Problems with Using Smart Devices for Business and Efforts to Resolve Them
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Problems with Using Smart Devices for Business and Efforts to Resolve Them Shinji Takahara Masatomo Yasaki In the current consumer market, new means of communication are rapidly becoming preva- lent. They include smart devices such as smartphones and tablets, applications that operate on those smart devices, and high-speed wireless communications such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). To address this trend, corporate users have started considering the possibility of increasing their sales and improv- ing their business efficiency by making active use of smart devices in their business. However, challenges associated with introducing these devices have been revealed as well, such as con- cerns about security and the streamlined connection of such devices with existing systems. In this paper, we describe services that enable these devices to be used in the optimal way (mobile sales operation support service) in sites where sales take place. We also cover a method for vertical integration when introducing devices, networks, service platforms and ser- vices, as an approach to introducing this system into companies. 1. Introduction communication and applications for smart devices In the Japanese market, the iPhone was launched (hereafter “applications”) to improve their business in 2008, the first device running Android in 2009, efficiency. and the iPad in 2010. Since then, smart devices have Therefore, Fujitsu considers offering a new solu- rapidly penetrated the domestic consumer market. tion for sites where sales take place, called “mobile The number of smartphones shipped in Japan ex- sales operation support service.” This is because the ceeded 23 million in March 2012 and their number is advantages of smart devices such as their portabil- estimated to exceed 35 million in 2016 (80% of the ity, continuous network connection and many hours domestic sales market).1) of availability tend to be used most optimally in sites With such a drastic penetration of these smart where sales occur. Further, as a means to connect this devices, network operators in various countries have service with companies’ core systems, Fujitsu plans accelerated their investment in infrastructure for to offer a “vertical integration” service format, where high-speed wireless communication to leverage sales devices, networks, service platforms and services are of high-speed communication services (e.g., Long offered in a streamlined manner. We consider that this Term Evolution [LTE], Worldwide Interoperability for type of service system can be a solution to potential Microwave Access [WiMAX]) and the corresponding challenges such as security issues and accessibility as- devices. Through these movements of domestic and sociated with the introduction of new devices. international device manufacturers and telecom- munication carriers, significant innovation is being 2. Increasing needs of corporate users made and the environment surrounding smart devices Ways to use smart devices have emerged in the is being improved rapidly. To address these trends, following areas, considering their advanced features corporate users have started considering the possibil- such as high-speed start-up, operability and portability. ity of introducing smart devices, high-speed wireless Typical examples are summarized in Table 1. 160 FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J., Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 160–165 (April 2013) S. Takahara et al.: Problems with Using Smart Devices for Business and Efforts to Resolve Them Table 1 Occasions to use smart devices. Government/ Distribution Retail sales Financial Manufacturing Communication Clinical Education • Product • Bank counter Sales/ • Sales introductions • Presentations • Medical • Presentations sales Customer reinforcement • Residential • Intra-company representa- to clients • Data sharing service • Weddings houses meetings tives • Liaisons • Reforms • Consolidated • Input of fleet • Reference of • E-medical estimates • Emergency deployment drawings records • Shop reports notices • Shipment • Recording on • Nursing care in Linkage • Sales reports • Service/ records • Device for jobsites wards with • Order • Liaisons Inspections • Warehousing/ routine work • Job reports • Care support business placement/ • Gauge reading Shipping out • Maintenance • Drug receipt • Construction • Inventory • Construction administration • Inventory work checks work management checks • Liaisons • Order • Information • Information • B2B2C signage Information/ placement/ • Reference of • Bedside signboards display in the • Showroom Viewing receipt drawings devices inside branch displays • Signage universities • On-site monitoring • Linkage with Special • EOS devices • Devices for • GPS devices (image) public wireless • Future schools purpose • Simplified POS patrol • Management LAN of farmyards 1) Presentation in sites where sales take place physicians and nurses. Smart devices are considered Sales representatives can bring smart devices to be promising as devices for inputting and reviewing (tablets among others) when giving details to their data. Particularly, they are actively used to record infor- clients and use them to make effective presentations. mation on-site thanks to their excellent portability, or Compared to PCs, smart devices have many advantages to give detailed explanations to patients or to display such as high-speed start-up, power saving features, data in operating rooms based on their high visibility. and excellent operability on the user interface. Hence, there are hopes they will help improve the quality of 3. Challenges in use for business presentations to clients and reduce meeting times. process 2) Viewing of drawings and design data at job sites As described in the previous section, companies Smart devices can be effectively used to view have examined making positive use of smart devices in design drawings and work procedures at job sites for various sectors and under various business conditions. construction and maintenance work. Advantages The use of smart devices by corporate users is predicted of smart devices include network accessibility at any to accelerate in future. place, immediate start-up whenever necessary and However, while their area of use is expanding to portability (i.e., reduced weight). These are highly cover various business scenes, some challenges are evaluated by users in this area. highlighted that are necessary to overcome when intro- 3) Recording and viewing of data in clinical bedside/ ducing smart devices into a corporate environment. nursing In clinical situations, there has been significant 3.1 Security concern progress in introducing electronic data systems such as The issue that companies most frequently cite electronic medical systems to handle data created by when introducing smart devices is security. Particularly, FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J., Vol. 49, No. 2 (April 2013) 161 S. Takahara et al.: Problems with Using Smart Devices for Business and Efforts to Resolve Them these two points could be reasons for serious concern: connected to business systems. 1) Risk of information leakage caused by malware A diverse range of applications offered by device 3.2 Affi nity with business systems OS vendors (Apple, Google, etc.) are made available to In most business systems currently used by corpo- smart device users. But this also means there are high rate users, Windows is assumed to be the OS used by risks of being infected with malware through the mar- devices. Because of this, the great majority of business ket. Meanwhile, the security of applications registered applications run a Windows OS (Figure 1). Considering in the market largely depends on the countermeasures this situation, some failures associated with differ- implemented by OS vendors. Therefore, many users are ences in OSes and browsers could occur among each voicing concerns about malware that comes from the layer, such as application layers, service platforms and market and infects devices, makes unauthorized access networks, when connecting smart devices to existing to business systems and leaks information from the business systems. Further, because the OS for smart devices. devices tends to be updated quickly, intensive work is 2) Concerns about entire system security including needed to verify the variance of functions between OS devices versions, to revise device applications, and to refl ect Little time has passed since smart devices came revisions in business systems and service platforms at to penetrate the market and there are only a few ex- every update. amples in which they are connected to corporate core systems. Therefore, many users are concerned about 3.3 Complicated system introduction being able to guarantee complete security from each When connecting smart devices to a business device to the application layer, when these devices are system, procurement and deployment work for system Vertical integration Existing front base/Business system SD system (Existing system) Application layer (System for services to support mobile sales) Mail Scheduler Placing/ Attendance Total ID Sharing of documents Web meeting Receiving order management management connection Service platform interface Device Portal/authentication management/ MDM OS Function Content (SSO/SAML) security emulation Conversion Security management mash up Network accreditation Network accreditation Log management Access control ID management Log management Access control ID management Network Wireless communication network Wireless