ROI and business justification presentation. For BioScrip, that meant investigating how faster access would foster more business, cut costs on the business process side and save in better data transfer with partners. A three-tiered approach sold the revamp on the executive level.

For more on determining mobility ROI:
- read this article at Mobile Pipeline

How to decide if VoIP is good for your enterprise

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:01:37 -0500

Every new technology brings promise and its own share of headaches, security issues and return-on-investment considerations. That couldn't be truer with VoIP. While there's been a great deal of hype, many still aren't sure if this is the time to push VoIP into their company. That means examining the benefits and the downside by determining exactly what level of service your firm requires and if there's any room for a dip in that service level. After all, VoIP isn't quite perfected yet. Then it's time to figure out how much bandwidth is needed, what's already in the pipe and what the cost of the additional requirements might be. Those are just some of the issues IT leaders need to examine during the VoIP decision-making process.

For more on VoIP:
- read this article at Networking Pipeline

PLUS: What Microsoft and Cisco are doing to push VoIP ahead. Article

How wireless is boosting the retail sector

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 20:01:38 -0400

The retail industry overall, except for notables such as Wal-Mart and some innovative e-commerce sites launched by traditional brick and mortars (think Lands End), has long been a laggard in IT adoption when compared to other sectors (financial services, for example). But more stores are discovering how mobile and wireless applications and services can boost sales and production and deliver better customer service. While hurdles still exist, specifically in determining wireless standards and security issues, a recent study reveals that just a little over half are using some sort of mobile device or service; and, maybe even more encouraging, another 37 percent are deploying mobile software in the next year.

On the return on investment end, wireless technologies are clearly benefiting the consumer shopping experience -- both in traditional storefronts through kiosks and self service and mobile post of sale applications -- offering stronger transactional support and delivering deep customer relationship management and supply chain data and systems. There's even a decent number of retailers who are establishing wireless hotspots for customers. A key statistic is that improved customer service and productivity gains are big benefits cited by more than 60 percent of organizations using mobile applications.

For more on retail wireless deployments:
- read this article at Mobile Pipeline