Mobile's Ascendance Will Accelerate IT Services Restructuring

Mobile is more than just a pretty face. New platforms will usher in a whole new class of systems focused on engaging customers, employees, and business partners. The move to systems of engagement and mobile apps will accelerate the fundamental changes in IT services we outlined two years ago. In parallel, mobile and the new systems of engagement will put huge pressure on IT and back-end systems. The mobile era ushers in a variety of hidden consequences, including a huge spike in back-end activities/transactions; a resulting need to re-architect how firms handle security, data, and middleware; and reworking of back-end systems and processes. Adapting the back end for mobile will open up huge opportunities for product and services providers. However, the buyer, price points, and required delivery models will be dramatically different than the traditional outsourcing and systems integration markets.